Mark Payne

New analysis: U.S. District Judge Daniel Domenico concluded that Colorado's law didn't meet the strict scrutiny required of the state government to prove it has a compelling interest. Instead, he found the plaintiffs' "religious practice has been singled out for differential treatment."

New analysis: A Texas man's decision to sue in federal court, as opposed to state court, is an attempt to bypass California shield law protections by claiming a doctor violated the 150-year-old federal Comstock Act.

New: Texas Judge Jeffrey Brown dismissed the claims brought by the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons Educational Foundation alleging doctors faced retaliation for advising pregnant women against receiving the COVID-19 vaccine and criticizing the government over lockdown policies.

The problem, as investigators say was clear in Kentucky, is that even docs aren't always sure a person is dead. This has led to cases where docs are violating the "dead donor rule," according to Thaddeus Pope, a law professor at Mitchell Hamline School of Law, "because people definitely are alive."

New analysis from me: A federal probe into a Kentucky organ procurement organization for allegedly moving forward with an organ donation, despite the would-be donor showing "signs of life," has put the spotlight on the often complicated ways that doctors diagnose death.

New: The DOJ has opened an investigation into NewYork-Presbyterian Healthcare System for allegedly violating antitrust laws by cutting deals with insurance companies that have led to rising healthcare costs, according to a subpoena viewed by Law360. www.law360.com/health/artic...

A Billing Code 'Ambiguity' Retrial: 3 Things To Know - Law360 Healthcare Authority A Maryland doctor found guilty by a federal jury two years ago in a COVID-19 testing scheme, only to see his conviction thrown out, is once again facing a criminal trial. Law360 Healthcare Authority e...

New: A Maryland doctor found guilty by a federal jury two years ago in a COVID-19 testing scheme, only to see his conviction thrown out, is once again facing a criminal trial. Here's a look at the restarted prosecution and what experts say about the unusual case.
www.law360.com/healthcare-a...

Lawmakers Consider Case Of Would-Be Donor's 'Signs Of Life' - Law360 Healthcare Authority The nation's organ transplant system is again under the microscope of federal lawmakers after a federal investigation found that a Kentucky organ procurement organization moved forward with the transp...

New: The nation's organ transplant system is again under the microscope of federal lawmakers after a federal investigation found that a Kentucky organ procurement organization moved forward with the transplant process despite the patient showing "signs of life." www.law360.com/healthcare-a...

Ohio Justices Accept AG's Bid To Limit Care For Trans Youths - Law360 The Ohio Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to review an appeals court's finding that portions of a state law restricting gender-affirming care for transgender youths are unconstitutional.

New: The Ohio Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to review an appeals court's finding that portions of a state law restricting gender-affirming care for transgender youths are unconstitutional.
www.law360.com/articles/236...

2 journalists among at least 13 arrested at Roebling Bridge ICE protest Two of the at least 13 people arrested by Covington police at a protest Thursday evening work for CityBeat, a publication that covers news and entertainment topics in Cincinnati.

2 journalists, including @madelinefening.bsky.social, were arrested by the Covington, Ky. PD last night while on assignment covering an ICE Protest. They were charged with 1st Degree Rioting, a Class D Felony in the commonwealth punishable by up to 5 years in jail. www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2...

States move to keep doctors’ names off of abortion pill prescription labels Doctors are pushing for laws that would make it harder to detect who prescribed abortion pills. They say it would protect them from out-of-state prosecutions.

Massachusetts is on the verge of passing a law to let shield law providers w/hold their names prescriptions for abortion pills.

It's part of a strategy to protect providers from out-of-state lawsuits. But most abortion prescriptions are filled in California — where a similar bill is still in limbo.

A Legal 'Green Light' For FDA Abortion Drug Review - Law360 Healthcare Authority A case brought by Democratic attorneys general led to a "green light" federal court decision for the Trump administration as it considers new regulations on the abortion drug mifepristone.

New analysis: A recent Washington federal court decision is a legal "green light" for the Trump administration and the new U.S. Food and Drug Administration commissioner as they seek to review regulations on the abortion drug mifepristone, according to legal experts. www.law360.com/healthcare-a...

Bucking a trend of state efforts to rein in prescription drug prices, New Hampshire lawmakers have dissolved a state drug affordability board launched just five years ago. www.law360.com/healt...

Scoop: Move by RFK Jr.'s PAC fuels speculation about 2028 campaign Group's Zoom call has some supporters thinking Kennedy's positioning for another run at the White House.

Scoop: RFK Jr.’s super PAC stirs, fueling speculation about a 2028 White House bid. www.axios.com/2025/07/16/r...

FDA Offers to Trade Faster Drug Reviews for Lower US Prices Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary said his agency may fast-track new drugs from pharmaceutical companies that “equalize” the cost of their medicines between the US and other count...

