Articles tagged with Federal Law
A California law that limits out-of-network doctor bills appears to be protecting patients from surprise medical bills, but has shifted bargaining leverage in favor of insurance plans. The law has also eroded the negotiating power of smaller physician groups, leading to consolidation among medical practices.
A recent National Academies report on returning individual research results to participants makes recommendations that create major new roadblocks to data sharing and would roll back important privacy protections. The report's findings highlight the need for transparency and respect for participants' rights, rather than building barriers.
A study by Yale researchers found that many top US hospitals fail to comply with federal regulations regarding patient access to medical records. Despite HIPAA guarantees, hospitals often make it difficult or expensive for patients to obtain their own records, violating state and federal guidelines.
A new analysis highlights that undocumented people in certain states may get more medical help due to the current administration's effort to give states more flexibility with their health care spending. States like Florida and Texas have already received permission to increase funding for safety-net hospitals, leading to a 50-70% rise ...
A Duke professor argues that fake news and social media's 'filter bubbles' threaten the functioning of the First Amendment. The proliferation of cheap, easily spreadable misinformation raises concerns about the role of government intervention in regulating online content.
A comprehensive analysis of 150 university policies reveals limited research supporting compelled disclosure, which can silence and disempower survivors. Researchers propose four alternative approaches prioritizing survivor-centered goals to protect everyone involved in sexual assault cases.
Medical professionals in the US should use trained medical interpreters to ensure patients with limited English proficiency receive accurate communication. Language access plans involving professional interpreters improve health outcomes, ethical patient care, and patient satisfaction, reducing costly repeat visits.
The 30th Annual Legislative Update reports that over 20 states have enacted laws increasing access to healthcare provided by APRNs, with full practice authority now granted in 25 states. This expansion aims to improve access to high-quality, cost-effective healthcare nationwide.
Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine propose recrafting federal anti-kickback laws to allow more sensible health-promoting initiatives. The authors suggest laws should distinguish between inducements for high-value services with medical benefits and those that mainly benefit provider profit margins.
The analysis found that hospitals with lowest performance before implementing the law showed highest improvement in reducing readmission rates. Financial penalties under the Affordable Care Act led to significant reductions in hospital readmission rates for common conditions.
Scholars propose five guidelines to prevent disputes over frozen embryos, including clear contract language, requiring a binding agreement, and anticipating potential tragedies. These recommendations aim to provide clarity for the estimated million frozen embryos in the US, reducing uncertainty and shifting terrain of varying state laws.
A new study by Boston University researchers found that three state laws - requiring firearm identification, ammunition background checks, and universal background checks - can substantially reduce gun deaths. Implementing these laws nationwide could project a national mortality rate of 0.16 per 100,000 people.
A nationwide study found that universal background checks for guns and ammunition can substantially reduce firearm deaths in the USA. Implementing these laws could halve national gun death rates, cutting overall gun deaths to 1.99 per 100000 (81% decrease).
A new study suggests that providing low-income households with financial incentives to buy fruits and vegetables can encourage them to purchase and consume more healthy food. According to the study, these incentives, in the form of rebates, are unlikely to prompt consumers to increase their spending on junk food.
A Johns Hopkins University study found that Obamacare led to a decline in support for government health-care spending among Democrats, Republicans, and independents. Before the law's passage, about two-thirds of independents and Republicans supported increased health spending, but this dropped significantly after its enactment.
A new study found that states adopting their first drunk driving laws were more likely to have large populations of young people and neighboring states with similar laws, contradicting expectations that political makeup or traffic fatality rates would be predictors.
A new study finds that US consumers prefer to buy meat labeled as originating from the US due to perceptions of safety and taste. However, retailer-provided information about equivalent standards in other countries can increase acceptance of international products.
A new national study found that most states violate federal Medicaid law by denying coverage for sofosbuvir, a highly effective treatment for hepatitis C. The study highlights the need to improve access to treatment for low-income and underserved patients.
A North Carolina-based study by Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center researchers found that local enforcement of federal immigration laws can have an adverse impact on the use of health care services among immigrant Hispanics. Rates of late and inadequate prenatal care increased significantly among Hispanic mothers compared to non-Hispan...
A new study suggests that the role of public utility commissions and the National Labor Relations Act in labor disputes regarding electric utilities need to be reexamined. The study's author argues that modifying the NLRA could help change the mindset of both labor and management, and ensure that public safety is prioritized.
