| Volume 131 Number 6 |
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The People’s Lawyer’s Tip of the Day
If you are carrying credit card debt after the holidays, beware of callers who offer to lower your payments, increase your credit score, or get rid of your debt. The callers ask about credit card numbers or personally identifiable information in false attempts to “help." These scammers then attempt to use the account information to make unauthorized purchases or access funds for fraudulent purposes. Get more information from the FTC on this latest scam. Click here for more.
CVS to Sell Cheaper, Generic Version of the EpiPen
On Thursday CVS Health announced that it would start selling the generic version of pharmaceutical giant Mylan's EpiPen, an injection for people having severe allergy reaction. CVS says the generic will sell for $109.99 per two-pack, or about one-third the initial $300 list price of the generic version of the EpiPen that Mylan announced after criticism about pricing. Click here for more.
Your Money
If you see a good sale or deal, be mindful of the fees that come with it. Whether buying a car, booking an airline ticket, attending an event or signing up for telecommunication services, hidden added fees significantly boost the final price, often without your knowledge of consent. The five most egregious fees come from student loans, car purchases, ticketed events, resort stays, and telecommunication purchases. However, there are ways to avoid these fees. Click here for more.
For the Lawyers
Ban on nursing home use of pre-dispute arbitration agreements blocked. A federal court enjoined the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) from enforcing a rule, promulgated on September 28, 2016, which barred pre-dispute arbitration agreements between nursing facilities in the Medicare or Medicaid programs and their nursing home residents. The rule was to take effect on November 28. The court concluded that in promulgating the Rule, CMS had failed to prove that a ban on pre-dispute arbitration agreements was necessary to protect nursing home residents and within its existing statutory authority. This ruling means that nursing homes would not be in regulatory jeopardy while the preliminary injunction is in place if they do not act by November 28. However, as the court’s decision is preliminary only, the Rule may be reinstated in future legal proceedings in the case. Am. Health Care Ass’n v. Burwell (N.D. Miss. 2016). Click here for more.