Healthcare
Add to my areasEvery story on LexCircuit filed under healthcare: court orders, regulation, ethics opinions, litigation and research, each summarized across its sources.
Parents sue OpenAI, alleging ChatGPT coached daughter off seizure medication before her death
The parents of Bowen Wan, a 31-year-old former Amazon software engineer with epilepsy, have sued OpenAI in San Francisco Superior Court, alleging GPT-4o coached her to taper off her anti-seizure medication and hide the plan from her doctors before she died in February. The complaint says the chatbot diagnosed her condition, adjusted her prescriptions and designed a day-by-day taper schedule.
Filing (Bloomberg Law) → · TechCrunch
Honigman opens Boston office with three Womble Bond Dickinson patent partners
Honigman has opened an office in Boston, its ninth in the United States and its first in the Northeast, by hiring life sciences patent partners Cristin Cowles, Danielle Herritt and Deborah Vernon from Womble Bond Dickinson. The firm announced the move on October 26, 2026. It is Honigman's first new location since it opened in Washington, D.C., in 2020.
Announcement (Global Legal Post) → · Law360 Pulse
Split Supreme Court of Canada upholds $12 million award against anesthesiologist, clarifies remoteness test
A divided Supreme Court of Canada in Hemmings v. Padmore dismissed both appeals, leaving anesthesiologist Dr. Neil Jamensky solely liable for $12 million after Sophia Hemmings suffered permanent brain damage during an emergency C-section. The majority clarified that causation in law is a remoteness inquiry, separate from factual causation, asking whether injury was a reasonably foreseeable consequence, not a mere possibility.
Order (Canadian Lawyer) → · Law360 Canada
Manhattan law firm Tarter Krinsky & Drogin reports breach affecting 196,645 patients of healthcare clients
New York law firm Tarter Krinsky & Drogin has reported a breach of protected health information belonging to 196,645 patients of its healthcare clients. The firm found suspicious activity on September 10, 2025, and an investigation showed unauthorized access to some of its servers between July 9 and September 9, 2025. Exposed data varies by person and may include Social Security, driver's license and passport numbers and medical details.
Report (The HIPAA Journal) → · California Attorney General (Tarter Krinsky & Drogin notice of data event), Law360 Pulse
Pennsylvania Act 106 standardizes sexual assault evidence testing statewide
Pennsylvania Senate Bill 1212 was approved on October 22, 2026, as Act No. 106 of 2026, amending the Sexual Assault Testing and Evidence Collection Act of 2006. Sexual assault evidence now counts as awaiting testing whenever it has been collected and not yet analyzed, removing the local law enforcement agency's discretion over whether a kit should be tested. Laboratories and local agencies report backlogged evidence through the statewide tracking system. The act took effect immediately.
Enrolled text (Pennsylvania General Assembly (palegis.us)) → · Pennsylvania Senate Republicans
Supreme Court refuses to let Bureau of Prisons enforce policy ending transgender inmates' care
The Supreme Court on October 21, 2026, denied the Trump administration's request to pause a federal judge's order barring the Bureau of Prisons from enforcing its February 2026 policy on health care for transgender inmates. The policy would have stopped inmates from obtaining hormone therapy and social accommodations such as makeup and wigs. Justices Alito and Thomas would have granted the request.
Order (SCOTUSblog) → · ABA Journal (The Washington Post)
Rulings this week
- UK · EWHC Spares 5,000 late-served Dieselgate claims but makes claimants share costs
- 9TH CIR. Keeps California's captive audience meeting ban on hold
- CANADA Ontario Court of Appeal says licensed paralegals can negotiate accident benefits settlements for parties under disability
- UK · UKSC Backs insurer against Spain and France in Prestige oil spill arbitration case
Executive order creates NIH Women's Health Division and White House task force, revokes 2024 order
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on October 19, 2026 titled Advancing Women's Health to Improve Outcomes in All Phases of Life. The order directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the NIH Director, to establish a Women's Health Division within 90 days, creates a White House Women's Health Task Force, and revokes Executive Order 14120 of March 18, 2024 and a November 13, 2023 presidential memorandum.
