Florida Bar Health Law Section

10/08/2026

The Health Law Section's Health Law Updates provide insights into key health law topics. In the September issue, HLS Chair Jamie Gelfman and Drew Elizabeth McCormick from McDermott Will & Schulte cover "NSA IDR Overhaul: What Stakeholders Need to Know." Read it now at bit.ly/NSA_IDR.

Here's the article overview: On May 28, 2026, the US Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and the Treasury, along with the Office of Personnel Management (collectively, the Departments), released a final rule addressing operational aspects of the federal No Surprises Act (NSA) independent dispute resolution (IDR) process. The final rule is intended to improve transparency, reduce eligibility disputes, and streamline the handling of claims that proceed through the IDR process.

Read the full September issue at bit.ly/9-26_HLU.

10/06/2026

REMINDER: If you're interested in Health Law board certification, the application filing period runs from September 1 to October 31 to determine eligibility to sit for the May 2027 exam. Applications must be postmarked by October 31.

Only 115 lawyers are currently Florida Bar board-certified in Health Law.

Board certification recognizes attorneys’ special knowledge, skills, and proficiency in various areas of law and professionalism and ethics in practice. In addition to the comprehensive exam, each board-certified lawyer undergoes a rigorous peer-review process that assesses competence in a specialty field, professionalism, and ethics in the practice of law.

To identify those lawyers who practice in the area of health law and have the special knowledge, skills, and proficiency to be properly identified to the public as board certified in health law.

09/30/2026

REMINDER: Registration is open until October 2 for Counsel to Counsel, The Florida Bar's free, app-based mentoring program that connects newer lawyers with experienced practitioners. Mentor-mentee matches will be announced in mid-October and are made through the MentorcliQ platform based on practice areas, professional interests, and career goals.

At a moment when AI is the source of significant disruption, hundreds of Florida lawyers are elevating the profession on a digital platform that fosters deeper human connection. That’s why sponsors of the “Counsel to Counsel” mentoring program are encouraging Bar members not to miss the Friday...

09/24/2026

Florida Bar members have until September 30 to renew their annual memberships and avoid being deemed delinquent effective October 1.

The quickest and easiest way to pay is online by signing into the Member Portal at member.floridabar.org and clicking the “Pay My Fees” button, but there are also several other fee payment options.

Members can pay via credit card or e-check, select voluntary section memberships, and complete mandatory trust account and pro bono reporting — all required to stay in compliance with Bar rules.

Florida Bar members have until September 30 to renew their annual memberships and avoid being deemed delinquent effective October 1. Each year, thousands of members are ultimately deemed delinquent for failing to pay their membership fees or complete the required trust accounting certification. Rein...

09/22/2026

The latest Health Law Update* is now available. The Updates contain overviews and brief explanations of important topics in health law. Read the September issue at bit.ly/9-26_HLU.

Thank you to Editor-in-Chief John C. Hood, Akerman LLP; Editor Daniella R. Lee, Epstein Becker Green; Editor Dustin Shore, Carlton Fields; and each of the volunteers who generously donated their time to prepare these articles. Each author is an attorney member of The Florida Bar unless otherwise indicated.

STATE LAWS AND REGULATIONS
🔹Florida Hospital EDs Now Required to Meet Pediatric Care Standards
Mary A. Edenfield, Dinsmore & Shohl

FEDERAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS
🔹NSA IDR Overhaul: What Stakeholders Need to Know
Jamie B. Gelfman and Drew Elizabeth McCormick, McDermott Will & Schulte
🔹American Medical Association’s New AI Billing Codes Draw Nursing Opposition and Raise Broader Questions about AI Reimbursement, Liability, and Compliance
C. Jade Davis and Katherine H. Crawford, Shumaker
🔹DOJ’s New Fraud Division Memo Signals a More Aggressive, Data-Driven Enforcement Era
Lori Rubin Garber, Jason Mehta, Joseph W. Swanson, and Samantha M. Gerencir, Foley & Lardner LLP
🔹The Patients’ Robots Are Coming: Requests for EHI in 2026
David Heller, The Law Office of David Heller

STATE CASE LAW
🔹Can Out-of-State Physicians Be Sued in Florida When Their Medical Reports Are Later Used Here? The Florida Supreme Court Is About to Decide.
Melody Lynch and Sean Klein, Lowndes

FEDERAL CASE LAW
🔹Sixth Circuit Rejects Narrow View of Medicare’s Limitation on Liability Provision
Michael P. Gennett, Evan M. Schrode, and Gulnara Anzarova, Polsinelli
🔹Florida Physicians Face Uphill Battle Obtaining Emergency Relief From Corporate Pharmacy Exclusions
Henry E. Norwood and Abbye E. Alexander, Kaufman Dolowich LLP
🔹From “Pay and Chase” to “Detect and Deploy”: DOJ’s 2026 Takedown Signals AI’s Expanding Role in Healthcare Fraud Enforcement Actions
Noam B. Fischman and John C. Hood, Akerman LLP
🔹The Battle Continues: No Appointments Clause Problem, BUT Eleventh Circuit Directs District Court to Consider Whether False Claims Act Qui Tam Provisions Violate Take Care, Vesting Clauses
George B. Breen, Daniella R. Lee, and Erica Sibley Bahnsen, with Ann W. Parks, Epstein Becker Green

*These articles are presented for general information only and are not legal advice from The Florida Bar or its Health Law Section.

09/21/2026

Florida is among the states receiving new federal funding to strengthen behavioral health services, including more than $8 million for the state's 988 su***de and crisis helplines. The funds are part of $383.4 million in grants announced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently for behavioral health treatment, prevention, and crisis response. *If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.*

Overall, HHS is distributing more than $383 million to bolster behavioral health programs. In addition, USF received $500,000 to implement opioid-sparing pain-management protocols at Tampa General Hospital ERs.

09/17/2026

It looks like another round of health insurance premium increases for millions of Floridians who get their insurance through the federal health care marketplaces. Twelve Affordable Care Act participating insurers submitted for rate increases in the coming year, data published by KFF show. AmeriHealth Caritas Florida filed for the largest increase, 39.14%. By contrast, Centene Venture Co. Florida filed for the smallest increase, at 3.87%. The rates, filed in the spring, haven’t yet been finalized. They are proposed changes. The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation will review and approve final rates for the plans.

It looks like another round of health insurance premium increases for millions of Floridians who get their insurance through the federal health care makretplaces. Twelve Affordable Care Act participating insurers submitted for rate increases in the coming year, data published by KFF show. AmeriHealt...

09/07/2026

Today we celebrate the professionals whose hard work and dedication strengthen our workplaces, communities, and the people they serve. 🇺🇸