On January 21, 2021, in an effort to provide enforcement of more stringent worker safety standards, President Biden issued an Executive Order (‘EO”) on Protecting Worker Health and Safety. The EO specifically orders the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) of the Department of Labor to:
Coronavirus/COVID-19
January 25, 2021
President Biden Issues Executive Order on Workplace Safety During the COVID-19 Pandemic
January 25, 2021
Podcast: The Biden Administration’s First 100 Days – Diagnosing Health Care
In this episode of the Diagnosing Health Care Podcast, dive into the Biden Administration’s first 100 days in office and the potential executive orders, regulations, and new legislation with noteworthy health care policy implications.
Epstein Becker Green attorneys Ted Kennedy, Philo Hall, and Paulina Grabczak discuss President Biden’s priorities, including his COVID-19 response plan, and examines which “midnight rules” put in place by the Trump Administration could be intercepted or retained.
January 22, 2021
THE ONGOING IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON EXERCISING CONTACT WITH YOUR CHILD
It has been proving difficult for many parents to keep up-to-date with the ever-changing Government guidelines and regulations, as the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown restrictions have evolved. These issues raise particular concerns for parents who have separated from their partner or spouse and who now only exercise contact with their child during set periods. Read more…
January 22, 2021
THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON MISSIVES
Everyone and every sector has been impacted by COVID-19 and the property market has been no exception. Whilst in the first lockdown which started on 23 March 2020, the property market stopped, that has not been the case in this second lockdown that we are all currently facing.
Unlike the first lockdown, the property market is still moving, the Registers of Scotland have kept the application register open for registering new title and interest in property in the Land Register and so transactions can still complete. Read more…
January 22, 2021
THE COMMERCIAL LANDLORD IN A PANDEMIC: WHAT TO DO ABOUT LEASE ARREARS
It will come as no surprise to hear that a large number of commercial landlords are becoming increasingly concerned about accruing or ongoing arears which have arisen (or been exacerbated) by tenants struggling in the current commercial climate.
The government has introduced legislation which has an impact on this [The Coronavirus (Scotland) Act 2020 (“the Coronavirus Act”)] and have also released some guidelines seeking to address and recognise the inevitable conflict that has arisen between landlords and tenants [The Code of Practice for Landlords and Tenants of Commercial Property (“the Code”)]. The requirements of the Act are mandatory, whereas the Code is advisory. Read more…
January 21, 2021
DOJ False Claims Act Statistics 2020: Over 80% of all Recoveries Came from the Health Care Industry
On January 14, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) reported its False Claims Act (FCA) statistics for fiscal year (FY) 2020. More than $2.2 billion was recovered from both settlements and judgments in 2020, the lowest level since 2008 and almost $1 billion less than was recovered in 2019. The total recoveries in 2020 reflect the first of many anticipated resolutions of fraud enforcement actions in the COVID-19 world, and over 80% of all recoveries—amounting to almost $1.9 billion—came from the health care and life sciences industries.
January 19, 2021
What’s in President-Elect Biden’s COVID-19 American Rescue Plan?
On January 14, 2021, President-elect Joe Biden released his $1.9 trillion emergency stimulus plan, designed primarily to guide the country through the next medical and economic stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. The American Rescue Plan (“ARP”) also includes non-COVID-19 related proposals, such as a mandatory $15 per hour minimum wage and funding to improve cybersecurity.
January 19, 2021
First Reported FCA CARES Act Settlement Announced
The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on January 12, 2021, the first civil settlement to resolve allegations of fraud against the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.[1] SlideBelts Inc. and its president and CEO, Brigham Taylor, have agreed to pay the United States a combined $100,000 in damages and penalties for alleged violations of the False Claims Act (FCA) and the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act (FIRREA).[2]
January 15, 2021
Podcast: Forecast for Telehealth Fraud and Abuse Risk in 2021 – Diagnosing Health Care
This Diagnosing Health Care episode examines the fraud and abuse enforcement landscape in the telehealth space and considers ways telehealth providers can mitigate their enforcement risks as they move into the new year. Hear how the uptick in enforcement warrants close consideration by telehealth providers, especially those that are new to the space and have not yet built their compliance infrastructures.
January 14, 2021
ONTARIO’S SECOND PROVINCIAL EMERGENCY AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE WORKPLACE
On January 12, 2021, the Ontario government declared a second provincial emergency under section 7.0.1 (1) of the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, in response to the drastic rise in the number of COVID-19 cases in the province.
Stay-At-Home Order
As part of the provincial emergency, Ontario has issued a stay-at-home order that will come into effect at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, January 14, 2021, and will last for at least 28 days. This stay-at-home order requires that Ontarians remain at home except for certain permitted purposes, including going to the grocery store or pharmacy, accessing health care services, exercising, or working, where permitted. The province has mandated that “all businesses must ensure that any employee who can work from home, does work from home” (emphasis added).
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