The FTC’s Civil Action Against Powerful Pharmacy Business Managers Could Reduce the Cost of Insulin for Millions of Diabetic Patients

Posted on Categories Fraud & Abuse

Insulin is a life-sustaining medication for numerous individuals with diabetes. For an extended period, many have been forced to pay inflated prices for a product that is inexpensive to manufacture. However, individuals with diabetes may now have cause for cautious optimism regarding more cost-effective treatment options. This development arises as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has decided to address one aspect of the system responsible for the high cost of insulin. The FTC initiated legal proceedings against the three largest pharmacy benefits managers (PBM) on September 20, 2024. The action was taken in response to alleged unfair and anticompetitive rebating practices that were purported to have artificially elevated the list prices of insulin medications.
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CrowdStrike’s Setback: A Blueprint for Better Third-Party Risk Compliance

Posted on Categories Regulation, technology

Earlier this year, CrowdStrike, a leading cybersecurity company, experienced a major outage caused by an automatic software update. This incident disrupted services globally, affecting over 8.5 million devices, including critical sectors such as healthcare and financial services. As businesses increasingly rely on third-party vendors for cybersecurity, this outage underscores the importance of managing third-party risks and ensuring digital resilience. Organizations can use this event as a valuable lesson to reassess their risk management practices and strengthen their defenses. Furthermore, the incident reveals how even highly reputed vendors are not immune to failure, stressing the need for layered defenses that safeguard against vendor disruptions at every level.
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South Carolina’s Archaic Liquor Laws and Insurance Regulations

Posted on Categories Regulation

For many Americans, turning twenty-one means the end of alcohol regulations. However, for the people of South Carolina, that is not always the case. Hosting a Sunday brunch and need last-minute liquor supplies? Stores are closed. Need to make a quick stop at the liquor store for your weekend festivities after work? If it is after 7 p.m. that is not possible. South Carolina’s archaic alcohol regulations have frequently been a topic of concern for businesses, individuals, and the government. Many believe that the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, the source for these laws, should be amended to mirror other states with less stringent laws regarding the sale of alcohol. Even more recently, the insurance liabilities imposed on sellers of alcohol in South Carolina have increased, leading to the closure of many businesses. If these regulations do not change in the coming years, the South Carolina legislature is likely to see increasing violations of these regulations or an increase in the number of small businesses closing.

No One Can Watch the Chicago Bulls! And Other Reasons Why the MLB, NBA, and NHL Need to Consider Nationalizing Their Media Rights.

Posted on Categories Sports, Uncategorized

Regional Sports Networks (RSNs) are the TV channels that show a sports team’s games in a local area. Due to a demand for sports by television viewers over the past few decades, RSNs created large revenues from local media rights deals (TV contracts) for professional sports leagues. This issue impacts several of the major professional leagues: the National Basketball Association (NBA), National Hockey League (NHL), and Major League Baseball (MLB). Currently, due to the trend of cord-cutting and a lack of regulation by the league offices, many fans are left without a viable way to watch their local teams, including much of the City of Chicago.
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The Regulatory Framework of Our Data Privacy Legislation is Changing Amidst the Rise of Artificial Intelligence

Posted on Categories Artificial Intelligence, Privacy & Security

With the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) comes unprecedented opportunities and legitimate challenges, especially in the realm of data privacy. The rising capabilities of AI systems to process, analyze, and use massive amounts of personal data has generated amplified regulatory scrutiny across the globe. Governments and regulatory bodies are wrestling with how to balance innovation and economic growth propelled by AI against the need to protect individuals’ privacy, ensure transparency, and safeguard data from misuse.
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Clearing the Air: The Need for Federal Limits on Private Jet Usage

Posted on Categories environmental regulation, Transportation

As the planet grapples with the alarming effects of climate change, a glaring disparity emerges: while everyday Americans are held accountable for their environmental impact, the ultra-wealthy continue to fly under the radar in their private jets. This contradiction highlights the urgent need for change in the approach to private air travel and its contribution to global warming. If society truly cares about the planet’s future, regulatory bodies need to stop turning a blind eye and hold those who are contributing to the same standard.
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Have a Safe Trip: How Psychedelic Therapy in Oregon and Colorado Could Guide National Legalization

Posted on Categories Drugs & Devices

As the mental health crisis continues to challenge the United States, the need for innovative treatments is becoming increasingly evident. Psychedelic therapy, using substances like psilocybin and MDMA, is gaining attention as a promising approach to treating conditions such as post- traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety. Oregon and Colorado have pioneered the movement toward legalizing psychedelics for therapeutic use, and their progressive policies have the potential to provide a roadmap for the rest of the country. The question arises: should the entire U.S. follow in their footsteps? Oregon and Colorado’s frameworks could serve as a model for other states seeking to legalize psychedelics in therapeutic settings.
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Chicago’s One System Initiative: Merging the Homelessness and Forced Migration Response Services

Posted on Categories Compliance Spotlight

Since August 2022, Chicago has seen a record influx of new arrivals, with nearly 47,000 individuals seeking asylum in Illinois from the southern U.S. border. In response to this surge of new Chicagoans, the city and state launched the One System Initiative, an ambitious effort to integrate the systems serving Chicagoans experiencing homelessness and new arrivals. By aligning resources and streamlining services, the initiative aims to enhance the city’s overall homeless response system. Such integration must also comply with various federal, state, and local regulations concerning eligibility requirements, funding restrictions, and documentation demands.
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The End of the ‘No Fund League’: NFL Allows Private Equity Fund Team Ownership

Posted on Categories Athletic Regulation, Sports

On August 22, 2024, the owners of the National Football League (NFL) teams voted to allow private equity funds to purchase ownership in the teams with 31 out of the 32 team owners voting in favor of the change. Critics of the change raise concerns that private equity investments will cause teams to more aggressively prioritize profit over quality, leading to a poorer fan experience. However, the league has drafted the change with appropriate safeguards to limit the influence of private equity owners while still achieving the goal of increasing funds available to teams to promote stability and growth throughout the league.
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How America’s Drinking Water Crisis Impacts Chicagoans

Posted on Categories EPA, health

The movement to remove and replace lead pipes is nothing new in the United States. For decades, parts of the country have been working to get rid of lead pipes and replace them with alternatives that are much safer for human health. Progress, however, has generally been slow and lead pipes remain widely in use in many American cities. Earlier this month, President Biden announced the final deadline as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, giving the whole country ten years to expedite the process of removing and replacing all lead pipes.