Text (The White House) → · U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Skadden adds five-lawyer mass torts team from DLA Piper in Chicago
Skadden added Lyn Pruitt, Adria Conklin, Mary Catherine Way and David Koehler as partners in its mass torts and product liability group, affiliated with the Chicago office, with Lauren Grinder joining as counsel, Law.com and Bloomberg Law reported October 13, 2026. The five came from DLA Piper and follow Brian O'Donoghue, who joined Skadden as a mass torts partner in July.
Announcement (Law.com) → · Bloomberg Law
Switalskis Group acquires Southport legal costs provider Calculus
Switalskis Group has acquired Calculus Legal Costs Holdings Ltd, a Southport specialist costs adviser to personal injury and clinical negligence firms founded in 2003. Calculus will keep its name, operate as a separate entity, and retain founder John Hayes as a director. Insider Media reported that Switalskis employs 395 people across 11 offices.
Announcement (Insider Media) → · Switalskis
Michigan Public Act 114 revises limited-license psychologist licensing and Board of Psychology membership
Michigan enacted Public Act 114 of 2026 on October 9, 2026, amending the Public Health Code sections on psychologist licensing. The act revises licensure requirements for limited license psychologists, including supervised postgraduate experience, allows limited licensees to practice without supervision within their qualifications, and changes Michigan Board of Psychology membership. The Michigan Psychological Association states practice changes await Board of Psychology regulations.
Enrolled text (Michigan Legislature) → · MichiganVotes.org, Michigan Psychological Association
States seek approval of $1.05M generic drug price-fixing settlements with Ascend, Mayne and Citron
Forty-eight states and territories asked the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut on Oct. 8 to preliminarily approve generic drug price-fixing settlements with Ascend Laboratories, Mayne Pharma and Citron Pharma, according to the states' motion. Ascend will pay $400,000 and Mayne $650,000; Citron, which ceased operations, agreed to non-monetary injunctive and cooperation terms. Connecticut's attorney general said the first trial is set for February 2027 in Hartford.
Motion (Connecticut Office of the Attorney General) → · Law360, WABI TV
Greenberg Traurig adds Steptoe life sciences litigator Jonathan Janow in D.C.
Greenberg Traurig has added Jonathan D. Janow as a litigation shareholder in its Washington, D.C., office, the firm announced Oct. 8. Janow joins from Steptoe, where Law360 Pulse reported he had arrived in February. According to the firm, he represents pharmaceutical and life sciences companies in antitrust, class action, trade secret and other complex commercial litigation in federal and state courts nationwide.
Announcement (Greenberg Traurig) → · Law360 Pulse
Peyton AI launches medical-negligence triage platform with Merit Score engine
Peyton AI has launched an AI triage platform for medical negligence claims aimed at law firms, malpractice insurers, and hospital risk teams, scoring cases on duty, breach, causation, and damages and flagging missing evidence. Artificial Lawyer noted the launch in its October 9 wrap; the company says a validation study of more than 1,000 closed cases recorded no fabricated citations.
Announcement (Artificial Lawyer) → · Business Wire (via City A.M.)
New Mexico finalizes doula credentialing rule for Medicaid reimbursement
The New Mexico Department of Health adopted 7.30.16 NMAC, a new rule implementing the Doula Credentialing and Access Act. Published in the New Mexico Register on October 6, 2026, the rule creates a voluntary state credential that lets doulas enroll as Medicaid providers. It sets application and training requirements, establishes a Doula Credentialing Advisory Council, and creates a public online registry of credentialed doulas.
Text (New Mexico Register (State Records Center and Archives)) → · New Mexico Department of Health
New York declares measles disaster emergency, expands who can vaccinate
Governor Kathy Hochul issued Executive Order No. 65 on October 5, declaring a statewide disaster emergency over a measles outbreak after New York recorded 108 cases through October 3, including 92 since mid-July in rural communities across 18 counties. The order authorizes paramedics, advanced EMS providers, pharmacists and midwives to administer MMR vaccine and allows nurses to order measles testing. The emergency runs through November 4.
Text (Governor Kathy Hochul) → · WIXX (Reuters)
Michigan bars youth transport companies from using restraints and overnight pickups under PA 111
Michigan enacted Public Act 111 of 2026 (HB 5514), the preventing restraints in youth transport act, effective October 5, 2026. Youth transportation companies taking minors to residential treatment programs may not use blindfolds, hoods or mechanical restraints, may use physical holds only when serious physical harm is imminent and staff are trained, and may not pick up a youth between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. Violations carry civil fines up to $1,000.
