Articles and Blogs

On March 25, 2020, the Senate passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (H.R. 748) (“CARES Act” or “Act”). The CARES Act contains numerous provisions aimed at the response to the Coronavirus or COVID-19 pandemic, including $100 billion in reimbursement to hospitals and other health care entities for COVID-19-related expenses and lost... READ MORE

In response to the economic distress resulting from COVID-19, Congress has passed a number of stimulus bills providing financial relief for small businesses. The programs created by these stimulus bills are available to a variety of small businesses, both within and outside the health care sector, including independent physician groups, home health agencies, dental... READ MORE

As employers and employees continue to grapple with the spread of COVID-19, an employer‑sponsored leave-sharing program can be a good tool to help alleviate the strain on employee populations that encounter circumstances where they need time away from work. If structured and administered properly, certain leave-sharing arrangements allow employees to donate PTO, medical leave... READ MORE

On March 25, 2020, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (“OIG”) issued a statement soliciting questions from the health care community regarding the application of the fraud and abuse laws such as the federal Anti-Kickback Statute (“AKS”) and the Civil Monetary Penalty Law (“CMP”) prohibition on inducements to... READ MORE

On Monday, March 23, 2020, the Illinois Department of Employment Security (“IDES”) published guidance in the form of FAQs that address the COVID-19 related reasons an Illinois resident might qualify for unemployment benefits. Temporary Layoffs The guidance clarifies that an individual who is temporarily laid off because of COVID-19 may qualify for unemployment benefits... READ MORE

The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (“DWD”) is urging individuals seeking unemployment benefits to apply online at the DWD website before calling due to an extreme influx of unemployment applications. The DWD, which closed all offices across the state to the public in an effort to help contain the spread of COVID-19 and follow... READ MORE

As the nation has followed the back and forth effort to pass a massive stimulus bill related to the COVID-19 crisis, there has been a significant focus on the size of the stimulus. This has included focus on the amount of checks to taxpayers, subsidies and loans to businesses, unemployment benefits and more. Most... READ MORE

If you haven’t thought about it already, it’s important to start thinking about insurance claims your business can make as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is imperative that your business acts quickly to preserve your rights on an insurance claim. Here’s what you need to know: You might be covered under your... READ MORE

NATIONAL 4 questions medical students are asking on the COVID-19 pandemic AHA Urges HHS to Clarify EMTALA, HIPAA Waivers AMA supports Telehealth Initiative to improve health care access Amid mounting shortage, 5 facts about the nation’s stockpile of emergency medical supplies CMS provides reporting exemptions for Medicare payment programs CMS relaxes hospital, nursing home... READ MORE

Thursday, March 26 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 Just before midnight last night, the Senate approved the CARES... READ MORE