By Mike O'Brien President Biden spoke from the White House Sept. 9 to announce his new Path Out of the Pandemic Plan. Among other things, President Biden has instructed the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to develop rules that will require private-sector employers with 100 or more employees to mandate that their employees be vaccinated or receive a weekly … [Read more...] about All private-sector employers with 100 or more employees must mandate vaccination or a weekly negative COVID-19 test
Covid-19
We suspect our employees gave us phony vaccination cards
By Lynne Curry Question: Our senior leadership team couldn’t believe the hostility that erupted when we told our employees if they weren’t vaccinated by Sept. 15, we’d consider they had voluntarily resigned. Several of them emailed lengthy rants to every member of the management team. Others came into our offices crying and went home in tears. Then, like magic, the protests … [Read more...] about We suspect our employees gave us phony vaccination cards
Paid leave for vaccine tax credit updated & employer ups premiums for unvaccinated
By Mike O’Brien Update to the paid-leave tax credit expansion—paid leave for employees to receive a COVID-19 vaccine As previously described in these updates, the Treasury Department and the IRS announced that eligible employers could receive paid-leave tax credits under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) for providing leave for each employee receiving a COVID-19 vaccine … [Read more...] about Paid leave for vaccine tax credit updated & employer ups premiums for unvaccinated
OSHA updates guidance to track the latest CDC mask recommendations
By Mike O’Brien The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has updated its COVID workplace safety guidance entitled, Protecting Workers: Guidance on Mitigating and Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in the Workplace. OSHA’s latest update on Aug. 13 “reflect[s] the July 27, 2021 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) mask and testing recommendations … [Read more...] about OSHA updates guidance to track the latest CDC mask recommendations
Are we making a mistake to require our employees to get vaccinated?
By Lynne Curry Question: Your recent post reported that many employers, including Facebook, Google, Tyson Foods, the Walt Disney Company, Houston Methodist Medical Center, United Airlines, Cisco, DoorDash, the Washington Post and Frontier Airlines, require all onsite employees to get vaccinated. That same day, we learned the Pentagon would require all active-duty troops to … [Read more...] about Are we making a mistake to require our employees to get vaccinated?
Masks making a comeback and vaccine mandates are on
By Mike O'Brien Masks make a comeback On July 27, 2021, the CDC issued new guidance for people that have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Previously, the CDC had said that fully vaccinated individuals did not need to wear masks in public. However, largely in response to the spread of the Delta variant, the CDC now recommends wearing a mask indoors in public if you are … [Read more...] about Masks making a comeback and vaccine mandates are on
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
Newly proposed Medicare Part B Physician Fee Schedule contemplates Making COVID-19 telehealth changes permanent
On July 13, 2021, CMS published its proposed physician fee schedule rule for FY 2022. One of the key items is the proposal to make the temporary change allowing Medicare providers to deliver healthcare services via telehealth a permanent part of Medicare Part B. The Proposed Medicare Changes During the public health emergency (PHE), Congress added the home of the beneficiary … [Read more...] about Newly proposed Medicare Part B Physician Fee Schedule contemplates Making COVID-19 telehealth changes permanent
Staffers push back about returning to work
By Lynne Curry Question: We’re getting enormous pushback from our staff to an email we sent out stating that billing and clerical employees need to return to the workplace. At the same time, our organization can’t survive if we let all the employees who want to work from home do so. It’s not fair to our patients or the employees who show up at work. Further, when I call … [Read more...] about Staffers push back about returning to work
Protect healthcare staff from violence and virus post-pandemic
By Shawn Paul & Joe Anderson If the nation has learned anything from the COVID-19 crisis, it’s that advance planning in safety preparedness is vital to our ability to respond to emergencies, whether they’re viral, violent, or otherwise. Healthcare organizations in particular need procedures and sufficient up-to-date equipment to quickly respond to potentially confusing … [Read more...] about Protect healthcare staff from violence and virus post-pandemic