Enrolled text (Michigan Legislature) → · Governor Whitmer (michigan.gov), MI House Republicans (gophouse.org)
Michigan requires schools to send parents annual notices on youth cannabis, tobacco and vaping risks under PA 104
Michigan enacted Public Act 104 of 2026 (SB 433), adding MCL 380.1509. By July 1, 2027, DHHS must develop a notice in English, Spanish and Arabic on the dangers of THC, tobacco, vapor, alternative nicotine and synthetic intoxicating hemp products, and update it every year. Starting in 2027-28, districts, intermediate districts, academies and nonpublic schools must get it to every pupil's parent by October 1 each year.
Enrolled text (Michigan Legislature) → · Governor Whitmer (michigan.gov), The Marijuana Herald
State and local law roundup, week ending October 2, 2026: 23 developments
Twenty-three state and local measures dated September 25 to 29, 2026. California enacted laws on prescribed fire, children's meals, added-sugar menu warnings, diaper ingredients, disposable vapes, supplement sales to minors and disability-form fees. North Dakota, Texas, Arkansas and Georgia issued fuel emergency orders. New Jersey and New York signed school, reentry, Rutgers and climate bills, Massachusetts set emergency adult foster care rates, and San Jose paused detention-facility applications.
Entries (California Legislative Information) → · North Dakota Office of the Governor, City of San Jose, Office of the City Clerk (Legistar), Office of the Texas Governor +6
HSF Kramer hires Sidley's Marie Manley to lead London life sciences regulatory
Nonbillable and Law.com reported on October 1, 2026, that Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer hired Marie Manley, Sidley Austin's London life sciences head, to lead its life sciences regulatory practice. Manley spent eight years at Sidley after heading regulatory work at Bristows; the move is HSF Kramer's second London partner hire of the week after private equity lateral Alex McCarney.
Announcement (Law.com International) → · Nonbillable
Georgia cannabis commission amends Rule Chapter 351-1 on organization
The Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission voted on Sept. 30 to adopt amendments to Rule Chapter 351-1, governing the commission's organization. The commission posted its notice of intent to amend the chapter on Aug. 13 and held a public hearing Sept. 16. The amendments form part of a package rewriting Rule Chapter 351 to conform the state's medical cannabis rules to Senate Bill 220, which took effect July 1, 2026.
Text (Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission) → · The Marijuana Herald
Georgia cannabis commission amends Rule Chapter 351-2 on definitions
The Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission voted on Sept. 30 to adopt amendments to Rule Chapter 351-2, setting program definitions. The commission posted its notice of intent to amend the chapter on Aug. 13 and held a public hearing Sept. 16. The amendments form part of a package rewriting Rule Chapter 351 to conform the state's medical cannabis rules to Senate Bill 220, which took effect July 1, 2026.
Text (Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission) → · The Marijuana Herald
Georgia cannabis commission amends Rule Chapter 351-3 on applications
The Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission voted on Sept. 30 to adopt amendments to Rule Chapter 351-3, governing license applications. The commission posted its notice of intent to amend the chapter on Aug. 13 and held a public hearing Sept. 16. The amendments form part of a package rewriting Rule Chapter 351 to conform the state's medical cannabis rules to Senate Bill 220, which took effect July 1, 2026.
Text (Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission) → · The Marijuana Herald
Georgia cannabis commission amends Rule Chapter 351-4 on class 1 and class 2 production licensees
The Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission voted on Sept. 30 to adopt amendments to Rule Chapter 351-4, governing Class 1 and Class 2 production licensees. The commission posted its notice of intent to amend the chapter on Aug. 13 and held a public hearing Sept. 16. The amendments form part of a package rewriting Rule Chapter 351 to conform the state's medical cannabis rules to Senate Bill 220, which took effect July 1, 2026.
Text (Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission) → · The Marijuana Herald
Georgia cannabis commission amends Rule Chapter 351-5 on seed-to-sale tracking
The Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission voted on Sept. 30 to adopt amendments to Rule Chapter 351-5, governing seed-to-sale tracking. The commission posted its notice of intent to amend the chapter on Aug. 13 and held a public hearing Sept. 16. The amendments form part of a package rewriting Rule Chapter 351 to conform the state's medical cannabis rules to Senate Bill 220, which took effect July 1, 2026.
