Following the Departments of Labor, Treasury, and Health and Human Services’ (collectively, the “Departments”) issuance of a final rule for the No Surprises Act (which we previously reported on here), the Fifth Circuit recently struck down the government’s methodology for determining qualifying payment amounts (“QPA”) in a major win
Healthcare
Trends in Recent Healthcare Restrictive Covenant Laws
By Steven J. Pearlman & Brenna McLean on
State legislatures have accelerated efforts to limit restrictive covenants for healthcare professionals, creating a changing and fragmented legal landscape. To understand where we’re headed, we reviewed state legislation around the country enacted over the past two years. Over this period of time, fourteen states have enacted laws limiting the use…
No Surprises Here! Government Issues Final Rule in NSA, Streamlining IDR Process and Lowering Dispute Costs
On Thursday, May 28, 2026, after years of delay, the Departments of Labor, the Treasury, and Health and Human Services through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued a final rule for the No Surprises Act (“NSA”), implementing major reforms intended to improve the functioning of the NSA’s independent…
The “Break Up Big Medicine Act”: Potential Impacts for Healthcare Investors
By Ashley Seibler & Jason S. Madden on
A newly-introduced Senate bill called the “Break Up Big Medicine Act” proposes a federal prohibition on both new and existing common ownership or control of insurers, pharmacy benefit managers (“PBMs”), drug or medical device wholesalers, and certain medical service provider entities. The bipartisan proposal, introduced by Senators Warren and Hawley…
No Surprises Here! Shareholder Derivative Lawsuit Challenging Provider Use of No Surprises Act IDR Process Portends New Corporate Governance Risks
By Vinay Kohli & D. Austin Rettew on
On September 8, 2025, a shareholder of Nutex Health, Inc. (“Nutex”) filed a derivative action in the Southern District of Texas that places the No Surprises Act (“NSA”) squarely at the center of a corporate-governance fight. Specifically, the complaint alleges that Nutex’s heavy reliance on the NSA’s independent dispute resolution…
No Surprises Here! New York and Florida Courts Reject Provider Suits to Enforce NSA IDR Awards, Heightening Pressure for Appellate Review
In a pair of recent back-to-back rulings, Federal district courts in Florida and New York have held that the No Surprises Act (“NSA”) does not permit providers to bring private causes of action to enforce Independent Dispute Resolution (“IDR”) awards issued under the NSA. Following on the heels of earlier…
Proskauer Secures Landmark Settlement with New York State to Expand Access to Children’s Mental Health Services
By Michael Menconi on
[This blog post was originally published on Proskauer’s Social Responsibility and Pro Bono blog here.]
A Proskauer team, along with Disability Rights New York (DRNY), Children’s Rights (CR) and the National Health Law Program (NHeLP), reached a preliminary settlement agreement with the State of New York in C.K. v.
No Surprises Here! Payers Push Back on IDR Submissions, Opening New Front in NSA Implementation Landscape
On May 27, 2025, Blue Cross Blue Shield Healthcare Plan of Georgia (“BCBSGA”) sued several emergency physician groups and their billing agent, Halo MD, alleging abuse of the No Surprises Act’s (“NSA”) independent dispute resolution (“IDR”) process. The complaint claims the providers submitted ineligible claims, made false attestations, and inundated…
No Surprises Here! Fifth Circuit Holds NSA Provides No Private Right of Action to Enforce IDR Awards, Deepening Judicial Divide on Award Enforcement Mechanisms
In a recently issued opinion, the Fifth Circuit has added yet another chapter to the growing debate over whether providers may seek judicial enforcement of Independent Dispute Resolution (“IDR”) awards issued under the No Surprises Act (“NSA”). In a much-anticipated decision, the Fifth Circuit has held that the NSA does…
No Surprises Here! Connecticut District Court Confirms IDR Awards Are Enforceable Under the NSA, Deepening Judicial Divide Over Award Enforcement Mechanisms
By Vinay Kohli & D. Austin Rettew on
The U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut has become the latest court to weigh in on whether Independent Dispute Resolution (“IDR”) awards issued under the No Surprises Act (“NSA”) are enforceable. In a recent decision, the District Court has held that providers may sue to enforce arbitration…