A recently published FAQ prepared by the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services and Treasury answers frequently asked questions regarding vaccine premium differentials and HIPAA nondiscrimination rules, as well as the cost shares for vaccine boosters.

Vaccine Premium Differentials

ERISA and other regulations prohibit plans “from discriminating against participants, beneficiaries, and enrollees in eligibility,

An employee may sue an employer under the Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Act (“MMA”) for discrimination because of the employee’s status as an individual who is certified to use medical marijuana. This was the recent holding of the Superior Court in the case of Moses Taylor Hospital v. Palmiter.  As you may recall, we discussed

McNees attorney Errin McCaulley is a co-author of this post

On June 10, 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) released its long-awaited COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard (“ETS”) (the final prepublication version that is set to become effective upon publication in the Federal Register).  Covered employers will be required to comply with most provisions

On May 28, 2021, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued updated informal guidance on COVID-19 and the federal employment laws that it enforces.  This round of guidance focused on COVID-19 vaccines and their intersection with the workplace.  With the CDC recently exempting fully vaccinated individuals from masking requirements (except where otherwise required by other federal,

On May 5, 2021, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed A2681B/S1034—the Health and Essential Rights Act (“HERO Act” or “Act”), which requires employers to enact an airborne infectious disease exposure prevention standard for all work sites and to create a workplace safety committee.

Under the Act, the NY Department of Labor, in consultation with the

The Department of Labor recently issued FAQs addressing basic questions regarding the American Rescue Plan Act’s requirement that employers and health plans subsidize COBRA between April 1, 2021 and September 30, 2021 for assistance eligible individuals.  In addition, the Department issued model notices which are required to be provided to certain former employees. The General

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (the “Act”) was signed into law on March 11, 2021.  As well as providing extended unemployment, the Act provides for subsidized COBRA, an increase in the amount of dependent care assistance permitted, continued and expanded credit for paid sick and family leave, and assistance for certain single and

The answer to this question is . . . it depends.  Based on three recent court decisions, whether the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act (“PHRA”) protects medical marijuana (“MMJ”) users from discrimination on the basis of their current use of MMJ appears to depend on the specific accommodation requested by the user.  We summarize these key

After the country waited with anticipation for the better part of a year for a vaccine that would return us to some sense of normalcy, the FDA finally approved two vaccines in December.  The plan was to vaccinate frontline healthcare workers first – for obvious and understandable reasons.  It was also the plan that 20

On December 21, 2020, Congress passed a $900 billion coronavirus relief bill (“relief bill”) as part of a broader spending bill for fiscal year 2021.  President Trump signed the relief bill on December 27, 2020.  In anticipation of any coronavirus relief, employers and HR professionals have been asking whether Congress would extend mandatory paid leave