Latest news with #oftheState
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Illinois bill aims to lower prescription costs, rein in pharmacy benefit managers
A bill that seeks to control the rising cost of prescription drugs while also offering financial help for many small, independent pharmacies in Illinois cleared the state Senate on Thursday and awaits action in the House. The bill, known as the Prescription Drug Affordability Act, contained in House Bill 1697, would put new regulations and impose new fees on a large but little understood segment of the prescription drug industry — pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs. 'This really restricts the ability of PBMs to extract large amounts of money out of the prescription drug system,' Sen. Dave Koehler, D-Peoria, the bill's chief Senate sponsor, said in an interview. PBMs act as a kind of third-party intermediary in the insurance industry who manage prescription drug benefits on behalf of insurance plans. They do that by negotiating prices with drug manufacturers, setting reimbursement rates paid to pharmacies, developing formularies, or 'preferred drug lists,' and maintaining pharmacy networks where insured individuals get their prescriptions filled. But they have also come under criticism in recent years for being too closely integrated with some of the nation's largest retail pharmacy chains and for helping drive up the cost of prescription drugs, often at the expense of smaller, independent community pharmacies. 'They extract extra profit from patients through opaque and often predatory tactics,' Gov. JB Pritzker said in calling for the legislation during his State of the State address in February. 'Not only are they driving up health care costs for Illinois families by hundreds of millions of dollars per year, but they are also putting small, local, independent pharmacies out of business.' Many large PBMs, such as CVS Caremark, a subsidiary of CVS Health, also either own or are affiliated with large retail chain pharmacies. Critics of their practices argue they use their position to steer patients to their own pharmacies, often to the detriment of smaller, independent pharmacies. That has resulted in what some people call 'pharmacy deserts' in many small towns, rural areas and low-income urban communities. 'PBMs routinely reimburse my pharmacy below cost for brand name prescriptions, medications where they're already pocketing massive rebates from drug manufacturers,' David Bagot, an independent pharmacist from Petersburg who is also president of the Illinois Pharmacists Association, told a Senate committee Wednesday. 'Meanwhile, they pay their own affiliated pharmacies – including PBM-owned community, mail-order and specialty pharmacies – much higher rates for the same medications.' The bill would prohibit PBMs from 'steering' insured patients to their own affiliated pharmacies, either by requiring them to use a particular pharmacy or by forcing the patient to pay more for their medications if they use a different outlet. It would also prohibit the practice of 'spread pricing,' or charging an insurance plan one price for a given drug while reimbursing pharmacies at a lower rate for that same drug and pocketing the difference. In addition, the bill calls for levying a fee on PBMs based on the number of patients they insure. Money from that fee would go into a fund for the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to award up to $25 million a year in grants to independent pharmacies and pharmacies located in rural counties, medically underserved areas, low-income communities and pharmacies that serve high concentrations of Medicaid patients. It also would require PBMs to remit all the money they receive in the form of rebates from drug manufacturers to the insurance plan sponsors. And it would require them to disclose to state regulators how much they receive in rebates each year. Pharmaceutical industry lobbyists argued many provisions of the bill, including the fee levied on PBMs, will actually end up being passed on to insurance plans and consumers, thus resulting in higher prescription drug prices. 'This is not a prescription drug affordability bill,' said Lori Reimers, lobbyist for the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association. 'Costs will rise. When you give more money to pharmacies, when you restrict tools that lower cost, the cost of insurance and health plans are going to go up on your constituents.' Reimers noted that since 2016, Illinois lawmakers have enacted 20 new laws pertaining to PBMs including laws granting the state Department of Insurance regulatory powers over PBMs, all with the intent of bringing down drug prices. 'And I don't think anybody's here saying that drug prices have gotten lower yet,' she said. 'But here we are with a much bigger bill.' The bill passed the Senate with bipartisan support, 56-1. Sen. Dave Syverson, R-Cherry Valley, cast the only no vote. The language the Senate passed was an amendment to a House bill that originally dealt with training for 911 dispatchers. The bill now goes back to the House for concurrence with the Sente amendments.
Khaleej Times
06-04-2025
- Politics
- Khaleej Times
UAE: Can a will made in one's home country cover properties, assets in the Emirates?
