Food, Drugs, Healthcare, Life Sciences

As the Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) budget and appropriations process kicks into full swing this month, the release of the President’s budget and related congressional hearings provide opportunities to gain insight into both the Trump administration’s and congressional lawmakers’ areas of focus for the Department of Health and Human Services, including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The Federal Circuit's decision in Teva v. Eli Lilly marks a significant shift in US patent law, bringing American practice closer to European standards for antibody treatment claims.

Federal enforcement of Medicare and Medicaid fraud has intensified dramatically, with recent prosecutions involving billions in alleged losses and sophisticated data analytics. Recent Sixth Circuit decisions reveal critical compliance vulnerabilities in medical necessity documentation, billing practices, and compensation structures that can trigger both criminal prosecution and civil False Claims Act liability.

Why It Matters: These laws signal Maine’s intent to exercise oversight over private equity and similar investment activity in its health care sector, a trend gaining momentum nationwide. Health care entities in Maine will need to understand the notice requirements and structure deal timelines to accommodate a regulatory review process that could exceed nine months.

In what is now a trend, on March 26, 2026, the United States Department of Justice Antitrust Division (DOJ) filed an antitrust lawsuit against The New York and Presbyterian Hospital challenging its contracting practices with commercial health insurers (or payors).

As artificial intelligence (“AI”) continues to be deployed in new use cases, state legislatures are considering measures to oversee its use in health insurance, particularly in prior authorization and utilization review.

On April 23, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), in conjunction with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), announced that pursuant to President Trump's December 18, 2025, Executive Order "Increasing Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research," issuance of a final rule by way of Attorney General order (Order) that immediately placed both U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved products containing marijuana and marijuana products regulated by a state medical marijuana license in Schedule

Entrepreneurs and business leaders in the cannabis industry face unique challenges in launching and sustaining successful enterprises, from navigating complex legislative hurdles to securing financing and building community partnerships.

As the Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) budget and appropriations process kicks into full swing this month, the release of the President’s budget and related congressional hearings provide opportunities to gain insight into both the Trump administration’s and congressional lawmakers’ areas of focus for the Department of Health and Human Services, including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).