Two years after enacting the nation’s first COVID-19 safety regulations for employers, the Virginia Safety and Health Codes Board revoked the standard effective March 23, 2022. The Board adopted the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry (DOLI) recommendation that COVID-19 no longer posed a “grave danger” to employees. For most employers, this means the legal...Read More

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published an interim final rule with comment period (IFR or Rule) effective Nov. 5, 2021 that requires certain Medicare- and/or Medicaid-certified health care providers and suppliers ensure their workers are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 by Jan. 4, 2022. This includes physicians who practice in such providers. The...Read More

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) June 10, 2021 to address the hazard posed to health care workers whose positions expose them to SARS-COVID-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The ETS provides guidelines for how these workplaces can reduce the risk of viral transmission to their employees. This standard applies...Read More

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued revised guidance Dec. 16, 2020 addressing COVID-19 vaccinations in the employment context. Information can be found here. This item has been provided as an informational service and does not constitute legal counsel or advice, which can only be rendered in the context of specific factual situations. If...Read More

Federal and state authorities have granted health care practitioners flexibilities to offer telemedicine services to their patients during the pandemic. Information on the regulatory and reimbursement waivers can be found here. This item has been provided as an informational service and does not constitute legal counsel or advice, which can only be rendered in the context...Read More

As Virginia law recognizes the validity of both electronic signatures and electronic notarization, legal activity and transactions can move forward without compromising vital social distancing protocols designed to limit COVID-19 spread. The legal basis for e-signatures was established at the federal level in 1999. Next, states set about adopting comparable legislation to enable their electronic...Read More

Three Virginia health system executives participated in a virtual discussion about COVID-19 from a provider’s perspective. The hour-long program was part of the 16th Annual Virginia Health Care Practitioners’ Roundtable sponsored by the Virginia Bar Association’s Health Law Section Oct. 22. The conversation series topics included: practitioner burnout, team efforts, moving carefully when there’s pressure...Read More

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) was signed into law March 27, 2020. While the foundation of the Act economically supports individuals, small businesses and industries hard hit by COVID-19, key provisions directly affect the health care industry. Providers should be aware of the information found here. This item has been provided...Read More

We are already seeing situations where businesses cannot meet their contractual obligations because of the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the things businesses should consider is whether their failure to perform is legally excused.Written contracts often have provisions that excuse performance in the event of unforeseen, intervening circumstances. Sometimes they may appear as “Force Majeure” clauses...Read More