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BMD Makes 2023 U.S. News & World Report "Best Law Firms" Edition

Client Alert

Brennan Manna & Diamond (BMD) is pleased to share the news that our firm is recognized among the “Best Law Firms” in the U.S. News & World Report 2023 edition in 14 practice areas.  “Best Law Firms” rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process that includes the collection of client and lawyer evaluations, peer review from leading attorneys in their field and review of additional information provided by law firms as part of the formal submission process.    

This year, BMD is recognized in the metropolitan areas of Akron (Akron office), Cleveland (Cleveland office), and Fort Myers (Bonita Springs office) for professional excellence in: 

Metropolitan Tier 1
Akron

  • Health Care Law 
  • Litigation - Trusts & Estates 

Metropolitan Tier 2
Akron

  • Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law 
  • Corporate Law 
  • Litigation - Intellectual Property 
  • Litigation - Labor & Employment 
  • Trusts & Estates Law 

Cleveland 

  • Corporate Law 

Fort Myers (Bonita Springs)

  • Real Estate Law 

Metropolitan Tier 3 
Akron 

  • Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law 
  • Tax Law 
  • Trademark Law 

Cleveland 

  • Health Care Law 
  • Litigation - Labor & Employment 

Congratulations to our attorneys who are recognized for their professional excellence. 


The Ohio Board of Pharmacy’s Latest Batch of Rules: What Providers Should Know

The Ohio Board of Pharmacy released several new rules and proposed amendments to existing rules over the past month that will significantly impact pharmacy operations. Topics range from updates to the Terminal Distributor of Dangerous Drugs license to mobile clinics to mandatory rest breaks for pharmacists of outpatient pharmacies. A summary of the proposed changes is below, along with instructions for commenting on the rules. Your BMD healthcare attorney can help write comment letters and submit the comments on your behalf as well.

Employee or Independent Contractor? New Guidance Issued by the Department of Labor

On January 9, 2024, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued its long-awaited final rule — effective March 11, 2024 — revising its prior interpretation of worker classifications under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The new final rule rescinds the standard previously established in 2021, in turn, shifting the analysis of whether a worker is an employee (versus an independent contractor) of a business from a more streamlined “economic reality” test to a more complex “totality of the circumstances” standard.

Increased Medicaid Rates to Take Effect This Month for Ohio Providers

As required by House Bill 33, Ohio’s 2024-2025 operating budget bill, reimbursement rates paid by the Ohio Department of Medicaid will increase for a wide range of providers starting on January 1, 2024.

Corporate Transparency Act Update

The Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA”), with an effective date of January 1, 2024, is set to impose strict reporting guidelines on business owners throughout the country. The following provides a brief update on two aspects of the CTA ahead of its effectiveness next week.

The Second Wave of UnitedHealthcare's Prior Authorization Cuts Started in November

In August 2023, UnitedHealthcare released its plan to eliminate roughly one-fifth of its then-current prior authorization requirements. The first round of prior authorization cuts took effect on September 1, 2023. In that round, UnitedHealthcare eliminated the necessity for some prior authorizations for UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage, UnitedHealthcare commercial, UnitedHealthcare Oxford and UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange plan members. The second and final round of prior authorization cuts began on November 1, 2023. The November 2023 Prior Authorization Cuts apply to the same plans as well as community plans (i.e., Medicaid managed care plans).