The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a flurry of Press Releases and Alerts from mid-June through the end of July warning consumers and health care professionals not to use certain alcohol-based hand sanitizers due to the dangerous presence of methanol (or wood alcohol), a substance often used to create fuel and antifreeze that can be toxic when absorbed … Continue Reading
HHS Announces Relief Fund Payments for Medicaid & CHIP Providers, Safety Net Hospitals and Enhanced Provider Relief Fund Portal
***Update: Eligible providers that participate in Medicaid and CHIP programs must electronically submit an application for Provider Relief Funds through the Provider Relief Fund Portal by July 20, 2020. Note that such providers may select to use their gross revenues from patient care for CY 2017, or 2018 or 2019. The Instructions, Application and Terms and Conditions for Medicaid … Continue Reading
Focused Infection Control Surveys for Nursing Homes to be Completed by July 31, 2020 — New Penalties for Identified Deficiencies
On June 1, 2020 CMS published QSO-20-31-All. It is effective immediately and provides in part as follows:
(1) States will need to perform focused infection control surveys (FICS) of 100% of the certified nursing homes in their State by July 31, 2020 or lose access to certain federal funding.
… Continue ReadingOSHA Revises its Guidance for Recording Work-Related COVID-19 Cases
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) generally requires employers to report and record workplace injuries. OSHA has published revised guidance regarding its recordkeeping requirements for employers. Beginning May 26, 2020 and until further notice, OSHA is requiring most employers with more than 10 employees to record work-related employee COVID-19 illnesses.
While this applies to many … Continue Reading
J-1 Waiver Physicians: COVID-19 Reduction in Hours and Telehealth (Limited) Temporary Flexibility
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The following post originally appeared on the Fox Rothschild’s “Immigration View” blog.
On May 11, 2020, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a Policy Memorandum relating to certain J-1 waivered foreign medical graduates during the COVID-19 national emergency. The memo, captioned “Temporary Policy Changes for Certain Foreign Medical … Continue Reading
Heightened Cybersecurity Risks for Healthcare Organizations during COVID-19 Pandemic
In the midst of the COVID-19/Coronavirus Pandemic, cybercriminals are targeting healthcare organizations with phishing campaigns, ransomware, and other malicious acts that can adversely impact health information technology, medical response, and patient safety.
Recently, the New Jersey Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell issued an Advisory pertaining to such acts, which includes best practices for users and administrators of healthcare organizations to … Continue Reading
New COVID-19 Reporting Regulations and Requirements for Skilled Nursing Facilities, effective May 8, 2020
On May 8, 2020, CMS published an Interim Rule, one portion of which is focused on new reporting requirements for skilled nursing facilities. The new reporting requirements, effective May 8, 2020, fall into two categories: (a) reporting COVID-19 Information to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC); and (b) reporting COVID-19 information to residents and family members. Details regarding the … Continue Reading
New Jersey Announces Emergency Graduate Licensure Program to Grant Temporary Licenses to Health Care Practitioners
In an effort to meet the increased demand for health care professionals during the current state of emergency and public health emergency, on May 5, 2020, pursuant to DCA Administrative Order No. 2020-05 and DCA Waiver No. W-2020-09, the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs announced its Emergency Graduate Licensure Program, established pursuant to a new law signed … Continue Reading
EEOC Permits Employers to Test Employees for COVID-19 Prior to Entering the Workplace
Hospitals, long-term care facilities, clinical labs, pharmacies, medical practices and dental practices may now test employees for COVID-19 prior to them entering the workplace.
Yesterday, the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) updated its COVID-19 guidance to provide that under the current circumstances presented by the COVID-19/Coronavirus pandemic, “an employer may choose to administer COVID-19 testing to … Continue Reading
PA DOH Issues Revised Guidance on Elective Procedures in Ambulatory Surgery Facilities
The Pennsylvania Department of Health has issued revised Guidance effective April 27, 2020, permitting ambulatory surgery facilities (ASFs) to resume the performance of elective procedures, if the ASF makes an affirmative decision that it is able to do so without jeopardizing the safety of patients and staff or the ASF’s ability to respond to the COVID-19 emergency.
In determining whether … Continue Reading