Laws + Congress
As advocates lobby on behalf of medical bills and Congress votes on health care legislation, it’s important to stay informed on how the government is governing your health. Access to effective medical care and justice is a human right. It’s time to fight for laws we can stand behind.
Opioid Bankruptcy Settlement to be Reviewed by Supreme Court
MedTruth Editors · August 22, 2023
The Office of the U.S. Trustee issued a formal complaint about the settlement, arguing that the deal protects the Sackler Family.
Laws + CongressSupreme Court Upholds CA Flavored Tobacco Ban
MedTruth Editors · January 10, 2023
The state of California argued that flavored tobacco products are a key factor in youth addiction, while the tobacco companies argued that the flavor ban would harm tobacco growers, wholesalers, state and federal tax departments, and the public at large.
Laws + CongressLawmakers Demand DOJ Update on J&J Talc Probe
MedTruth Editors · September 16, 2022
The investigation aims to determine if Johnson & Johnson misled the public about the risks of using its talcum-based products after claims that the asbestos-contaminated powder causes cancer.
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EPA Ordered To Reconsider Glyphosate Safety
MedTruth Editors · June 29, 2022
The EPA must reexamine its 2020 findings that glyphosate, the main active ingredient in Monsanto’s Roundup weedkiller products, is “not likely” to cause cancer.
Laws + CongressJ&J Talc Bankruptcy Sparks Legislation Movement
MedTruth Editors · March 17, 2022
Attorneys and senators have come forth to suggest changes be made to the legislation surrounding bankruptcy law.
Laws + CongressOK Legislature Considers Revising Strict Opioid Law
MedTruth Editors · November 9, 2021
Oklahoma may roll back a Senate Bill that limits initial opioid prescription terms.
Laws + CongressOhio Nursing Home Surveillance Law Introduced
MedTruth Editors · October 25, 2021
The proposed law would allow surveillance instruments in nursing homes for patient protection.
Laws + CongressCongress Responds to Baby Food Worries, New Bill Limits Toxic Heavy Metals
Carah Wertheimer · April 16, 2021
Lawmakers have introduced legislation limiting toxic heavy metals in baby foods.
Laws + CongressSupreme Court Decision Protecting LGBTQIA+ Employees Could Challenge Healthcare Rollbacks
Emily Rose Thorne · July 7, 2020
The Supreme Court has ruled on Bostock v. Clayton County—a landmark decision protecting LGBTQIA+ patients from workplace discrimination. The decision came the same week that HHS released a final rule rolling back nondiscrimination protections for transgender and nonbinary patients seeking healthcare.
Laws + CongressEPA Defends Continued Use of Dicamba Despite Court Order
Lynne Higby · June 25, 2020
The EPA is permitting farmers to use dicamba the rest of the growing season despite a federal appeals court banning the popular weedkiller.
Laws + CongressStates Enact Controversial Lawsuit Protections for Nursing Homes
James Parker · May 13, 2020
The nursing home industry has grown increasingly concerned about a potential onslaught of COVID-related lawsuits and has begun pushing for legal protection from what it says are crisis conditions beyond its control.
Laws + Congress38 States Unite to Investigate JUUL Labs
James Parker · February 27, 2020
State attorneys general are leading a probe into whether Juul had illicitly marketed its e-cigarettes as smoking cessation aids despite not being approved by federal regulators for that purpose.
Laws + CongressWhat the New E-Cig Ban Got Wrong on Youth Vaping
Nicole Knight · February 13, 2020
New federal limits prohibit the sale of mint, fruit and candy-like flavors in refillable e-cigarettes, but loopholes leave wiggle room for marketing targeted at a younger demographic.
Laws + CongressHow Florida's Baker Act Impacts Suicide
S. Nicole Lane · January 16, 2020
The Baker Act allows for certain at-risk patients to be held involuntarily for up to 72 hours in a mental health facility. Though this law is meant to protect patients, many say resources provided to patients were inadequate upon leaving the facility.