Question: I own property and assets both in the UAE and in my home country. Is it possible to make a will in my home country that covers my UAE assets as well? Would such will be legally recognised and be enforceable in the UAE? Are there any legal challenges I should be aware of, and how does the process work? Answer: Based on your queries, it is assumed that you are non-Muslim. In that case, several legal frameworks may apply to you, including the UAE Civil Procedures Code, UAE Personal Status Law for Non-Muslims, the Dubai Wills Law, and DIFC WPR Rules. In the UAE, a judgment issued by a court of a foreign country may be enforceable. However, for it to be legally recognised and enforced in the UAE, certain conditions must be met. Chapter 4 (from Article 222 to Article 225) of the Federal Decree Law No. 42 of 2022 Promulgating the Civil Procedure Code (the 'UAE Civil Procedures Code') states related to Execution of Foreign Judgment, Orders and Instruments in the UAE. Article 222 and 224(1) of the UAE Civil Procedures Code reads as below: Article 222 of the UAE Civil Procedures Code: '1. An order may be made for the enforcement in the State of judgments and orders made in a foreign country on the same conditions laid down in the law of that country for the execution of judgment and orders issued in the State. 2. An order for execution shall be applied for by means of petition submitted by the concerned party including the data specified in Article 44 of this Code to the Execution Judge. The Judge shall issue their order within five working days from the date of its submission, and the order shall be subject to appeal by the direct appeal in accordance with the rules and procedures prescribed for appealing judgments. An execution order may not be made until after the following matters have been verified. a. The Courts of the State have no jurisdiction to try the dispute in which the order or judgment was made, and that the foreign courts which issued it have jurisdiction there over in accordance with the rules governing international judicial jurisdiction laid down in their law. b. The judgment or order was issued by a Court having jurisdiction in accordance with the law of the country in which it was issued and duly endorsed; c. The parties to the action in which the foreign judgment was issued were summoned to attend and were duly represented; d. The judgment or order has acquired the force of res judicata in accordance with the law of the Court that issued it, provided that the applicant submits a certificate that the judgment has acquired the force of a final order or the same was stipulated in the judgment itself; e. It does not conflict with a judgment or order already made by the Court in the State, and contains nothing that conflicts with morals or public order in the State. 3. The Execution Judge shall have the right to collect the documents supporting the request before issuing their decision.' Meanwhile, Article 224 (1) of the UAE Civil Procedures Code states: 'An order may be made for the enforcement in the State of notarised documents and Memoranda of the Composition certified by the Courts of a foreign country on the same conditions laid down in the laws of that country for the enforcement of similar instructions issued in the State.' Furthermore, Article 226 to Article 232 of the UAE Civil Procedures Code mentions special provisions the courts in UAE may follow while handling personal status matters. Additionally, the beneficiary (ies) or the executor of a will may initiate probate proceedings in the court of competent jurisdiction in the home country and obtain a probate order to execute the will. Based on the aforementioned provisions of law, the beneficiaries or executor of a will granted by a testator must ensure the will is properly notarised and legalised. This includes completing all necessary attestations, including attestation by the UAE embassy in the country where the Will is registered. Once these steps are completed, the will must then be attested by UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation. It must be translated into Arabic, and the translation must be attested by the Ministry of Justice. Only then can the will be submitted to a Personal Status Court of UAE in the emirate which has jurisdiction over the matter. Alternatively, a non-Muslim may register a separate will for the assets in the UAE in accordance with (1) Federal Decree Law No. 41 of 2022 on Civil Personal Status, (2) Law No. 15 of 2017 Concerning Administration of Estates and Implementation of Wills of non-Muslims in the Emirate of Dubai, (3) DIFC Wills Service Center and (4) ADGM Courts. Therefore, based on the aforementioned provisions of law you may consider registering a will outside the UAE for your UAE assets. You may consult a legal counsel in the UAE as well as in your home country for further advise. Applicable laws: 1. Federal Decree Law No. 41 of 2022 on Civil Personal Status 2. Law No. 15 of 2017 Concerning Administration of Estates and Implementation of Wills of non-Muslims in the Emirate of Dubai 3. DIFC WILLS AND PROBATE REGISTRY RULES
