Telemedicine was a minor but growing blip on the enforcement radar before the public health emergency. But with the dramatic step up in utilization during the COVID-19 pandemic, it was all but inevitable that schemes involving telemedicine fraud would command more of the Department of Justice’s attention. So, the agency’s September announcement of its latest nationwide … [Read more...] about Feds crack down on telemedicine and COVID-19 fraud
Compliance
New technical guidance on religious exemptions to vaccination
By Mike O’Brien EEOC Issues New Technical Guidance on Religious Exemptions to Vaccine Mandates On Oct. 25 the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued new updates to its Covid-19 technical guidance. Specifically, the EEOC seeks to clarify employer obligations and employee rights related to religious exemptions to vaccine mandates. The guidance addresses the … [Read more...] about New technical guidance on religious exemptions to vaccination
Can employers ask applicants, “Are you vaccinated?”
By Lynne Curry You weathered the storm that blew through your workplace when you told your employees they needed to get vaccinated. You read the stories about Delta Air, Chevron, UPS, Goldman Sachs, and other major employers that made full vaccination a condition of employment.1 Like 59% of 1,000 small business owners surveyed, you plan to sidestep future problems by hiring … [Read more...] about Can employers ask applicants, “Are you vaccinated?”
Updates and more updates about vaccine mandates
By Mike O’Brien Given the flurry of recent news reports surrounding COVID vaccine requirements, an update about mandates seems, well, mandatory. Like our readers, the authors of these updates look forward to a happier time, when the most pressing issues in HR law are not all somehow pandemic-related. In the meantime, we will do our best to keep you up to date. OSHA sends … [Read more...] about Updates and more updates about vaccine mandates
5 things to do when implementing a vaccine passport policy at your medical office
Like many other health providers, you might have been undecided about whether to mandate that your employees get the COVID-19 vaccine. However, now that the FDA has fully approved a coronavirus vaccine, namely, the Pfizer BioNTech, you are on much stronger legal ground in requiring that employees get vaccinated. One strategy that may work, especially for offices that aren’t … [Read more...] about 5 things to do when implementing a vaccine passport policy at your medical office
Watch for vaccine mandate and outcome of remote work lawsuit
By Mike O’Brien Watching for OSHA’s new vaccine mandate rule President Joe Biden has instructed the United States Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to develop an emergency rule that will require private-sector employers with 100 or more employees to mandate that their employees be vaccinated or receive a weekly negative COVID-19 test. … [Read more...] about Watch for vaccine mandate and outcome of remote work lawsuit
Fraud recoveries grow as feds target telemedicine and COVID-19 add-on test scams
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and continued sequestration of enforcement funds, the federal Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Program (Program) reversed recent trends and recovered more money in FY 2020 than it had the year before. In fact, recoveries for the year reached nearly $3.1 billion, the highest return since 2016. Here’s a briefing for medical office managers on the … [Read more...] about Fraud recoveries grow as feds target telemedicine and COVID-19 add-on test scams
OSHA orders inspectors to use the hammer to enforce new COVID-19 protocols
On June 21, OSHA issued a new Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) requiring health care providers to take extensive measures to protect frontline workers against risk of COVID-19 infection. Exactly one week later, the agency issued internal Compliance Directive 2021-02 (the Directive) telling OSHA inspectors how to enforce the new ETS. The 67 pages of instructions shed light on … [Read more...] about OSHA orders inspectors to use the hammer to enforce new COVID-19 protocols
FDA reverses course on healthcare worker re-use of N95 masks
For decades, the N95 filtered mask has been a vital piece of personal protective equipment for frontline medical workers. But for months, shortages of that precious item which was previously taken for granted left countless health care workers defenseless from exposure to the coronavirus. The good news is that the N95 shortages have finally abated, with surplus stockpiles … [Read more...] about FDA reverses course on healthcare worker re-use of N95 masks
Provider pays $214K for violating federal COVID-19 workplace protocols
In one of the first of what will likely be a flood of enforcement actions, the Texas parent of an Iowa nursing home has agreed to repay $214,200 in federal monies for not following coronavirus safety protocols during an outbreak at the facility from April through July 2020. Among other things, the nursing home didn’t properly screen employees or require them to wear personal … [Read more...] about Provider pays $214K for violating federal COVID-19 workplace protocols