Members of our vaccine taskforce recently published an important Insight outlining a selection of key legal considerations and updates as the COVID-19 vaccine rollout continues to take shape, including the status of the US Food and Drug Administration’s vaccine products, distribution, key legal issues at the state level, employer mandates and employee incentives, and important liability concerns.
Health Law Scan
Legal Insights and Perspectives for the Healthcare Industry
Please join us for a webinar on Thursday, January 14 at 3:00 pm ET to discuss the refreshed Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the new PPP Second Draw program. This program will highlight key provisions and guidance for businesses seeking to participate in the revived PPP under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, which may be of interest to readers of Health Law Scan.
Our finance, corporate and business transactions, litigation, and tax teams recently published a LawFlash discussing the new coronavirus (COVID-19) relief stimulus package that is part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA), highlighting key provisions and guidance for small businesses seeking to participate in the revived Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has made the development and use of drug and device products to diagnose, treat, or prevent COVID-19 essential. Companies and healthcare providers that develop, manufacture, distribute, or use COVID-19 countermeasures, such as diagnostic tests, ventilators, and personal protective equipment, have had the benefit of potential broad liability protection under the federal Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act. Early on in the pandemic, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a declaration to provide liability protection for COVID-19 countermeasures.
Under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), all pesticide products (including surface sanitizing products) must be registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) prior to sale, distribution, or use in the United States. EPA maintains a list of pesticide products that should kill the SARS-CoV-2 virus, called List N. EPA recently released new interim guidance allowing it to expedite review of some applications for new and amended registrations for products intended to kill SARS-CoV-2.
The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued two welcome announcements on October 22 relating to the CARES Act Relief Fund Provider Relief Fund (PRF). First, the agency expanded the pool of eligible recipients to “include provider applicants such as residential treatment facilities, chiropractors, and eye and vision providers that have not yet received Provider Relief Fund distributions.” The full list of providers eligible for PRF Phase 3 Payment application is listed on the HHS website, and HHS confirmed that these providers may apply “regardless of whether they accept Medicaid or Medicare.” (Read the announcement for more information.)
Our corporate and business transactions and finance teams published a LawFlash on the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) recent procedural notice to Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) lenders addressing the treatment of PPP loans in the context of a “change of ownership” of the borrower and whether prior SBA approval must be obtained in such transactions. This LawFlash provides key takeaways for healthcare clients and healthcare industry investors with respect to M&A transactions involving PPP borrowers.
In a stunning move, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has linked reporting and tracking of the incidence and impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) disease to satisfaction of the Medicare Conditions of Participation (CoPs) for hospitals and critical access hospitals, in spite of the federal about-face that has caused confusion concerning that same reporting since the inception of the pandemic.
Our global healthcare industry team continues to highlight how regions around the world have quickly adapted to providing telehealth services following the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In Singapore, telehealth providers are mainly focused on providing remote telemedicine and/or on-demand house call services.
Our labor, employment, and benefits team recently posted a LawFlash on the ruling in federal district court in New York that invalidated significant parts of a US Department of Labor rule. The ruling found that more employees are eligible for up to 12 weeks’ coronavirus (COVID-19)-related emergency paid sick leave and emergency paid FMLA leave. In light of the court’s decision, employers should consider whether they need to adjust their leave determinations in light of the court’s decision.