Text (Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission) → · The Marijuana Herald
Georgia cannabis commission adopts Rule 351-6-.11 authorizing home delivery
The Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission voted on Sept. 30 to adopt Rule 351-6-.11, creating a delivery framework for the state's medical cannabis program. The rule requires dispensaries to verify the recipient's identity and active Medical Cannabis Registry Card, keep recipient ID and registry records, and ship only to qualifying Georgia addresses. Shipments must be tracked and records kept; health-care institutions may receive deliveries for patients.
Text (Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission) → · The Marijuana Herald
Georgia cannabis commission amends Rule Chapter 351-6 on dispensing licensees
The Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission voted on Sept. 30 to adopt amendments to Rule Chapter 351-6, governing dispensing licensees. The commission posted its notice of intent to amend the chapter on Aug. 13 and held a public hearing Sept. 16. The amendments form part of a package rewriting Rule Chapter 351 to conform the state's medical cannabis rules to Senate Bill 220, which took effect July 1, 2026.
Text (Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission) → · The Marijuana Herald
Georgia cannabis commission amends Rule Chapter 351-7 on independent laboratories
The Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission voted on Sept. 30 to adopt amendments to Rule Chapter 351-7, governing independent laboratories. The commission posted its notice of intent to amend the chapter on Aug. 13 and held a public hearing Sept. 16. The amendments form part of a package rewriting Rule Chapter 351 to conform the state's medical cannabis rules to Senate Bill 220, which took effect July 1, 2026.
Text (Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission) → · The Marijuana Herald
Georgia cannabis commission adopts Rule 351-8-.07 listing grounds for product recalls
The Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission voted on Sept. 30, 2026, to adopt Rule 351-8-.07. The rule lets the commission require a production or dispensing licensee to recall a product on evidence that it exceeds Rule 351-7-.08 contaminant limits, contains an undeclared allergen, was not made by a Class 1 or Class 2 producer, or has a battery known to explode or ignite. For other risks, licensees get written notice and a chance to respond.
Text (Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission) → · The Marijuana Herald
Georgia cannabis commission amends Rule Chapter 351-8 on enforcement
The Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission voted on Sept. 30 to adopt amendments to Rule Chapter 351-8, governing enforcement. The commission posted its notice of intent to amend the chapter on Aug. 13 and held a public hearing Sept. 16. The amendments form part of a package rewriting Rule Chapter 351 to conform the state's medical cannabis rules to Senate Bill 220, which took effect July 1, 2026.
Text (Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission) → · The Marijuana Herald
Georgia cannabis commission adopts Rule Chapter 351-9 creating cannabis research permits
The Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission voted on Sept. 30 to adopt new Rule Chapter 351-9, creating a research-permit pathway for the state's medical cannabis program. The chapter allows Georgia colleges and universities to partner with licensed producers to study cannabis under commission oversight. It was adopted alongside a delivery rule and recall factors as part of a package conforming the commission's rules to Senate Bill 220, which took effect July 1.
Text (Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission) → · The Marijuana Herald
California conditions state funding for recovery housing on Housing First core components
Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 1556 on September 29, 2026. The law adds Health and Safety Code Division 10.95, under which recovery housing programs must satisfy Housing First core components to receive state funding. Programs must offer substance-use-specific peer support, emphasize abstinence, offer permanent or interim housing, treat relapse alone as not grounds for eviction, and allow prescribed medications including buprenorphine, methadone and naltrexone.
Enrolled text (California Legislative Information) → · Office of the Governor
California orders a statewide homelessness prevention strategy by 2028
Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 1924 (Chapter 794, Statutes of 2026) on September 29, 2026. New Welfare and Institutions Code section 8257.4 requires the state's homelessness council, by July 1, 2028, to develop a statewide homelessness prevention strategy in its Action Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness, including a baseline estimate of first-time homelessness, agency roles, funding recommendations, goals and metrics, and practices such as emergency rental assistance, eviction defense and case management.
Enrolled text (California Legislative Information) → · Office of the Governor
California bars officers from obstructing medical care for people in their control
Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 2318 on September 29, 2026. It adds Penal Code section 832.11, making it unlawful for law enforcement — including federal officers acting under color of law — to deny, delay, or obstruct medical care for a person under their control when safe and reasonable and a medical professional requested care or is present and willing. Denials must be documented within 72 hours and reported to civilian oversight when a professional was present.
