As reported over the weekend, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 6201, also known as the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, early Saturday morning. Yesterday, the House began making changes and we understand the Senate is currently considering its own changes. We will provide updates on significant changes to this bill once more information is
HIPAA Privacy Rule Waiver, Other Medical Information Questions During the COVID-19 Pandemic
As the coronavirus spreads across the globe and in the United States, providers, businesses, employers, and others are struggling to understand what medical information they can collect and what information they can share. These are difficult questions the answers to which involve considering factors such as long-standing compliance requirements (e.g., HIPAA, ADA, GINA, state law),
Is COVID-19 Recordable or Reportable to OSHA?
We are all adjusting to a new normal for the next few weeks and the impact on COVID-19 is significant on employers, this includes ensuring employees who may be at risk are kept safe and healthy by implementing necessary OSHA requirements. A few weeks ago, OSHA issued general guidance on COVID-19 for employers. In doing
OSHA Issues Guidance on COVID-19 for Employers
HIPAA Privacy Rule Waiver, Other Medical Information Questions During the COVID-19 Pandemic
As the coronavirus spreads across the globe and in the United States, providers, businesses, employers, and others are struggling to understand what medical information they can collect and what information they can share. These are difficult questions the answers to which involve considering factors such as long-standing compliance requirements (e.g., HIPAA, ADA, GINA, state law),
OSHA Offers Employers ‘Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19’
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have issued guidance to help employers monitor and respond to the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19). OSHA has a webpage dedicated to COVID-19 that provides background on the virus and identification of potential exposure hazards, as well as details
Implications of COVID-19 on Your Health and Welfare Benefit Plans
Employers are grappling with employee benefit issues in response to the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (“COVID-19”). Efforts are being made to pave the way for widespread testing by eliminating cost barriers such as deductibles, copayments, coinsurance, or High Deductible Health Plan restrictions to ensure employees and their families are proactively being diagnosed once symptoms present, to
FMCSA Suspends Certain Safety Rules In Response To COVID-19 Outbreak, Excluding Drug and Alcohol Testing
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced on March 13, 2020 that due to the COVID-19 outbreak, an emergency exists that warrants an exemption from Parts 390 through 399 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for certain motor carriers and their drivers. Specifically, the Emergency Declaration provides regulatory relief for commercial motor vehicle operations
What Employers Need To Know About Michigan’s Approach To COVID-19
With 53 presumptive-positive cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Michigan as of March 15, Michigan is taking proactive steps to reduce transmission of the virus. Below is a brief synopsis of what employers need to know.
On March 10, 2020, Michigan’s Governor Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency in Executive Order 2020-4.
The Force Majeure Clause-The New Relevance of the Forgotten Contract Clause
The recent surge of the COVID-19 pandemic and its catastrophic effect on worldwide events has put the standard contract clause, “force majeure,” in new light.
A force majeure clause, French for “superior force,” is a negotiated contract provision that allows either party to a contract to suspend or terminate the performance of its personal contractual