Starting September 1, 2025, Texas will impose stricter limits on non-compete agreements for physicians—and, for the first time, extend similar restrictions to other healthcare professionals, including dentists, nurses, and physician assistants. The new rules apply to agreements signed or renewed on or after that date. Read more.
Louisiana Limits Non-Compete Agreements for Physicians
Following the national trend toward prohibiting or limiting non-compete agreements, Louisiana Senate Bill 165 limits the length and geographical scope of non-compete agreements for both specialty and primary care physicians. The law goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2025. Under Senate Bill 165, non-compete agreements for physicians must expire three years or five years from
Rhode Island Prohibits Use of Non-Competition Agreements With Nurses; Governor Vetoes Broader Ban
Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee signed a new law (R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-34-50) that prohibits the enforcement of non-competition agreements with advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) in the state on June 17, 2024. Surprisingly, only three days after the APRN prohibition was enacted, the Rhode Island legislature sent a proposed bill containing a full
Nuanced Privacy Laws Means Healthcare Organizations Should Prioritize Protecting Personal Information
The healthcare industry is among the most highly regulated industries when it comes to privacy protections. In addition to the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), healthcare providers also must comply with a growing number of state laws governing data privacy and security. Fully complying with this patchwork of privacy protections is a
EEOC Sues Home Care Provider For Race And National Origin Discrimination Over Changing Work Assignments Based On Client Preferences
The EEOC has filed suit in federal court against a home care provider, alleging it unlawfully discriminated against employees when it changed their work assignments to accommodate client preferences. EEOC v. ACARE HHC d/b/a Four Seasons Licensed Home Health Care, 23-cv-5760 (E.D.N.Y. July 31, 2023).
The suit alleges the home care provider “routinely would
How to Keep Physicians Happy Without Breaking Your Budget
Budgeting remains a critical issue as more hospitals and medical groups merge or become acquired in 2023. Budgeting questions commonly require a comprehensive review of physician compensation agreements.
Ideally, these agreements should be easy to understand. After all, doctors are generally paid by how many wRVUs (or relative work units) they produce. A wRVU is
Seven Things Healthcare Employers Should Expect in 2023
- Medical Residents and Interns Unionizing. Yes, you read that right. 2022 saw organizing among these groups on both coasts. This is happening as we see a resurgence in organizing among graduate students and even undergraduate student
OCR Reminds Healthcare Providers and Their Business Associates – You Need an Incident Response Plan!
October is National Cybersecurity Awareness month, and the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has provided a timely reminder for HIPAA covered entities and business associates to have a written incident response plan! To learn why another policy is needed, what an incident response plan needs to include, and the reporting obligations, read the
$25.00 Minimum Wage for Healthcare Workers Will It Go Viral? Which New Laws Are Stayed?
At the start of June 2022, the City of Los Angeles approved an ordinance to raise the minimum wage for certain healthcare workers at privately-owned healthcare facilities within the city. Since June, more cities have passed nearly identical ordinances. There is also a push for a California statewide healthcare minimum wage. However, no formal bill
Key Legal Considerations for Hiring and Retention Incentives in Healthcare
Healthcare organizations across the United States are facing an unprecedented labor shortage. Many healthcare employers are moving quickly to implement creative solutions that will attract and retain a qualified workforce. Kaiser Health News reports that “after the pressure cooker of the past two-plus years led to staff turnover and a rash of early retirements, hospitals