A global approach is necessary to combat massive data breaches like the one that hit Target, a Michigan State University cyber security expert argues. The report found that many hackers operate in Russia or on websites where users communicate in Russian, making it harder for authorities to track them.
A new study by University of Rochester researcher Maya Sen finds that the American Bar Association systematically awards lower ratings to minorities and women than to white or male candidates. This has significant implications for representation in federal courts, with African Americans being 42 percentage points less likely to receive...
A NYU study found child restraint laws across many states have gaps, leaving passengers vulnerable to vehicle-crash injuries. The laws often lag behind medical guidelines and fail to distinguish between child seats.
The report provides a summary of laws and policies to better protect victims of domestic violence, highlighting the link between firearms and lethal intimate partner violence. Several federal and state laws, including the Gun Control Act of 1968 and Texas law, prohibit gun ownership by abusers in domestic violence cases.
A new study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that federal, state, and local laws give only partial support to diabetes guidelines and evidence-based interventions. To address this, the authors suggest six specific actions to improve law's role in preventing and controlling diabetes.
A new study examines local lead abatement efforts in eight communities, finding that local laws can be highly effective tools to address lead hazards. In Rochester, a historic lead abatement ordinance resulted in a 68% decline in children with elevated blood lead levels since its implementation.
A study found that tobacco companies have evaded the FDA's ban on 'light' cigarette descriptors by adding color-coding to 'light' packs, allowing smokers to still identify their brands. The companies also failed to apply for approval for these products as required by law.
A new study found that most ATV dealers are willing to discuss selling adult-sized ATVs for children under 16, despite a federal law prohibiting such sales. Seventy percent of dealers were willing to show and discuss the sale of an adult-sized ATV when informed that it was for a 12-year-old rider.
The author analyzed congressional hearings from 1965 and 2001 to show how policymakers' views on parental involvement have shifted. In the past, parents were seen as part of the problem, while schools were expected to solve issues through extra funding.
A new legal analysis warns that some states may delay or refuse to participate in the Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act, leaving millions of impoverished children and adults at risk for lack of coverage. The expansion could create new jobs and provide a much-needed boost to thousands of communities affected by poverty.
Efforts to dismantle clean air laws threaten public health, and experts urge physicians to educate Congress on the critical role of regulation in preventing air pollution's negative effects. The Clean Air Act authorizes the EPA to reduce airborne contaminants, and its amendments have been passed with bipartisan support.
Scientists argue that when a species recovers enough to be removed from the federal endangered species list, state management should follow the public trust doctrine, which guides conservation for the public good. The researchers apply this principle to the gray wolf case in the northern Rocky Mountains.
A new report examines the ways to protect sex workers, highlighting the need for decriminalization and policy changes. The study, conducted by Concordia University and University of Windsor researchers, reveals that sex work is increasingly dangerous and unprotected, with many sex workers facing marginalization and violence.
Key findings from the Commonwealth Fund/Modern Healthcare Health Care Opinion Leaders Survey include widespread support for states to implement key health reform law provisions early with full federal support. The survey also highlights concerns about barriers to implementation, such as capacity of state agencies and budget pressures.
A University of Illinois law expert argues that professional athletes should negotiate employment terms at the collective bargaining table, rather than in federal court. This approach could strengthen labor peace and prevent players from exploiting the system.
The Canadian Medical Association Journal advocates for reforming Canada's outdated food and drugs act to ensure new and old medications are safe and effective. The proposed reforms include increased evidence gathering, monitoring, progressive licensing, and modernizing legislation.
A team of ASU professors will evaluate novel 'soft law' mechanisms for oversight of nanotechnology using the grant. They aim to bring cutting-edge analysis of innovative governance mechanisms to the rapidly-developing technology, focusing on industry groups, non-governmental organizations, and voluntary norms.
A legal analysis by Lawrence O. Gostin asserts the health insurance mandate is constitutional due to federal powers regulating interstate commerce and taxation. The mandate's tax penalty is seen as essential for expanding healthcare access and correcting market failures, making it a key component of health reform.
The surveys will track trends in behavioral health services, consumer access, and cost sharing in the nation's privately insured individuals. The data collected will provide insights for policy-makers, advocacy groups, and health plan executives on how to improve delivery of behavioral health services.
A nationwide study reveals that enforcing federal and state laws against tobacco sales to minors drastically decreases underage smoking rates, with daily smoking rates among 10th graders falling by half between 1997 and 2003.
