In response to the ending of the COVID-19 public health emergency and national emergency, the IRS has issued Notice 2023-37, which modifies its prior guidance on benefits relating to the testing and...
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COVID-19
Coverage Requirements for COVID-related Services Post-Public Health Emergency
The COVID-19 national emergency (“NE”) and public health emergency (“PHE”) officially ended on April 10 and May 11, 2023, respectively. The end of the emergencies provides group health plan sponsors...
HIPAA Enforcement Suspended During Pandemic to Resume With 90 Day Transition Period for Telehealth
By Dannae Delano U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights (OCR) issued the following four pieces of guidance announcing enforcement discretion during the COVID-19...
Agencies Issue Guidance Regarding Effect of the End of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) and National Emergency (NE) on Benefits
By Barry Salkin, Dannae Delano and Roberta Casper Watson On January 31, 2020, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) declared that a nationwide public health emergency (PHE) had existed...
President Continues COVID Extensions
Reasoning that “the COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause significant risk to the public health and safety of the Nation,” President Biden has extended the COVID-19 National Emergency, which was...
COVID-19 Long-Haulers May Have Tough Time Getting Long-Term Disability Benefits
COVID-19 Long-Haulers May Have Tough Time Getting Long-Term Disability Benefits – Marcia Wagner, SHRM, February 11, 2022 (PDF)
Plans Must Cover Over-the-Counter COVID Tests
The Department of Labor, Department of Health and Human Services, and the IRS (the “Agencies”) have issued Frequently Asked Questions #51 (“FAQs”) regarding implementation of the Families First...
FREE WEBINAR: Top HR & Employment Law Issues for the Coming Year
RECORDING AVAILABLE BY CLICKING HERE Please join David Gabor and Katherine Brustowicz, with introduction by Marcia S. Wagner, on January 26, 2022, for a one-hour presentation addressing...
An Overview of New Laws Impacting Employers in 2021
As we usher in 2021, we should be mindful of new laws impacting the employer-employee relationship. Changes include increases to state minimum wage rates, the end of mandated FFCRA leave,...
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Issues Guidance Regarding COVID-19 Vaccinations
On December 16, 2020, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (the “EEOC”) updated and expanded its technical assistance publication by adding a new section about how required COVID-19...
Do Employers Need COVID-19 Waivers?
Employers who are considering resuming their operations (or employers who have already resumed operations) should consider the benefits of putting in place a COVID-19 waiver for employees and...
Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act of 2020 Passes Senate
by Barry Salkin, Roberta Casper Watson and Livia Quan Aber The Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”), which was enacted as part of the CARES Act, allows businesses to borrow funds that are guaranteed...
Employee Retention Tax Credit Under the CARES Act
by Barry Salkin, Roberta Casper Watson and Livia Quan Aber The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (the “FFCRA”) established tax credits under the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act and the Emergency...
Remote Online Notarization Becomes Law in Massachusetts During COVID-19 Emergency
On April 27, 2020, the Virtual Notarization Act (the “Act”) was signed into law by Massachusetts Governor, Charlie Baker, and was effective immediately. The Act allows Massachusetts notaries, using...
Managing From Afar: Effectively Adapting to Telework
One of the realities created by the COVID-19 pandemic is that more employees are working remotely than ever before. This change raises legal and business issues that have caught many companies off...
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act Updated to Include Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act Provisions
by Roberta Watson, Barry Salkin and Virginia Peabody This Law Alert serves as an update to the Law Alert sent out on March 19, 2020 concerning the paid leave and group health plan provisions of The...