The Current State of Venture Transactions Webinar with 4thly

On April 1, 2026, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), through the CMS Innovation Center (CMMI), officially launched a new pilot program which allows participants in specific CMS programs to offer eligible hemp products to eligible Medicare beneficiaries.

USPTO’s PIER pilot program adds a new “confirm‑to‑proceed” step for selected U.S. national stage applications. The PIER program may increase costs, cause delays, and reduce patent term adjustment (PTA). The USPTO may benefit by reducing its workload without refunding examination fees.

Understanding the regulatory framework for discount arrangements is essential in order to structure such arrangements to be in compliance with the AKS. The recent Office of lnspector General (OIG) Advisory Opinion 25-11 (AO 25-11) provided new insights and flexibilities on structuring discount arrangements and offered some of the most detailed guidance articulated by the OIG regarding permissible discount practices.