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Sister-in-law testifies as preliminary exam for ex-Speaker Lee Chatfield continues
EAST LANSING – Rebekah Chatfield, the sister-in-law of former House Speaker Lee Chatfield who came forward with allegations of sexual assault against him in 2021 that never lead to charges, took the stand Thursday as the preliminary examination hearing over his felony financial charges continued. Government prosecutors have charged Lee Chatfield with 13 embezzlement, conspiracy and larceny charges in 54B District Court in East Lansing. The government alleges Lee Chatfield improperly used public funds and private money raised through political nonprofits to pay for flights, meals at upscale restaurants and family vacations while he was in office. Lee Chatfield's wife, Stephanie Chatfield, also faces one count each of embezzlement and conspiracy. Lee Chatfield and Stephanie Chatfield have both pleaded not guilty to all charges. The most serious charge Lee Chatfield faces carries a maximum 20-year prison sentence, if convicted. Stephanie Chatfield's charges each carry a maximum sentence of ten years in prison, if convicted. A Republican from Levering in the northern part of the Lower Peninsula, Lee Chatfield held the most powerful position in the Michigan House of Representatives in 2019 and 2020, when he was House Speaker. Rebekah Chatfield was previously married to Aaron Chatfield, Lee Chatfield's brother, according to filings made in court by government prosecutors. She said Thursday the two were "legally separated." Her testimony was focused on Aaron Chatfield's role in his brother's political work, noting 'he would basically be Lee's assistant.' She said that she reported misuse of funds to Lansing police when she came forward with the sexual assault allegations. 'I was a victim of a crime,' Rebekah Chatfield said, explaining why she first came forward to police. During Rebekah Chatfield's testimony, Lee Chatfield watched on from his seat at the defense table without expression, seated next to Stephanie Chatfield. Government prosecutors have alleged that Lee Chatfield wrongly sought reimbursements from a political nonprofit, the Peninsula Fund, for reasons not related to the nonprofit's stated goal. In one court filing, the government alleges that Lee Chatfield used Peninsula Fund money to pay off a $132,000 credit card balance, including for charges 'clearly personal in nature.' Strip club, mileage expenses from fund linked to ex-speaker scrutinized in court Gov. Whitmer delivers State of the State Address Rebekah Chatfield testified she would occasionally cash and deposit checks paid to Aaron Chatfield, ranging between $2,000 to $5,000, where portions of the money would return to Lee Chatfield. 'Lee would keep appearing to go on a trip ... part of the money would go back to Lee for the trip,' Rebekah Chatfield testified. 'From my remembrance, the only money we would give back to him (was) for his personal use.' During cross examination, Lee Chatfield's defense attorney, Mary Chartier, asked Rebekah Chatfield about her interactions with Anne Minard. Anne Minard is a former Chatfield aide who faces felony financial charges and whose husband, Rob Minard, a former aide of Lee Chatfield, also faces financial charges. Rebekah Chatfield testified that Anne Minard controlled the money involved with the Peninsula Fund and another account, the Chatfield Majority Fund. Since the preliminary exam began Wednesday, defense attorneys have argued Anne Minard and other individuals overseeing entities which reimbursed Lee Chatfield were responsible for how the funds' money was spent. The investigation into how the funds were spent occurred after Rebekah Chatfield, in Dec. 2021, told Lansing Police that Lee Chatfield had sexually assaulted her, dating back to when she was 15 years old and a student at the northern Michigan Christian school Lee Chatfield taught at. Rebekah Chatfield's allegations sparked an investigation, which resulted in Attorney General Dana Nessel charging Lee Chatfield with 13 embezzlement, conspiracy and larceny charges in 54B District Court in East Lansing. When Nessel announced the financial charges against Lee Chatfield in April, she said an investigation into the sexual assault allegations was closed without charges. Lee Chatfield's attorney, Chartier, has long denied the sexual assault allegations. She previously said a long-standing consensual affair took place between Lee Chatfield and