HHS — Lanton Law Blog

Can America's Retreat On mRNA Be Europe's Opportunity?

With the unprecedented success of mRNA vaccines during the pandemic, it almost felt as though mRNA technology was about to enter a “golden era” where new solutions using this platform would be found to finally address costly and devastating diseases that had been wreaking havoc in many countries. Unfortunately, the steadfast rising skepticism in the U.S. about vaccines has caused a drastic change on mRNA from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

HHS, healthcare, vaccineRon LantonAugust 28, 2025RNA, mRNA, vaccine, HHS, European Union, E.U.

Lawsuits Likely as Federal Authorities Roll Back Longstanding Vaccine Guidelines

In a recent interview with Pharmaceutical Executive, Ron Lanton, partner, Lanton Law, discussed the unprecedented legal and policy challenges emerging from recent changes to federal vaccine recommendations.

healthcare, HHS, CDCRon LantonAugust 24, 2025Vaccine, HHS, Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, ACIP

Lanton Law Talks to Applied Clinical Trials About The Hidden Impact of Drug Pricing on Government Clinical Trials

In part one of this video interview, Ron Lanton III, Esq., partner, Lanton Law, discusses how a potential increase in drug costs could affect the clinical research industry.

clinical research, clinical trials, HHS, healthcareRon LantonJune 7, 2025Clinical trials, drug prices, rebates, HHS, government sponsored clinical trials

Executive Action Targets High Drug Costs: What the Industry Needs to Know

On April 15, 2025, President Trump signed the executive order titled “Lowering Drug Prices by Once Again Putting Americans First,” signaling a significant shift in U.S. pharmaceutical policy. This directive aims to reduce prescription drug costs through a multifaceted approach, impacting various aspects of the healthcare industry.

Ron LantonApril 22, 2025Lowering Drug Prices by Once Again Putting Americans First, Executive Order, Medicare Price Negotiation, HHS, FDA, tariffs, imports

Lanton Law Quoted in Pharmacy Times Interview on Drug Pricing Reforms Amid the Repeal of Executive Order 14087

Lanton Law was quoted in the Pharmacy Times Article titled "Reversal of Executive Order (EO) 14087 Raises Questions About Future Drug Pricing Reforms.” We discuss the EO and how pharmacists are impacted. The article can be viewed here.

healthcare, FDA, CMS, life sciences, Medicare, pharmacy, pharmaceuticals, pharmacy benefit manager, Pharmacy Times, PhRMARon LantonJanuary 28, 2025Executive Order 14087, drug pricing, Inflation Reduction Act, HHS, FDA, biosimilars, oncology, Medicare, CMS, pharmacy, PhRMA, PBM

FTC, DOJ and HHS Extend RFI on Private Equity Control in Health Care Markets

The Federal Trade Commission, the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Antitrust Division, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) are extending the deadline by 30 days for the public to comment on a tri-agency Request for Information (RFI) examining private-equity and other corporations’ increasing control over health care markets. The new deadline is now June 5, 2024.

healthcare, hospitals, IoT, HealthIT, LTC, life sciences, Long term care pharmacy, pharmaceuticals, PhRMA, private equity, SPAC, technologyRon LantonMay 2, 2024private equity firms, private equity, FTC, HHS, DOJ, RFI

Biden Administration Announces First Ten Drugs Selected for Medicare Price Negotiation

The Biden Administration has announced today that Medicare will be able to negotiate drug prices for the first time due to provisions within the Inflation Reduction Act.

healthcare, life sciences, Medicare Part D, pharmaceuticals, prescription drug costsRon LantonAugust 29, 2023Inflation Reduction Act, drug prices, pharmaceuticals, prescription drug prices, Medicare Part D, CMS, HHS

NCPA Files Lawsuit on Pharmacy Direct & Indirect Remuneration (DIR) Fees

The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) on DIR fees. Specifically, the complaint seeking declaratory and injunctive relief seeks three things according to NCPA’s release:

pharmacy, pharmaceuticals, pharmacy benefit manager, Medicare, Medicare Part D, lawsuits, healthcare, insurance, HHSRon LantonJune 7, 2021Pharmacy, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, DIR fee, direct and indirect remuneration fees, HHS, federal court, law, lawsuit

HHS Delays Rebate Rule to 2023 Due to a Court Order

Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced that the Trump administration’s directive that would have implemented the drug rebate rule against pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs).

healthcare, HHS, pharmaceuticals, physician, pharmacy benefit manager, prescription drug costsRon LantonMarch 18, 2021Drug Rebate Rule, Pharmacy Benefit Manager, Health and Human Services, HHS, U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia

New Executive Order Aimed at Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs)

The White House has released an Executive Order titled “Executive Order on Lowering Prices for Patients by Eliminating Kickbacks to Middlemen.”

reimbursement, prescription drug costs, pharmacy benefit manager, pharmacy, pharmaceuticals, Medicare Part D, insurance, HHS, life sciences, healthcareRon LantonJuly 27, 2020Executive Order on Lowering Prices for Patients by Eliminating Kickbacks to Middlemen, PBM, Pharmacy Benefit Manager, safe harbor, Medicare D, Medicaid, HHS

White House Issues Executive Order Advocating for Importation

The White House has issued an Executive Order titled “Executive Order on Increasing Drug Importation to Lower Prices for American Patients,” which seeks to advocate for having supply chain entities proceed with importation.

drug price, HHS, importation, life sciences, pharmaceuticals, pharmacy, reimbursementRon LantonJuly 27, 2020drug price, Executive Order on Increasing Drug Importation to Lower Prices for American Patients, importation, Canada, HHS

The Administration Releases Executive Order Targeting Insulin and Injectable Epinephrine via 340B

The White House has announced a few Executive Orders targeting healthcare. One Executive Order titled Executive Order on Access to Affordable Life-saving Medications targets insulin and injectable epinephrine by requiring federally qualified community health centers to pass through 340B program discounts to patients using insulin and epinephrine auto-injectors.

HHS, life sciences, pharmaceuticals, pharmacy, reimbursement, hospitals, drug priceRon LantonJuly 27, 2020340B, insulin, epinephrine, HHS, FQHC, insurance, Executive Order on Access to Affordable Life-Saving Medications