Recent Blog Posts in June 2009

The San Jose Mercury released a helpful list of changes to Nevada law taking effect on July 1.

Among the new laws detailed by the AP article are the following:

-- AB10 protects nurses against retaliation for disclosing problems that endanger patients at hospitals or other medical facilities; and SB229 seeks to ensure that foreign-trained doctors who get visas to work in "medically underserved" areas actually provide care in those areas.

-- AB389 is aimed at helping to prevent identity theft by making less credit card information available on printed receipts. The new law prohibits printing more than the last five digits of credit card numbers and expiration dates on copies of customer and business receipts.

The Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007, or MMSEA, affects judgments and settlements involving Medicare liens. Plaintiffs and Defendant attorneys should be aware of the changes. Section 111 of the MMSEA adds reporting rules, requiring defendants and insurers to report judgments/settlements with Medicare beneficiaries to the Department of Health and Human Services.

Section 111 of MMSEA is directed at identifying claims where Medicare has a right of recovery. The mandatory reporting requirements allow the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) to identify those claims. Section 111 applies to Group and non-Group Health Plans, workers' compensation, liability insurance, no-fault insurance, and self-insurers. All entities which pay settlements, judgments, awards or other payments to Medicare eligible beneficiaries beginning January 1, 2010 are required to report the claim to CMS.

For more info, you can visit the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid website.

The Las Vegas Sun reports that 2 cases of E. coli have been reported in Clark County, Nevada.

This comes days after the FDA issued a warning regarding Nestle Tollhouse raw cookie dough products due to the risk of E. coli. The warning cautions those who have purchased prepackaged cookie dough products to throw them away. Consumers should not even cook the dough, as the FDA warns that the bacteria may still get on consumers' hands and on cooking surfaces.

As of June 19, 2009, all of Nestle's prepackaged, refridgerated cookie dough products have been recalled. The products can be returned for a full refund. No other Nestle products have been affected.