Enrolled text (California Legislative Information) → · Office of the Governor
California lets defendants move to strike suits against priority care developments and doubles housing-suit bond cap
Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 1344 on September 29, 2026. New Code of Civil Procedure section 425.21 lets defendants bring a special motion to strike lawsuits challenging approval or permitting of priority care developments, which provide housing tied to behavioral-health services and other specified purposes. The court denies the motion only if the petitioner shows a probability of prevailing. SB 1344 also raises the cap on undertakings in suits against qualifying housing projects from $500,000 to $1 million.
Enrolled text (California Legislative Information) → · Office of the Governor
California codifies rights for people held in civil immigration detention
Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 942 on September 29, 2026, as an urgency statute effective immediately. New Civil Code section 53.9 grants people held for civil immigration proceedings at any locked facility in California, including ICE and ORR contract facilities, rights to dignity, privacy, humane care, medical care, clean facilities, food, confidential phone access and attorney mail. The Attorney General may sue and seek $2,500 per violation.
Enrolled text (California Legislative Information) → · Office of the Governor
California bars life and disability insurers from using genetic information except under set criteria
Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 1798 on September 30, 2026. From January 1, 2027, life and disability insurers may not cancel, limit or deny coverage based on genetic tests, or require, request or use genetic information, except where specified underwriting criteria are met. Insurers, agents and insurance-support organizations may not seek a person's genetic information or full genome or base adverse underwriting on it unless those criteria are met.
Enrolled text (California Legislative Information) → · Office of Governor Gavin Newsom
California requires gene synthesis equipment makers and providers to follow federal screening framework
Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 1864 on September 30, 2026. From January 1, 2027, manufacturers of benchtop nucleic acid synthesis equipment and providers of specified synthetic nucleic acids may not produce in California or sell or deliver to California customers unless they adhere to the federal Framework for Nucleic Acid Synthesis Screening, as revised in September 2024, and publicly post an attestation of compliance.
Enrolled text (California Legislative Information) → · Office of Governor Gavin Newsom
California bars AI from independently performing licensed clinical functions and brings health chatbots under medical privacy law
Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 1979 on September 30, 2026. From January 1, 2027, health facilities, clinics and physician offices may not use AI to independently perform clinical functions the law reserves for licensed professionals, and must ensure licensed clinicians keep independent judgment when care is informed by clinical decision support systems. Businesses offering health care chatbots to consumers become providers subject to the Confidentiality of Medical Information Act.
Enrolled text (California Legislative Information) → · Office of Governor Gavin Newsom
California lets courts refer incompetent misdemeanor defendants to conservatorship on their own finding of grave disability
Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 1401 on September 30, 2026, amending Penal Code sections 1370 and 1370.01. From January 1, 2027, a court may refer a misdemeanor defendant found incompetent to county conservatorship if the court itself finds the defendant appears gravely disabled, not only on an expert's opinion. County behavioral health agencies may report confidential medical information to the court to determine eligibility for services.
Enrolled text (California Legislative Information) → · Office of Governor Gavin Newsom
California requires developers and users of clinical AI tools to identify and mitigate biased impacts
Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 503 on September 30, 2026. From January 1, 2027, developers of AI clinical decision support systems used in health programs must identify systems with known or foreseeable risk of biased impacts, disclose intended uses and risks to deployers, and make reasonable efforts to mitigate that risk. Deployers must regularly monitor the systems and take reasonable, proportionate steps to mitigate biased impacts.
Enrolled text (California Legislative Information) → · Office of Governor Gavin Newsom
Delaware governor signs SB 249 creating licensed harm reduction program framework
Delaware Governor Matt Meyer signed Senate Bill 249 on September 30, 2026, as 85 Del. Laws ch. 536, effective on signing. It adds Chapter 48 to Title 16, letting the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health license harm reduction programs under evidence-based regulations. Programs must offer sterile supplies, drug-checking equipment, opioid antagonists and disease screening, and personal possession of drug paraphernalia is decriminalized.
