Newsletters
Medicare, HMOs and the Cost of Losing Weight
Healthy eating choices and gym memberships may be gaining in popularity, but many severely overweight patients are turning to bariatric surgery, also known as stomach stapling, which is a popular, but drastic form of weight reduction. Medicare is leading the way in providing coverage for weight loss surgery.
The Birth Defect Prevention Act
The Birth Defect Prevention Act provides a number of initiatives to address the proliferation of birth defects, which are the leading cause of infant mortality in the United States.
The Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 and Food Safety
Title III of the Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 establishes procedures to ensure the safety of the U.S. food supply from terrorist attacks.
Validity of Noncompete Clauses in Physicians' Contracts
In general, noncompete covenants in physicians' contracts require the physician to agree not to compete with his or her employer for a certain period of time within a certain geographical area. Ordinarily, noncompete covenants in employment contracts will be upheld if they are not too broad in time or in area.
DESIGNATION OF PRIVACY OFFICIAL AND CONTACT PERSON
Covered entities that must ensure an individual's privacy in his or her protected health information as required by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and the Privacy Rule promulgated by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) are required to designate a privacy official.