Laws + CongressPREVENT Vaping Act Seeks to Educate Teens About E-Cigarettes
James Parker · January 8, 2020
PREVENT, a bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives, intends to end the vaping epidemic among teens by supporting CDC efforts to educate youth about associated risks.
Laws + CongressMassachusetts Passes Vaping Tax, Bans Mint and Menthol Tobacco Products
James Parker · December 9, 2019
A bill imposing a vaping tax and limiting the sale of mint and menthol flavored tobacco products has passed in Massachusetts.
Laws + CongressCalifornia Governor Grants Access to HIV-Prevention Drugs Without a Prescription
Carah Wertheimer · October 10, 2019
San Francisco governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill to grant California residents access to HIV-prevention drugs PrEP and PEP without the requirement of a prescription.
Laws + Congress14 Patient Advocates Traveled to D.C. — Here's Why (Photos)
Ashley Lombardo · June 4, 2019
In May, women from across the nation gathered at the United States Capitol to advocate for the Medical Device Safety Act. The bill, recently re-introduced in the House, aims to restore patients' Seventh Amendment rights. Here's why the women of the Medical Device Problems group are fighting for it.
Laws + CongressBill Proposed to End Neglected Tropical Diseases
Tess Francke · May 20, 2019
The End Neglected Tropical Diseases Act, bill H.R. 826, deals with a group of 17 parasitic, bacterial and viral diseases. The bill intends to assist the 1 billion of the world’s poorest people affected by these illnesses.
Laws + CongressCould New Legislation Cut Drug Prices in Half?
Tess Francke · April 25, 2019
The Prescription Drug Price Relief Act of 2019 intends to end manufacturer monopolies and create a database of drug prices. Americans won't pay more for prescription drugs than the median price of the five major countries, such as Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Japan.
Laws + CongressCan Opioid Legislation Stem the Free Flow of Drugs?
Carah Wertheimer · March 18, 2019
As the opioid crisis continues to intensify, the numbers paint a grim picture. Unfortunately for those impacted by opioid addiction, U.S. opioid legislation to resolve the epidemic is unlikely to improve anytime soon.
Laws + CongressUnderstanding Trump's New Opioid Legislation
S. Nicole Lane · November 15, 2018
Last month, Donald Trump passed the Support for Patients and Communities Act, a new opioid legislation that attempts to confront an epidemic that killed 49,000 people last year.
Laws + CongressHow to Support the Medical Device Safety Act
S. Nicole Lane · September 20, 2018
The Medical Device Safety Act allows women affected by Essure to seek legal recourse and ensures medical device manufacturers are incentivized to maintain product safety.
Laws + CongressWill The Senate Health Care Bill Fail?
Ashley Lombardo · July 21, 2017
While conservatives push to reduce regulations in the Senate health care bill, moderates focus on maintaining coverage through Medicaid.
Laws + CongressFederal Government Updates Nursing Home Regulations
Ashley Lombardo · January 10, 2017
The U.S. Department of Health updated national nursing home regulations to extend additional protections to senior residential facilities.
Laws + CongressCalifornia’s Prop 61 Fails to Lower American Drug Prices
Ashley Lombardo · November 18, 2016
California's Proposition 61, a failed measure, could have potentially lowered drugs costs by matching public prices with veteran's rates.
Laws + CongressCongressman Proposes E-Free Act to Ban Essure
Ashley Lombardo · September 29, 2016
The E-Free Act, proposed by Congressman Fitzpatrick, would revoke the contraception device Essure's FDA approval and pull it from the market.
Laws + CongressCould These New Bills Improve Medical Device Safety?
Ashley Lombardo · May 28, 2016
Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick proposes two bills, Ariel Grace's Law and the Medical Device Guardians Act, to improve regulations for medical device safety based on injuries related to Essure and power morcellators.
Laws + Congress