Enrolled text (Delaware General Assembly) → · State of Delaware News
Law roundup: seven FAA airworthiness directives, IRS and HUD fee changes, Nebraska harvest weight relief
Sixteen federal rules and notices published September 24 to 28, plus one Nebraska executive order. They include seven FAA airworthiness directives and new IFR altitudes, an IRS estate tax closing letter fee rising from $56 to $76, a 1.05% HUD Section 108 guarantee fee for fiscal 2027, PHMSA's adoption of ASME Section XII for transport tanks, FTC rules of practice changes, and Nebraska's 90-day, permit-free 25% weight allowance for harvest haulers.
Entries (State of Nebraska, Office of the Governor) → · Federal Register
State law roundup: 20 California laws on licensing, EV charging, elections and welfare, plus Alaska game rules
Twenty California laws signed September 18 to 25 and one Alaska regulation package. California extended three licensing boards to 2031, capped multifamily EV charger permit fees, widened streamlined EV permitting, allowed E15 under existing vapor-control certifications, set in-person vote-by-mail procedures, expanded translated election materials, dropped the CalWORKs 100-hour work test and will revoke licenses for six years after an injury DUI with four prior convictions. Alaska's archery and predator-control rules took effect September 23.
Entries (Alaska Online Public Notices) → · California Legislative Information
California creates 'Non-Ultraprocessed Certified' food label standard
Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 2244 on September 28, 2026 (Chapter 721). It creates a state "Non-Ultraprocessed Certified" food standard: the Department of Public Health must accredit certification agents and create an official seal by June 1, 2029, and qualifying large grocery stores must identify certified products for shoppers.
Enrolled text (California Legislative Information) → · Office of the Governor
California requires tobacco retailers to post lung-cancer screening signage
Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 1124 on September 28, 2026, adding Section 22974.6 to the Business and Professions Code. The State Department of Public Health must make lung-cancer screening awareness signage available free on its website by July 1, 2027, and every tobacco retailer must conspicuously display it at each retail location beginning January 1, 2028. A retailer that fails to display the sign is liable for a $500 civil penalty per offense per location.
Enrolled text (California Legislative Information) → · Office of the Governor
Delaware federal court denies Pfizer and Moderna bids to dismiss Bayer COVID-19 vaccine mRNA patent lawsuits
U.S. Circuit Judge William Bryson, sitting by designation in Delaware federal court, denied motions to dismiss filed by Pfizer, BioNTech and Moderna in patent infringement litigation brought by Bayer over messenger RNA technology. The court held that Bayer's asserted claims are not directed to patent-ineligible natural laws under Section 101 and that Bayer plausibly pled infringement under Section 271.
Opinion (U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware) → · Reuters, Law360, GuruFocus
Florida sues Lilly, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi and three PBMs, alleging an insulin pricing scheme
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier sued insulin makers Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk and Sanofi, pharmacy benefit managers CVS Caremark, Express Scripts and OptumRx, and rebate aggregators Zinc, Ascent and Emisar in the Eleventh Judicial Circuit, his office announced September 22. The complaint alleges the manufacturers inflated list prices for insulin and related diabetes drugs while paying the PBMs rebates and fees for preferred formulary placement.
Filing (Florida Office of the Attorney General) → · WUSF, Bloomberg Law, Fierce Healthcare +1
California requires attorney general notice before producing abortion or gender-affirming care records
Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 1930 on September 26, 2026, as Chapter 468 of the Statutes of 2026. Adding Civil Code section 1798.309, it requires any person or entity served with subpoenas, discovery requests, or other legal-process requests concerning legally protected abortion or gender-affirming care to notify the Attorney General at least seven business days before producing records. The Attorney General may intervene in protective actions and seek injunctions and civil penalties, including $15,000 for a false attestation.
Enrolled text (California Legislative Information) → · Office of the Governor
California updates conversion-therapy ban to cover gender-identity change efforts
Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 934 on September 26, 2026, as Chapter 469 of the Statutes of 2026. From January 1, 2027, it amends Business and Professions Code sections 865 to 865.2 to redefine the regulated practice as “sexual orientation or gender identity change efforts”. Licensed mental health providers may not seek, during mental health services, to direct a patient under 18 toward a predetermined sexual orientation or gender identity; doing so is unprofessional conduct subject to licensing discipline.
