Workplace Illness

CMS Issues Final Rule Withdrawing Health Care Staff COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement

June 5, 2023

By Adam P. Mastroleo and Hannah K. Redmond

On June 5, 2023, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published a final rule withdrawing the requirement that employees of CMS covered health care providers be vaccinated against COVID-19. You may recall that CMS issued an interim final rule in November 2021 that required Medicare- and Medicaid-certified providers to ensure the vaccination of their staff members. The final rule published today effectively eliminates that requirement.

Read More >> CMS Issues Final Rule Withdrawing Health Care Staff COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement

New York Department of Health Commissioner Recommends Repeal of the Healthcare Worker Vaccine Mandate

May 25, 2023

By Adam P. Mastroleo and Hannah K. Redmond

On Aug. 26, 2021, the New York State Department of Health (DOH) implemented an emergency regulation requiring covered health care employers, including hospitals, to “continuously” ensure that their “personnel” are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. See N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. Tit 10, § 2.61 (the DOH Mandate). The DOH Mandate stated that healthcare personnel were required to receive a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by Sept. 27, 2021 “absent receipt of an exemption as allowed” by the regulation. The DOH Commissioner permanently adopted the DOH Mandate in June 2022.

Read More >> New York Department of Health Commissioner Recommends Repeal of the Healthcare Worker Vaccine Mandate

Appellate Division Stays Invalidation of Healthcare Vaccine Mandate

February 28, 2023

By Adam P. Mastroleo and Hannah K. Redmond

As covered in our previous blog post, in January 2023, Onondaga County Supreme Court Justice, Hon. Gerard J. Neri, struck down a regulation adopted by the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) – 10 N.Y.C.R.R. § 2.61 (the Regulation) – requiring covered healthcare entities to ensure that their “personnel” are “fully vaccinated” against COVID-19. The NYSDOH, the Commissioner of Health, Governor Hochul (collectively, Respondents) filed a Notice of Appeal, indicating their intention to appeal Judge Neri’s decision in its entirety. Shortly thereafter, on Jan. 27, 2023, Respondents moved for a stay of enforcement of Judge Neri’s Order during the pendency of their appeal.

Read More >> Appellate Division Stays Invalidation of Healthcare Vaccine Mandate

Update Regarding New York’s Healthcare Vaccine Mandate

January 31, 2023

By Adam P. Mastroleo and Hannah K. Redmond

On Jan. 13, 2023, Onondaga County Supreme Court Justice, Hon. Gerard J. Neri, struck down a regulation adopted by the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) – 10 N.Y.C.R.R. § 2.61 (the Regulation) – requiring covered healthcare entities to ensure that their “personnel” are “fully vaccinated” against COVID-19.[1] Judge Neri invalidated the Regulation on several grounds, holding that the NYSDOH exceeded its authority in implementing the Regulation and that the Regulation lacked a rational basis given the NYSDOH’s acknowledgement that the mandate does not prevent transmission.[2]

Read More >> Update Regarding New York’s Healthcare Vaccine Mandate

New York’s Healthcare Vaccine Mandate Comes Under Fire . . . Again

January 17, 2023

By Adam P. Mastroleo and Hannah K. Redmond

In August 2021, the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) implemented an emergency regulation – 10 N.Y.C.R.R. § 2.61 (the Regulation) – requiring covered healthcare entities to ensure that their “personnel” are “fully vaccinated” against COVID-19. The NYSDOH Commissioner permanently adopted the regulation in June 2022. Commonly referred to as a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for healthcare workers, the Regulation has been the subject of several legal challenges in both state and federal courts.

Read More >> New York’s Healthcare Vaccine Mandate Comes Under Fire . . . Again

Earned Safe and Sick Time Act Proposal

December 9, 2022

By Jane M. Sovern and Paige Carey

New York City’s Earned Safe and Sick Time Act (ESSTA or Act) provides covered employees with the right to use safe and sick leave as it accrues for a delineated list of circumstances. On Aug. 11, 2022, the New York City Council introduced a proposal to amend the ESSTA’s definition of “employee.” Under this proposal, certain independent contractors would qualify as employees and receive benefit coverage under the Act. The proposal would require hiring entities to engage in detailed analyses of individuals providing services to determine wither they are independent contractors or employees.

Read More >> Earned Safe and Sick Time Act Proposal

New York State Adopts the CDC’s COVID-19 Quarantine and Isolation Guidance

September 22, 2022

By Hannah K. Redmond and Jared A. Joyce

On Sept. 14, 2022, the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) issued updated COVID-19 quarantine and isolation guidance, which effectively replaces the guidance from May 31, 2022. According to the September 14 guidance, the NYSDOH will now follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) guidelines on quarantine and isolation.

Read More >> New York State Adopts the CDC’s COVID-19 Quarantine and Isolation Guidance

New Guidance from U.S. DOL on FMLA Leave for Mental Health Conditions

June 6, 2022

In connection with Mental Health Awareness Month, the United States Department of Labor (USDOL) has sought to assist employers in better understanding how to comply with the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) as it relates to mental health conditions. Accordingly, on May 25, 2022, the USDOL issued new guidance (Guidance) and frequently asked questions (FAQs) on providing FMLA leave to employees to address their own mental health conditions or to care for a covered family member with a mental health condition.

Read More >> New Guidance from U.S. DOL on FMLA Leave for Mental Health Conditions

NYDOH Extends NY HERO Act Designation a Fifth Time

February 16, 2022

By Stephanie H. Fedorka

On Feb. 15, 2022, the NYS Commissioner of Health extended the NY HERO Act designation for a fifth time through March 17, 2022. The Commissioner will review the CDC’s level of transmission of COVID-19 at that time and determine whether to continue the designation (extend further) or not. Based on the Commissioner’s designations, if the CDC’s level of transmission in New York continues to be “high” or “substantial,” it seems highly likely that the Commissioner will continue the designation. 

Read More >> NYDOH Extends NY HERO Act Designation a Fifth Time