New NIST report explores electronic technologies for overseas voting, highlighting potential risks and control measures. The report suggests that postal mail can be augmented with electronic methods to distribute blank ballots, but transmission of completed ballots via telephone, e-mail, and the Web faces significant security threats.
States can play a critical role in health care reform by creating insurance exchanges, regulating health insurance plans, and innovating through novel programs. The federal government must also take initiative to achieve sustainable and successful reform, as states alone cannot overcome the substantial barriers to change.
A University of Washington study reveals that dozens of toxic chemicals are emitted by top-selling laundry products and air fresheners, with none listed on product labels. The study highlights the need for better labeling and reduced exposure to potentially hazardous fragrances.
A recent University of Missouri study found that states with repealed universal helmet laws experienced a 12.2% increase in motorcyclist fatalities, while states with universal laws had a 11.1% lower fatality rate.
A new report from The Commonwealth Fund finds that 13.3 million young adults ages 19 to 29 were uninsured in 2005, with many having low incomes and limited access to private coverage.
A recent study by Bruce Fuller and colleagues found that progress in raising test scores was stronger before No Child Left Behind was approved, compared to the four years following enactment of the law. The researchers tracked progress in both state and federal test scores in 12 diverse states, going back to 1992, and found that annual...
A new study by University of Washington professors reveals that companies lose an average of 41% of market value after misconduct is reported. The largest monetary penalties suffered are the result of damage to a firm's reputation, with losses up to $3.08 for each dollar of inflated market value.
A study by Rice University economists found that high private sector lawyer salaries in certain regions affect the likelihood of federal prosecutors taking drug cases to trial. This occurs because government positions are less competitive, leading experienced lawyers to seek trials to gain valuable courtroom experience.
A study by Dr. Max Schanzenbach finds that the Feeney Amendment's constraints on federal judges were unnecessary to keep prison sentences between offenders similar, as federal sentencing practices did not change appreciably over the relevant time period.
A review of federal, state, and local gun laws found no conclusive evidence that these laws reduce gun-related deaths or violent crimes. Poor data, underreporting, and jurisdictional issues hindered the research, leading to a lack of knowledge about the effectiveness of current laws.
Intellectual property experts argue that the NIH proposed policy does not alter existing copyright law, but rather builds on current practice to facilitate public access to research. This change is seen as advancing the NIH's aim to use today's information technologies to fulfill its public mission.
State CAP laws associated with an 8.3% reduction in youth suicide rates for 14- to 17-year-olds, particularly those using firearms. The study estimates that over 300 youth suicides were prevented, saving 35 lives in 2001.
A study found that most people dislike yard signs due to their size, location, and content, leading to conflicts with neighbors. Cities may need to regulate these signs before they become a nuisance, especially as they become more common in neighborhoods around the country.
Laws regulating short hospital stays in the US led to an average increase of 16 days in postpartum care for privately insured women. Hospital charges also rose by $200 per patient. The effects varied across states, with some seeing significant improvements in maternal health outcomes.
The Enforcing Underage Drinking Laws program has led to increased state agency involvement and enforcement efforts, including retail outlet crackdowns and public education campaigns. However, results show no significant reductions in alcohol use among youth, highlighting the need for continued intervention and analysis.
A recent UNC study found that over 90% of internet cigarette vendors sold cigarettes to minors despite warnings about age restrictions. The researchers also discovered that many vendors did not verify the age of buyers and left packages unattended at recipients' doors.
Health insurance scams have been on the rise as premiums increase at double-digit rates, leaving nearly 100,000 people with unpaid medical debts and without coverage. The Commonwealth Fund report recommends strengthening criminal penalties, expanding access to affordable coverage, and improving consumer education.
A study by K. Michael Cummings found that retailer compliance with laws prohibiting tobacco sales to minors more than doubled, from 35% in 1994 to 73% in 1995. However, the difference in smoking behavior between high and low compliance communities was small and not statistically significant.
Professor Marchant's research team will analyze how new genomic data can be integrated into existing laws and regulations, as well as identify ethical and policy considerations for using genetic data in environmental decision-making. The goal is to develop criteria for using human genome data in environmental regulation.
A recent study by researchers at the University of California - Los Angeles found that many gun dealers are willing to sell firearms to individuals prohibited from buying them, despite federal laws. The survey revealed that 87.5% of dealers would make a sale if the firearm was identified as being for someone else.