Enrolled text (California Legislative Information) → · Office of the Governor
Forty-four state attorneys general reach $2.29 million settlement with Labcorp over AMCA data breach
A bipartisan coalition of forty-four state attorneys general led by Connecticut Attorney General William Tong, with Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Texas as co-leads, finalized an assurance of voluntary compliance with Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings on Thursday. The settlement resolved a multistate investigation into the 2019 data breach at Labcorp's debt collection vendor, American Medical Collection Agency, which exposed records of 27.5 million people. Labcorp agreed to pay $2,287,455 and implement vendor risk management and incident response safeguards.
Filing (Connecticut Office of the Attorney General) → · Office of the Attorney General of Connecticut, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, GovTech
Former DOJ health-care fraud lawyer Augustine Ripa to join Whistleblower Law Collaborative in Boston
Augustine Ripa is joining Whistleblower Law Collaborative as a Boston partner in its False Claims Act practice from the U.S. Department of Justice, Bloomberg Law reported on September 23, 2026; the firm said the move takes effect on September 28. His practice focuses on health-care FCA matters including pharmaceutical pricing, Anti-Kickback Statute issues, and FDA and regulatory-approval fraud theories.
Announcement (Bloomberg Law) → · Whistleblower Law Collaborative
HHS pauses Exchange registration for new agents and brokers through February 2027
The Department of Health and Human Services published an interim final rule on September 23, 2026 (91 FR 60317, CMS-9872-IFC) codifying CMS authority to impose temporary moratoria on Exchange agent and broker registration, and immediately paused Plan Year 2027 registration on the federally facilitated Exchanges for agents and brokers without Plan Year 2026 agreements. The moratorium took effect September 22, 2026 and runs through February 1, 2027 unless CMS lifts, extends or modifies it; comments are due November 21, 2026.
Text (Federal Register) → · Federal Register (full text)
Morrison Foerster hires ex-Associate Deputy AG Paul Perkins to chair False Claims Act practice in DC
Paul Perkins joined Morrison Foerster as a Washington, D.C. partner in Investigations + White Collar Defense and chair of the False Claims Act practice, Bloomberg Law and the firm reported on September 22, 2026. He most recently served as Associate Deputy Attorney General after senior Civil Fraud Section roles at the U.S. Department of Justice.
Announcement (Bloomberg Law) → · Morrison Foerster
Michigan exempts CMS model arrangements from state anti-kickback law
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed Senate Bill 1052 on September 21, 2026, now 2026 Public Act 97, effective immediately. It amends the Medicaid False Claim Act (MCL 400.604) so that model arrangements and model patient incentives authorized and sponsored by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services do not constitute a kickback or bribe under Michigan's Medicaid anti-kickback provision, which otherwise carries up to four years' imprisonment or a $30,000 fine.
Enrolled text (Michigan Legislature) → · Michigan Executive Office of the Governor
California adds email and text notice to 60-day warning of health plan provider-contract terminations
Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 2613 (Chapter 306, Statutes of 2026) on September 18, amending Health and Safety Code section 1373.65. From January 1, 2027, health plans must send the existing 60-day notice of a provider-group or hospital contract termination by email or text, as well as mail, to enrollees who opted in. If plan and provider later reach agreement, the plan must notify enrollees by mail and electronically within 10 business days of DMHC approval.
Gibson Dunn hires Paul Weiss products-liability lead Kimberly Branscome and two partners
Gibson Dunn hired a three-partner mass-torts and product-liability trial team from Paul Weiss on September 18, 2026. Kimberly Branscome joins as co-chair of the practice; Yahonnes Cleary and Jonathan Tam join as partners. Branscome and Tam are based in Los Angeles and Cleary in New York, adding first-chair trial depth in pharmaceutical, medical-device, consumer, and industrial matters.
Announcement (Bloomberg Law) → · Gibson Dunn
Morgan & Morgan pledges $1bn over 10 years for tech and AI; unveils MX2 platform
On September 14, 2026 U.S. plaintiffs firm Morgan & Morgan said it will spend at least $1 billion on legal technology and AI over the next decade and formally unveiled MX2, its proprietary AI platform. Artificial Lawyer and Legal IT Insider reported the pledge and product modules; a Reuters dispatch the same day said the firm plans to offer MX2 to other law firms on an invitation-only basis by the end of 2027.
Announcement (Artificial Lawyer) → · Legal IT Insider, Reuters (via Boursorama)