A federal appeals court panel in New Orleans is poised to uphold a lower court ruling enjoining the enforcement of the Affordable Care Act's (ACA) requirement that most private health insurance cover recommendations of the...more
On May 15, 2023, the Fifth Circuit temporarily stayed a district-court ruling that struck down a key part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). As a result of the stay, the ACA’s health insurance coverage requirements for...more
The Departments of Labor, Treasury, and Health and Human Services (the “Departments”) recently released guidance for group health plans on required preventive services coverage. The guidance was issued in response to a...more
Employers, at least for now, may have some relief from some of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) requirements to cover preventive care services without cost sharing under a nationwide injunction issued March 30, 2023, by a...more
On March 29, 2023, the Departments of Labor (“DOL”), Health and Human Services (“HHS”), and Treasury (the “Departments”) published FAQs Part 58 on the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA”), the Coronavirus Aid,...more
On March 30, 2023, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas vacated actions taken by HHS to implement provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that require health insurance plans to include coverage for...more
Following days of lengthy debates, 3rd doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine or “boosters” can now be officially administered to certain individuals in the U.S., as endorsed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration...more
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that as of October 1, 2021, all applicants for Green Cards must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. There are some exemptions from the requirement, but...more
The Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued the Eighth Amendment to the Declaration Under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (“PREP Act”) for Medical Countermeasures...more
On December 11, 2020, a SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech became the first to receive Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Since then, two others...more
Given the significant push to vaccinate the public since the start of 2021, the increasing availability of vaccines, and the need to recruit additional personnel to administer vaccinations, the secretary of the US Department...more
Over a year after the declaration of a nationwide public health emergency due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (“COVID-19”) pandemic, providers are in a position to offer patients a variety of COVID-19 medical services,...more
On Friday February 26, 2021, several agencies including The Departments of Labor, health, and Humans Services (HHS) published FAQs regarding health insurance issuers’ obligations under the FFCRA and CARES Act for governing...more
Please remember: each state has the flexibility to tailor recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for prioritizing vaccination....more
Virginia has announced the phased approach that the Commonwealth will take to ensure critical populations will receive a COVID-19 vaccine, following guidance developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)...more
By the time this article goes to print, it is likely that COVID-19 vaccine distribution and administration will be underway in the United States. In late October, the Trump Administration released an interim final regulation...more
On December 2, 2020, the U.K. became the first Western nation to approve the use of Pfizer/BioNTech’s COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccine for mass inoculation. As pressure mounts on U.S. regulators to follow suit, the next 30 days...more
In Washington: The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is finalizing new guidelines to shorten its recommended coronavirus quarantine period from 14 days to between 7 and 10 days. The agency hopes more people...more
On October 28, 2020, CMS released an interim final rule with comment period (IFC) that implements several CARES Act requirements to prepare for the availability of a COVID-19 vaccine. Among other changes, the IFC establishes...more
On October 23, 2015, the U.S. Departments of Labor (DOL), Health and Human Services (HHS), and Treasury issued frequently asked questions (FAQs) on the implementation of preventive care and wellness provisions of the...more
Through new FAQs and final regulations, the U.S. Departments of Labor (“DOL”), Health and Human Services (“HHS”) and the Treasury (the “Departments”) have further clarified various issues related to the preventive care...more