Department of Justice Increases Focus on COVID-19 Fraud

In March 2020, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act, which provided $2.2 trillion in economic relief.  The Act was designed to quickly get money to millions of Americans suffering from the pandemic.  Unfortunately, this relief provided ample opportunity for fraud.  As the COVID pandemic begins to ease, the Department of …

Limitation of Liability During the Coronavirus Pandemic

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, state and federal authorities have recognized a need for as many trained, experienced, and qualified health care providers as possible. To ensure those providers are fully enabled to provide critical care in response to COVID-19, several laws limit the tort liability of health care providers providing services in response …

CARES Act Increased Funding for the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economics Security Act (the “CARES Act”) provided additional funding for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (“Department”) Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund (the “Fund”) to assist health care providers. The Department’s guidance indicates that the following “providers” that would qualify for funds are large organizations and …

The CARES Act: Changes Specifically Impacting Health Care Providers and Suppliers

On March 27, 2020, President Trump signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, also known as the CARES Act (the “Act”). The purpose of the Act is to address the numerous areas impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, including public health, business, economic, and others. This article sets forth major impacts of …

What Health Care Providers and Suppliers Need to Know about the New Paycheck Protection Program under the CARES Act

The CARES Act establishes a new loan program for small businesses during the period starting on March 1, 2020, and ending on December 31, 2020, and in certain situations forgiveness of such loan, which many health care providers and suppliers should review.  Known as “7(a) Paycheck Protection Program loans” (“PPP Loans”), businesses in the health …

CARES Act Expands Funding and Medicare Coverage For Telehealth Services

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act, recently passed by Congress and signed into law by President Trump, provides a number of important expansions of telehealth coverage during the public health emergency affecting those in rural areas and home health care patients and establishes significant funding for enhancement of telehealth services by updating …

SUD Program Privacy Rules Modified by CARES ACT

In this country, people who need Substance Use Disorder (SUD) treatment often choose not to pursue professional treatment, not because of the cost, but because there is a societal negative stigma attached to the disease.  In 1975, the federal government acted to eliminate the stigma and simultaneously encourage people suffering from SUD to voluntarily ask …