How can you keep up with pending legislation that’s important to you and your practice? With the help of Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, the IndyBar Legislative Committee (chaired by Mindy Westrick of the Indiana Energy Association) provides weekly Bill Watch reports throughout the session, which highlight progress and recent actions taken on bills being monitored by the association.

The IndyBar Legislative Committee is currently monitoring the following health care and life sciences-related legislation.

Looking to find your next great law clerk or show your support for diversity in our community? Employer and sponsor registration is now open for the 2021 Diversity Job Fair!

Perhaps as expected, telemedicine usage and demand has been on the rise due to the pandemic. Also, perhaps not surprising, telemedicine has proved necessary especially for mental health services during a time where people are isolated more than ever.

As we all know, health care topics were top of mind this election season.  As the Biden administration continues to plan for its transition, reducing drug costs, restructuring Medicare Part D, surprise billing, price transparency and COVID-19, of course, are key issues to watch.

It's the season of giving and even during the hardships of 2020, generous sponsors, bidders and donors helped the Indianapolis Bar Foundation raise over $26,000 during IndyBar's Giving, this year's online silent auction to benefit the programs and initiatives of the foundation.

IndyBar Health Care & Life Sciences Section Executive Committee member Chris Kulik compiled some of the most important recent news in health care from various sources. For COVID updates and more, check it out here!

Routine estimates predict that about 50 percent of older adults will require long-term care at some stage of their lives. If you are an adult 65 or more, the percentage moves up to 70 percent. However, the demand for long-term care far outnumbers an affordable or even existing supply. For years the private sector long-term care insurers have been fleeing the marketplace. Americans who currently carry long-term care insurance are a small fraction, about seven percent, adults over 50 years of age. There is a private sector inability to meet Americans' overwhelming long-term care needs at an affordable price.

2020 has been (and no doubt will continue to be) like riding a roller coaster in a hurricane. Fortunately, for the IndyBar, we have a committed membership that has responded in amazing ways. While the pandemic will affect the practice of law for years to come, we can all be proud of the work our association did to respond in positive and uplifting ways. In a non-COVID year, we would typically recognize our IndyBar award winners at our annual Recognition Breakfast — typically a packed event with comradery and good cheer. Like many things this year, we will recognize our award winners in different (but no less important) ways.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced amended terms for payments issued under the Accelerated and Advance Payment Program. Under the original terms of the loans, providers were required to start making payments in August. Now, providers and suppliers have one year after their accelerated or advanced payment loan issuance dates to start making repayments.