Expert Compliance Insights & Tips for Businesses

February 3, 2014

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HHS Strengthens Patients' Access to Lab Results

As part of an ongoing effort to empower patients to be informed partners with their health care providers, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has taken action to give patients or a person designated by the patient a means of direct access to the patient’s completed laboratory test reports. “The right to access personal health information is a cornerstone of the ...

February 1, 2014

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EPA to Trim 1,000 Positions With Buyouts of Up to $25K

Unlike the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is not expanding but going the opposite way, with up to 1,000 staff positions to be cut at 19 offices and locations across the country, the Federal Times is reporting. The cuts will target employees at the GS-13 to GS-15 levels and will feature standard early retirement packages, alo...

January 30, 2014

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OSHA Predicts 37,635 Inspections for Fiscal 2014

The October government shutdown has reduced projected worksite inspections by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) from 39,250 to 37,635, having lost an estimated 1,400 site visits during the budget-squabble shutdown. But with the agency now fully funded at $207.8 million and the whistleblower program increased by $2 million, OSHA spokesperson Lauren North told Bloombe...

January 29, 2014

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Obama Establishes New Minimum Wage for Federal Contract Workers

President Obama today is expected to sign his executive order raising the minimum wage for employees working under new federal contracts from $7.25 to $10.10 an hour, following up on his promise made in last night's State of the Union address. His speech and executive order are part and parcel of his administration's push to raise the national minimum wage to the same $10.10 over ...

January 28, 2014

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Supreme Court Holds Donning and Doffing Time Not Compensable

A unanimous Supreme Court has ruled that employees' donning and doffing of protective equipment and then traveling to and from their workstations is not compensable time under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) unless collectively bargained. In Sandifer v. United States Steel Corporation, the court ruled: "We hold that petitioners' donning and doffing of the protective gear ...

January 27, 2014

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HHS Releases Poverty Guidelines for 2014

The federal government has released slightly higher poverty guidelines for 2014, but they won't affect purchasers of health insurance on the marketplaces until they enroll in policies for 2015. Under the new guidelines published by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Medicaid will be available for individuals earning up to $16.105 annually and families earning up to $32...

January 27, 2014

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USDA Awarding Grants to Spur Local Development

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA is investing in rural businesses to help create jobs and spur economic development. "These investments will help businesses expand, help rural communities grow their economies and help support the community-based development goals of the Obama administration," Vilsack said. "USDA is providing loans and grants to ou...

January 25, 2014

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Obamacare Enrollments Reach 3 Million, CMS Blogs

Without releasing any demographics or figures on how many enrollees have actually paid their premiums, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on Friday said in a blog post that health care enrollment on the state and federal marketplaces had reached 3 million. That's a boost of about 800,000 since figures were released in late December, but it's still short of the Ob...

January 24, 2014

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CMS: 'Entire Healthcare Reform Program Is Jeopardized'

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) this week said its decision to switch web developers for HealthCare.gov without competitive bidding was done because the "entire healthcare reform program is jeopardized" by the site's malfunctioning. In a 10-page document it released called "Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition," CMS said Healt...

January 23, 2014

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OSHA Extends Commentary Period on Electronic Reporting Until March 8

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has announced that it will extend the comment period to March 8, 2014, on the proposed rule to improve workplace safety and health through improved tracking of workplace injuries and illnesses. The proposed rule would amend recordkeeping regulations to add requirements for the electronic submission of injury and illness information that...

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