Articles and Blogs

Tuesday, April 14 Recap Note – ​We believe this is the most up-to-date information available at this time, but it is subject to change ​as circumstances warrant. Also, all finalized resources can be found ​on the COVID-19 ​Resource ​Center page ​of Hall Render’s website.​ Congressional Outlook Today, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell revised the Senate calendar... READ MORE

The transfers and discharges of COVID-19 positive and COVID-19 negative residents are challenging for skilled nursing facilities (“SNFs”) and/or nursing facilities (“NFs”), (in this alert, SNFs and NFs are collectively Long‑Term Care Facilities “LTC Facilities”) as they navigate the evolving government guidance and delicate communication and public relations areas. On April 13, 2020, the... READ MORE

Monday, April 13 Recap Note – ​We believe this is the most up-to-date information available at this time, but it is subject to change ​as circumstances warrant. Also, all finalized resources can be found ​on the COVID-19 ​Resource ​Center page ​of Hall Render’s website.​ Congressional Outlook The Senate held a proforma session today without taking any... READ MORE

On April 9, 2020, the EEOC issued new technical assistance FAQ responses.  Background EEOC states that EEO laws do not prevent employers from following guidelines and suggestions made by the CDC or state/local public health authorities. As previously mentioned in Hall Render postings, the EEOC has provided prior guidance entitled Pandemic Preparedness in the Workplace and... READ MORE

Recently, the President signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) into law. Among many changes is a significant modification to the federal confidentiality protections currently afforded substance use disorder (“SUD”) records pursuant to the Public Health Services Act at 42 U.S.C. 290dd-2 (“PHS Act”). Most notable, the amendments to the... READ MORE

Friday, April 10 Recap Note – ​We believe this is the most up-to-date information available at this time, but it is subject to change ​as circumstances warrant. Also, all finalized resources can be found ​on the COVID-19 ​Resource ​Center page ​of Hall Render’s website.​ HHS Delivers Initial $30 Billion in CARES Act Provider Funding HHS announced... READ MORE

On April 10, 2020, FEMA published a temporary final rule giving the Agency the authority to block the export of critical PPE during the COVID-19 pandemic, including masks, respirators (and their filters and cartridges), non-sterile gloves and surgical gloves. The rule is effective until August 8, 2020. Prioritization and Allocation of Certain Scarce or Threatened... READ MORE

HHS announced that it will begin to deliver the initial $30 billion of the $100 billion from the CARES Act Provider Relief Funding on April 10. Payments are being made via direct deposit to health care providers and suppliers (“Recipients”) in most cases. Several Recipients reported receiving the funds immediately after or even before... READ MORE

On April 9, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) issued its third version of a memorandum entitled “COVID-19 Emergency Declaration Blanket Waivers for Health Care Providers” (“Blanket Waiver Memo”) that announced additional blanket waivers for providers, including skilled nursing facilities (“SNFs”). The Blanket Waiver Memo adds several physician services waivers for... READ MORE

In a Public Notice released April 8, 2020, the FCC provided clarification as to the scope of equipment and services it would consider eligible for funding under the COVID-19 Telehealth Program, as well as the anticipated application process. Types of eligible equipment and services include, but are not limited to the following: Telecommunications services... READ MORE