The New York Times reported that New York Attorney General Letitia James sent a letter to Zoom Video Conferencing, Inc. asking it to address recent challenges to its data privacy and security practices. One security problem that the letter discussed was the infiltration of hackers into the Zoom videoconference platform in a practice referred to …
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When the President has declared a national emergency under authorizing legislation, the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is authorized to grant waivers to certain prohibitions under the Social Security Act, which includes the Stark Law, during a declared public health emergency in order to ensure (i) sufficient health care items …
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As healthcare providers continue to fight the coronavirus outbreak, many practices are suffering major disruptions due to the cancellation of elective surgeries and office visits, among other things. In an effort to lessen the financial hardships facing these providers, on March 28 the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced an expansion of its …
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The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) will take effect on April 1, 2020, and will require all private employers with 499 or fewer employees to provide paid sick leave and emergency family leave to qualified employees. The FFCRA will apply to a broader set of individuals than New York’s paid sick leave law passed …
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At a time when medical professionals are overwhelmed by the COVID-19 crisis, Governor Cuomo issued an executive order expanding resources to healthcare workers. The goal is to meet the treatment demands of coronavirus patients, and most significantly, provide health care providers with protection, in most instances, from lawsuits for medical malpractice and other potential liability. …
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On March 28, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) issued a much-needed update clarifying what constitutes “essential industry” during the national COVID-19 response. This updated Guidance is especially important as many of the individual state declarations of emergency refer to “essential industry” without any enumeration, or specifically reference DHS-CISA agency …
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With “stay at home” orders in effect throughout the United States, business has come to a virtual standstill in many markets, resulting in the closure of stores and offices, layoffs and furloughs of employees and other actions. As a result, nearly every commercial landlord and tenant is facing unprecedented challenges. Landlords and tenants alike are …
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They say necessity is the mother of invention, and perhaps no less so in trying times like these. For years, the idea of virtual courts in New York has been discussed, and, in some very limited cases implemented. But now, in the current crisis, they are more necessary than ever and the Chief Judge of …
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On March 28, 2020, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued a much-needed update clarifying what constitutes “essential industry” during the national COVID-19 response.  This updated Guidance is especially important as many of the individual state declarations of emergency refer to “essential industry” without any enumeration, or specifically reference DHS-CISA …
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In his (perhaps, what will one day be a) seminal report on the results of a clinical trial, Dr. Didier Raoult and colleagues reported that after six days of administering hydroxychloroquine combined with azithromycin, 100% of patients infected with COVID-19 were “virologicaly cured,” compared with 57.1% who were treated with hydroxychloroquine only. In the control …
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Friends and colleagues- My thoughts are with you during these uncertain times. First and foremost, I want you and your family to stay safe and healthy. Social distancing is a small price to pay for guarding the wellness of our most vulnerable. Second, I am sure you are anxious about your health and the health …
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The CARES Act, signed into law on March 27, 2020, contains a component that will quickly provide businesses with loans to compensate for lost revenues due to COVID-19. The Paycheck Protection Program is making $349 billion available to small businesses that were operating as of February 15, 2020, and that have been impacted by coronavirus. …
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The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act(CARES Act), signed by President Trump on March 27, 2020, contains key changes to the Bankruptcy Code. The CARES Act and the previously enacted Small Business Reorganization Act (SBRA) will impact consumers and small businesses that have filed, or may be faced with filing, for bankruptcy relief in …
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Several of the provisions in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) will help people with substance use disorders and the healthcare professionals who care for them. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration will receive $425 million to address mental health and substance use disorder needs as a result of …
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The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), signed into law on March 27, made some substantial changes to the confidentiality rules for substance abuse and mental health records to bring them in line with HIPAA confidentiality rules. Among the changes, a covered entity or business associate may now use or disclose substance …
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