Rebekah Chatfield when both were adults, but denied any crimes were committed. During Thursday's hearing, prosecutors also called Wilbur Lovitt, a longtime friend of the Chatfield family who worked on Lee Chatfield's election campaigns. Chris Kessel, an assistant attorney general, questioned Lovitt about a $5,000 check paid to him in 2018. Lovitt testified he would accompany Lee Chatfield and his brothers on trips, including to a December 2018 trip to the Bahamas. The check paid to Lovitt was labeled 'wages' and paid by the Chatfield Majority Fund, a political action committee tied to Lee Chatfield. Lovitt testified that he gave some of the money from the check to Lee Chatfield during the trip, including to tip workers who provided bottle service to the group when they went to a club. Lovitt also said he gave money to Lee Chatfield to play cards at the casino at the resort they were staying at. Government prosecutors say the check was given to Lovitt with the knowledge that some of the money would be returned to Lee Chatfield. But defense attorneys argued that Lovitt, who said he's been friends with the Chatfield family since the third grade, was just spotting Lee Chatfield with cash when he needed it. Marisa Vinsky, an attorney with Chartier and Nyamfukudza law firm, asked Lovitt if he felt he had to give Lee Chatfield the cash during the trip. 'Had to? No,' Lovitt testified. Paul Chatfield, one of Lee Chatfield's brothers, also testified briefly Thursday morning. Kessel, the government attorney, asked him about a $5,000 check he received from the Chatfield Majority Fund in November 2020. Paul Chatfield testified he gave $1,000 from that check back to Lee Chatfield. Paul Chatfield worked on his brother's various election campaigns, starting back in 2014. He told Vinsky the first campaign particularly involved a lot of work. 'It was rare if we did not do a 12-hour day. I would be in the car from as soon as I could hit the first door to the last door," Paul Chatfield said. He also recalled being mistaken for his brother at some campaign events, which drew a smile from Lee Chatfield at the defense table. 'I got a lot of handshakes and a lot of boos," Paul Chatfield said. The preliminary exam is expected to continue through Friday. After the conclusion of the hearing, District Judge Molly Hennessey Greenwalt will determine whether there is enough evidence to send the case to a jury trial. Contact Arpan Lobo: alobo@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Checks, Bahamas trip come into question as Chatfield hearing continues
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Sister-in-law testifies as preliminary exam for ex-Speaker Lee Chatfield continues
EAST LANSING – Rebekah Chatfield, the sister-in-law of former House Speaker Lee Chatfield who came forward with allegations of sexual assault against him in 2021 that never lead to charges, took the stand Thursday as the preliminary examination hearing over his felony financial charges continued. Government prosecutors have charged Lee Chatfield with 13 embezzlement, conspiracy and larceny charges in 54B District Court in East Lansing. The government alleges Lee Chatfield improperly used public funds and private money raised through political nonprofits to pay for flights, meals at upscale restaurants and family vacations while he was in office. Lee Chatfield's wife, Stephanie Chatfield, also faces one count each of embezzlement and conspiracy. Lee Chatfield and Stephanie Chatfield have both pleaded not guilty to all charges. The most serious charge Lee Chatfield faces carries a maximum 20-year prison sentence, if convicted. Stephanie Chatfield's charges each carry a maximum sentence of ten years in prison, if convicted. A Republican from Levering in the northern part of the Lower Peninsula, Lee Chatfield held the most powerful position in the Michigan House of Representatives in 2019 and 2020, when he was House Speaker. Rebekah Chatfield was previously married to Aaron Chatfield, Lee Chatfield's brother, according to filings made in court by government prosecutors. She said Thursday the two were "legally separated." Her testimony was focused on Aaron Chatfield's role in his brother's political work, noting 'he would basically be Lee's assistant.' She said that she reported misuse of funds to Lansing police when she came forward with the sexual assault allegations. 