Earlier this week, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee delivered his first State of the State, which included a number of proposals that could impact healthcare in Tennessee: Healthcare Modernization Task Force–Gov ...
In December 2018, Part I of this column was based on the Proposed 199A Regulations1 and included the applicable definitions and the basic concepts and mechanics of the 199A 20% deduction of Qualified Business Income (“QBI”) up to the 20% of the excess of the taxpayer’s taxable income over the taxpayer’s net capital gain ...
In the pre-digital age, companies that strategically focused on brand protection and promotion often included only those companies selling directly to consumers - typically through more limited print and radio/television media. Company lawyers and their marketing counterparts might communicate on an as-needed basis when direct legal threats to the brand arose (from customer class actions or competitor advertising claims) or for more routine trademark enforcement measures ...
The sports world is under attack again for its text marketing tactics directed to consumers. This time the target is Tampa Bay Sports & Entertainment, LLC, the owner of the National Hockey League team, the Tampa Bay Lightning. In a federal class action lawsuit filed in March 2019 (Bryan Hanley vs. Tampa Bay Sports and Entertainment LLC, Case No. 8:19-CV-550-CEH-CPT (M.D ...
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) recently released the Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Program Annual Report. The 2018 Report highlighted key enforcement areas and policy considerations. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 established a national Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Program (the Program) under the direction of the Attorney General and the Secretary of HHS ...
The application of distributed ledger, or blockchain, technology has permeated many industries. Since its debut through cryptocurrency, many companies have embraced its potential and many more are actively identifying and implementing novel use cases. The health care industry is no different, and blockchain technology is currently being used for physician and nurse credentialing, electronic medical records (EMRs), patient engagement, patient identity, and pharma supply chain management ...
On Sunday, September 8, 2019, the Cleveland Browns hosted the Tennessee Titans for the first game of their 2019 season. The game did not go well for the Browns that day. They lost badly to the Titans - 43 to 13. During the fourth quarter, Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield threw an interception that was run back for a “pick six” by Titans player Malcolm Butler. Butler jumped into the stands to celebrate, and Titans cornerback Logan Ryan joined him ...
Governance and social factors play a significant role in determining a hospital’s openness to change and its ability to complete a business transaction, be that a merger, acquisition, or other strategic partnership. For government-owned hospitals, tension between the goals of government entities and the goals of a hospital’s board, in addition to added legal complexities, may result in failed or generally avoided transactions ...
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced a pilot crop insurance program for hemp growers in select counties of 21 states in 2020 ...
The Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced in late February that it's delaying enforcement of certain requirements set forth in its Interim Final Rule (IFR) on the Domestic Hemp Production Program (84 FR 58522) under certain circumstances until October 31, 2021, or until publication of the final rule on such hemp production program, whichever occurs first ...
On March 4, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued an order providing conditional regulatory relief for certain publicly traded company filing obligations under the federal securities laws, as a result of the challenges created by the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) for certain companies that are required to provide information to trading markets, shareholders and the SEC ...
Soccer matches played to 100,000 empty seats. Marathons with 200 runners in silent streets. Business blocks deserted. Restaurants closed. Those areas hardest hit by coronavirus can look like something out of an apocalyptic movie. And now, just two months after the new type of virus was first identified in China, Coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) has hit the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control, coronavirus has been found in over 80 countries and 13 U.S ...
It is official. The coronavirus is slowing down the sale of beer, or at least the issuance of beer permits. We are going to keep a running list of closures atLast Call. If you know of any that are not on our list, please email me here ...
Mayor Cooper‘s announcement that he was closing bars in Nashville as a result of the coronavirus epidemic quickly went viral among locals. We have been hearing the same question from tons of bar owners: What do we do? We recommend that you serve food and provide a safe environment for your customers. If you have a decent food menu and loyal customers, become a restaurant in this time of need ...
As the COVID-19 outbreak spreads and officials recommend or impose increasingly restrictive steps to mitigate the impact to public health, more companies are assessing what impact the outbreak is likely to have on their business and are considering whether that impact may necessitate furloughing workers. Following is a summary of some of the core compliance issues employers should consider as they develop contingency plans that may include furloughs ...
Employers nationwide are grappling with the new normal to balance how, where, and when their employees will work with the interests of employee health and safety and ever-tightening government mandates to self-quarantine. Below are some FLSA reminders and typical issues we are fielding from clients across many industries. Some of my employees are self-quarantined and working from home ...
In light of the Coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19)pandemic, many companies are now having to consider in real-time whether a virtual or hybrid annual shareholders’ meeting as an alternative to an in-person meeting is in the best interests of the company and its shareholders ...
The focus on the response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) has primarily centered around prevention and containment but the government and commercial payors have also addressed healthcare operational matters that encourage prompt diagnosis, treatment and monitoring through billing and reimbursement modifications and expansion of telehealth services ...
1. Has OSHA developed standards specifically with respect to COVID-19, or coronavirus? At this time, OSHA has not created specific OSHA standards for COVID-19. However, OSHA is carefully monitoring the situation. It has created a centralized website for employers to familiarize themselves with the disease, including its transmission and what can be done to protect employees ...
As we continue to be bombarded daily with the relentless 24/7 news cycle regarding Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), the reality is that healthcare employees are currently the most likely to be exposed to the disease in the United States. Accordingly, healthcare employers must start, or continue, to think about the various situations that may arise in the workplace and the multitude of laws that may apply ...
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has issued guidelines to help employers avoid violating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as they scramble to address the impact of COVID-19 on their employees and businesses. The EEOC guidance is a reminder that employee privacy and health protections under the ADA continue to apply even in the midst of a global pandemic ...
At this moment in time, it may not be a question of “if” an employee will test positive for COVID-19, but “when.” This document provides practical guidance on what notice employers should provide to employees in the event that a coworker tests positive for coronavirus ...
On March 18, 2020, Congress passed H.R. 6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. The Act, which is on its way to the President’s desk for immediate signature, includes many emergency measures to address COVID-19. The provisions with the greatest potential to impact employers and employees nation-wide are the Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act of 2020 and the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act ...
Along with funding for health services and testing and expanded access to food benefits like SNAP and WIC, the sweeping Families First Coronavirus Response Actincludes paid family and sick leave entitlements for employees who are out of work due to COVID-19 related reasons ...
