Category Posts

While it is true that our industry, and all industries for that matter, face challenges on several fronts, we should take stock in the amazing service, support, and products that our community was able to provide to those in need! Your focus on the patient was never more needed, and each of you rose to the challenge. As you battle through supply shortages, uncertain healthcare policies, public health emergencies, and crazy weather in multiple regions across the county, you continue to...

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President Biden Signs Legislation Averting PAYGO and Sequester Cuts from Taking Effect at the Beginning of 2022 

Late last week, President Biden sign S.610, the “Protecting Medicare and American Farmers from Sequester Cuts Act,” which delays implementation of the additional 4% reduction in reimbursement for Medicare providers and suppliers (PAYGO) as well as the 2% reduction in Medicare sequestration cuts. This includes:

No payment adjustment through...

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It has just been announced that OSHA is suspending enforcement on the vaccine mandate for employers with 100+ employees.

The suspension comes after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit fully blocked Biden’s executive order requiring companies with over 100 workers to mandate vaccination for their employees after temporarily stating it on November 12. The court ordered that OSHA “take no steps to implement or enforce” the vaccine mandate “until further...

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The White House has issued new information to clarify two separate and distinct vaccine mandates that will impact several businesses throughout the U.S; namely 1) a vaccine mandate for staff at various healthcare provider settings and 2) a vaccine mandate for employers with 100 or more employees. The fact sheet for both mandates can be found here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/11/04/fact-sheet-biden-administration-announces-details-of-two-major-vaccination-policies/.

Both...

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Healthcare providers were presented with several economic stimulus programs to relieve some of the burdens brought on by the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE). During a recent presentation, VGM’s Mark Higley, VP of Regulatory Affairs, and Craig Douglas, VP of Payer & Member Relations, have summarized these programs, what is required of providers to stay compliant, and the tax implications surrounding these programs. 

HHS Provider Relief Fund (PRF) and Updated Reporting...

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In an effort to ensure a safer working environment and reduce the risk of exposure to, or transmission of, COVID-19 for healthcare workers across our country, President Biden signed the Executive Order on Protecting Worker Health and Safety on January 21, 2021. That executive order tasked OSHA with creating and implementing a plan to better protect employees in certain workplaces. OSHA has now responded by issuing a new COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS). As of Monday, June 21, 2021,...

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If you don’t have a COVID-19 plan or designated COVID-19 safety coordinators, the clock is ticking. According to OSHA’s COVID-19 ETS (Emergency Temporary Standard), employers have 14 to 30 days to comply with new standards, depending on the provision. 

As of Monday, June 21, 2021, OSHA’s COVID-19 ETS has appeared on the Federal Register website as an Interim Final Rule with request for comments.This ETS stems from an Executive Order signed by President...

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