'I was a victim of a crime,' Rebekah Chatfield said, explaining why she first came forward to police. During Rebekah Chatfield's testimony, Lee Chatfield watched on from his seat at the defense table without expression, seated next to Stephanie Chatfield. Government prosecutors have alleged that Lee Chatfield wrongly sought reimbursements from a political nonprofit, the Peninsula Fund, for reasons not related to the nonprofit's stated goal. In one court filing, the government alleges that Lee Chatfield used Peninsula Fund money to pay off a $132,000 credit card balance, including for charges 'clearly personal in nature.' Strip club, mileage expenses from fund linked to ex-speaker scrutinized in court Gov. Whitmer delivers State of the State Address Rebekah Chatfield testified she would occasionally cash and deposit checks paid to Aaron Chatfield, ranging between $2,000 to $5,000, where portions of the money would return to Lee Chatfield. 'Lee would keep appearing to go on a trip ... part of the money would go back to Lee for the trip,' Rebekah Chatfield testified. 'From my remembrance, the only money we would give back to him (was) for his personal use.' During cross examination, Lee Chatfield's defense attorney, Mary Chartier, asked Rebekah Chatfield about her interactions with Anne Minard. Anne Minard is a former Chatfield aide who faces felony financial charges and whose husband, Rob Minard, a former aide of Lee Chatfield, also faces financial charges. Rebekah Chatfield testified that Anne Minard controlled the money involved with the Peninsula Fund and another account, the Chatfield Majority Fund. Since the preliminary exam began Wednesday, defense attorneys have argued Anne Minard and other individuals overseeing entities which reimbursed Lee Chatfield were responsible for how the funds' money was spent. The investigation into how the funds were spent occurred after Rebekah Chatfield, in Dec. 2021, told Lansing Police that Lee Chatfield had sexually assaulted her, dating back to when she was 15 years old and a student at the northern Michigan Christian school Lee Chatfield taught at. Rebekah Chatfield's allegations sparked an investigation, which resulted in Attorney General Dana Nessel charging Lee Chatfield with 13 embezzlement, conspiracy and larceny charges in 54B District Court in East Lansing. When Nessel announced the financial charges against Lee Chatfield in April, she said an investigation into the sexual assault allegations was closed without charges. Lee Chatfield's attorney, Chartier, has long denied the sexual assault allegations. She previously said a long-standing consensual affair took place between Lee Chatfield and Rebekah Chatfield when both were adults, but denied any crimes were committed. During Thursday's hearing, prosecutors also called Wilbur Lovitt, a longtime friend of the Chatfield family who worked on Lee Chatfield's election campaigns. Chris Kessel, an assistant attorney general, questioned Lovitt about a $5,000 check paid to him in 2018. Lovitt testified he would accompany Lee Chatfield and his brothers on trips, including to a December 2018 trip to the Bahamas. The check paid to Lovitt was labeled 'wages' and paid by the Chatfield Majority Fund, a political action committee tied to Lee Chatfield. Lovitt testified that he gave some of the money from the check to Lee Chatfield during the trip, including to tip workers who provided bottle service to the group when they went to a club. Lovitt also said he gave money to Lee Chatfield to play cards at the casino at the resort they were staying at. Government prosecutors say the check was given to Lovitt with the knowledge that some of the money would be returned to Lee Chatfield. But defense attorneys argued that Lovitt, who said he's been friends with the Chatfield family since the third grade, was just spotting Lee Chatfield with cash when he needed it. Marisa Vinsky, an attorney with Chartier and Nyamfukudza law firm, asked Lovitt if he felt he had to give Lee Chatfield the cash during the trip. 'Had to? No,' Lovitt testified. Paul Chatfield, one of Lee Chatfield's brothers, also testified briefly Thursday morning. Kessel, the government attorney, asked him about a $5,000 check he received from the Chatfield Majority Fund in November 2020. Paul Chatfield testified he gave $1,000 from that check back to Lee Chatfield. Paul Chatfield worked on his brother's various election campaigns, starting back in 2014. He told Vinsky the first campaign particularly involved a lot of work. 'It was rare if we did not do a 12-hour day. I would be in the car from as soon as I could hit the first door to the last door," Paul Chatfield said. He also recalled being mistaken for his brother at some campaign events, which drew a smile from Lee Chatfield at the defense table. 'I got a lot of handshakes and a lot of boos," Paul Chatfield said. The preliminary exam is expected to continue through Friday. After the conclusion of the hearing, District Judge Molly Hennessey Greenwalt will determine whether there is enough evidence to send the case to a jury trial. Contact Arpan Lobo: alobo@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Checks, Bahamas trip come into question as Chatfield hearing continues
