Ed. Note: This is the third article in our series, “Conjuring Competitive Advantage: An AI Spellbook for Leaders,” focused on unlocking AI for business with practical…
Ed. Note: This is the second article in our series, “Conjuring Competitive Advantage: An AI Spellbook for Leaders,” focused on unlocking AI for business…
Ed. Note: This is the first article in our series, “Conjuring Competitive Advantage: An AI Spellbook for Leaders,” focused on unlocking AI for business…
Many businesses assume that once insurance is in place, they are fully protected. In reality, policies often contain gaps where coverage is limited or…
As maximum Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) penalties continue to increase on an annual basis, the importance of being prepared for an OSHA…
Employer-sponsored wellness programs are designed to promote healthier lifestyles through health screenings, fitness incentives, and/or lifestyle coaching. In recent years, such programs have become…
Cybersecurity incidents and cybercrime are on the rise in every sector of industry and against businesses and organizations of all sizes. In connection with…
As the United States enters a new administration, changes in workplace regulations and enforcement priorities are on the horizon. For employers, this means staying…
In the first installment of our two-part series covering Ward and Smith’s 2024 Employment Law Symposium, three Ward and Smith attorneys illuminated a variety…
In late August, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) indicated that it likely would appeal the Texas District Court’s ruling, which blocked the FTC’s Non-Compete…
In today’s digital landscape, where data and technology are integral to business, companies of all sizes are prime targets for cyberattacks. As privacy and…
Having been in the company of literally thousands of physicians, dentists, psychologists, nurses, and just about every other kind of health professional as…
Individual state legislatures and the District of Columbia have traditionally determined the licensure requirements for professionals to practice in their jurisdiction. As a result,…
Every day, physicians, medical practice managers, and administrative professionals call their trusted attorneys with a “quick question” about the legality of a new approach…
The July theme of Legal Rights, Responsibilities, and Regulations promotes awareness of legal rights, ethical responsibilities, and the regulations that govern our businesses. Defamation…
Few aspects of the healthcare regulatory apparatus evoke more confusion and dread for healthcare practitioners than the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB or Data…
Every employee hired is expected to be a team player and integrate into the employer’s culture to cultivate success. However, nearly all employers find…
In the high-stress, life-or-death environment of the medical profession, Cupid’s love arrow can strike about as quickly as an infection. But before letting the…
Ward and Smith has been ranked in the Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” list regionally in 27 practice areas. Firms included in the 2024 “Best Law Firms”…
Ward and Smith proudly celebrates an incredible achievement—over half of our esteemed attorneys have gained recognition from one of the nation’s most respected legal…
Several Ward and Smith attorneys shared legal updates related to the North Carolina Certificate of Need process, insights on professional licensing, and guidance on…
North Carolina Lawyers Weekly is recognizing Michael Fields as a top healthcare attorney in 2023. Michael’s contributions and unparalleled accomplishments in the field have…
Editor’s Note: Article updated on June 1 to include guidance from the US Department of Labor Field Assistance Bulletin. The latest maternal employment protections…
Professional licensing attorney Jim Wilson will be lending his knowledge and insights to an illustrious panel of speakers at the 2023 Health Law Section…
Ward and Smith shines bright in the 2023 edition of “Best Law Firms.” U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers® released their annual rankings that recognize…
North Carolina health care professionals, it’s time for your legal pulse check with Ward and Smith. We’re hosting a complimentary Health Care webinar on…
In their law practices, attorneys can regularly handle sensitive patient information that’s protected under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Lawyers have…
The clock is ticking for some health care workers to get vaccinated. Medical facilities that receive Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services funding must get…
Litigation usually proceeds at a maddeningly glacial pace. Not this time. The Past The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (“OSHA”) well-publicized and controversial Emergency…
This is article is part of a series summarizing key topics discussed at Ward and Smith’s Fall Employment Law Update Webinar. Several Ward and Smith attorneys…
President Biden announced at a press conference at 5:00 p.m. on September 9, 2021, a new, six-pronged national strategy to combat COVID-19 while keeping…
Physicians and health care professionals, power up your practice with our October 7 Virtual Health Care Breakfast and Learn. During this webinar, Ward and Smith attorneys…
Facing an investigation by a licensing board can be one of the most stressful and emotionally taxing challenges that licensed professionals face in their…
Friday afternoon, reports surfaced that a foreign nation had compromised newly-discovered flaws in the Microsoft Exchange Server email software and breached the cybersecurity efforts…
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) are…
The public health emergency (PHE) for COVID-19 has brought about many changes to the way healthcare is practiced, delivered, and reimbursed. This article will…
The COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped many industries. The health care industry is no exception. We want to help physicians and health care providers navigate…
Healthcare providers are among those financially adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. A survey conducted by the Medical Group Managers Association (“MGMA”) on April…
During the past four years, numerous bills concerning North Carolina’s occupational licensing boards have been proposed, but few have passed in the legislature and…
Over the past several years, there has been much speculation surrounding the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (the “ACA”), including whether it would…
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (“HIPAA”) Privacy Rule attempts to strike a balance between the protection of a patient’s privacy and the…
SAMHSA Amends Confidentiality of Substance Use Disorder Patient Records Regulations On January 18, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (“SAMHSA”), an agency…
Last week Congress passed H.R. 34, which will exempt certain health reimbursement arrangements (“HRA”), including premium-reimbursement plans, from most Affordable Care Act requirements for…
The message from patients to healthcare providers is clear: increase the quality of health services while decreasing cost. The message from the federal government…
On September 21, 2015, the United States Department of Justice announced a settlement between the federal government; the States of North Carolina, Florida, Georgia,…
Prior to 2014, there were 22 domain extensions, called generic top-level domains (gTLDs) (.com, .org, .edu, etc.), available to direct internet users. In response…
On February 12, 2014, the U.S. Department of the Treasury issued final regulations (“Final Rules”) for the Shared Responsibility for Employers Regarding Health Coverage…
The final rules implementing the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (“HIPAA”) became effective in March and apply to persons and companies other than…
On June 28, 2012, the United States Supreme Court upheld nearly every provision of the controversial Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (“Health Care…
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