FDA Offers to Trade Faster Drug Reviews for Lower US Prices
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

New: U.S. District Judge Thomas Rice granted the government's cross-motion for summary judgment in an 11-page order Tuesday, removing his own preliminary injunction that had temporarily required the FDA to maintain the availability of mifepristone in those states and Washington, D.C.

New: A new California bill would extend the authority of the California Office of Health Care Affordability, or OCHA, to oversee deals by managed services organizations, hedge funds and private equity groups buying healthcare entities.

New analysis from me: Legal experts say the federal government's use of high-profile use of AI and data tools in healthcare fraud investigations raise a host of questions, including about patient privacy and ethical guardrails.

We’re taking @politico.com to arbitration this week for its unethical use of AI and we’re asking for your support! bit.ly/PENGuild

Law360 mandates reporters use AI “bias” detection on all stories The policy was announced after an executive accused the newsroom of bias in its Trump administration coverage.

Law360 is requiring all stories pass through an AI "bias indicator" before publication.

The new policy came weeks after an executive from its parent company, LexisNexis, accused the newsroom of liberal bias in its Trump admin coverage. My latest for @niemanlab.org
www.niemanlab.org/2025/07/law3...

New: One of the many Texas laws enacted after the legislative session will require doctors and lawyers to take a course on what constitutes a "medical emergency" for the purpose of a legal abortion under an otherwise strict ban that went into effect following Dobbs.

DOJ Says Over 300 Charged In $14.6B Healthcare Fraud Sting - Law360 A healthcare fraud operation conducted by federal and state law enforcement groups netted more than 300 defendants in a slew of schemes amounting to $14.6 billion in potential false claims, the Justic...

New: A healthcare fraud operation conducted by federal and state law enforcement groups netted more than 300 defendants in a slew of schemes amounting to $14.6 billion in potential false claims, the Justice Department announced Monday. www.law360.com/articles/235...

Trump's Abortion Guidance U-Turn Sparks Legal Risks - Law360 Healthcare Authority Now that the Trump administration has pulled guidance telling doctors they must perform abortions in emergency situations, healthcare attorneys are warning their clients to diligently document their d...

New analysis from me: Now that the Trump admin. has pulled guidance telling docs they must perform emergency abortions, healthcare attorneys are warning clients to diligently document their decisions, especially when caught between conflicting federal and state laws. www.law360.com/healthcare-a...

BREAKING: The U.S. Supreme Court upheld a Tennessee ban on gender-affirming medical care for minors, finding that the state law does not violate the Equal Protection Clause. www.law360.com/artic...

BREAKING: Supreme Court Upholds Tennessee Transgender Care Ban - Law360 The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld a Tennessee ban on gender-affirming medical care for minors, finding that the state law does not violate the Equal Protection Clause.

#Breaking From me and @HannahAlbarazi: #SCOTUS on Wednesday upheld a Tennessee ban on gender-affirming medical care for minors, finding that the case didn't trigger heightened review under the Equal Protection Clause because the law doesn't discriminate based on sex. www.law360.com/appellate/ar...

BREAKING: A Massachusetts federal judge blocked the NIH from cutting hundreds of grant programs to universities, hospitals and other organizations, saying that he had never seen such "palpable" racial and LGBTQ discrimination from the government. www.law360.com/artic...

BREAKING: Mass. Judge Blocks NIH Grant Cuts, Calls Them 'Discrimination' - Law360 A Massachusetts federal judge on Monday blocked the National Institutes of Health from cutting hundreds of grant programs to universities, hospitals and other organizations, saying that in his 40 year...

#BREAKING: A Mass. federal judge on Monday blocked the NIH from cutting hundreds of grant programs to universities, hospitals and other organizations, saying in his 40 years on the bench he had never seen such "palpable" racial and LGBTQ discrimination from the govt. www.law360.com/articles/235...

A Federal Preemption Target On State Medical Debt Laws - Law360 Healthcare Authority The Trump administration changes course on medical debt reporting, putting a new target on a slate of state laws that protect patients from some of the impacts of unpaid medical bills.

New analysis: After the Trump administration's shift on a medical debt reporting rule, a slate of state laws that also sought to protect patients from some of the impacts of unpaid medical bills may be next on the chopping block. www.law360.com/healthcare-a...

A year ago, the Supreme Court press corps, including @law360.bsky.social, sent a letter to Chief Justice John Roberts requesting #SCOTUS live stream its opinion readings like its oral arguments.

He has yet to respond to the request.

Letter w/ signatories: www.documentcloud.org/documents/25...

Ala. Judge Orders Trans Health Org. To Publish Training Vids - Law360 Healthcare Authority In a case challenging Alabama's ban on gender-affirming care for youths, a federal judge this week ordered a trans health organization to publish video recordings of the group's conferences and a medi...

New: In a case testing Alabama's ban on gender-affirming care for youths, a federal judge this week ordered a trans health org. to publish videos of the group's conferences and a medical training course, after the group sought to protect the content's confidentiality. www.law360.com/healthcare-a...