BW News

CARES Act Provider Relief

The CARES Act provides $100 Billion in relief to hospitals and other healthcare providers. Beginning Friday, April 10th, the first $30 Billion of these funds were provided directly to Medicare participating healthcare providers. These funds were automatically deposited based on a calculation of 2019 Medicare fee for service claims. These funds are... Read More

Main Street Lending Program

The U.S. Treasury released information today on its Main Street Lending Program (“MSLP”). Many at this point are familiar with the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) created by the CARES Act; the MSLP is being billed as the corresponding mid-size business program. More details are yet to come, however: The MSLP will enhance support for small and... Read More

Do Health Care Providers Have Legal Immunity When Treating COVID-19 Patients?

On April 1, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker issued an executive order granting legal immunity for health care providers treating patients with COVID-19. This order granted immunity from civil liability for health care facilities, professionals, and volunteers for any injury or death that occurs while they are providing health care services in... Read More

COVID-19 – Additional Employer Funding Sources

Many businesses are asking questions about new SBA loans available under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Oftentimes businesses are not aware of other new resources available in the form of refundable advance tax credits — reimbursing the cost of employee wages paid in connection with COVID-19. In many cases, the credits available can exceed... Read More

Rapid Testing – What Employers Need to Know

The FDA is granting unprecedented flexibility to labs to develop and offer COVID-19 tests across the country. As one example, Abbott recently announced a new test that may deliver results within 13 minutes. This test, and others being developed, may be key components in the ability to widely test individuals outside of a hospital environment and... Read More

H-1B Lottery Concluded – Petitions May Be Filed Beginning April 1

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced earlier this week that the H-1B electronic registration process and the FY2021 lottery has concluded. Employers are now eligible to file a FY2021 H-1B cap-subject petition — provided they electronically registered the beneficiary in the H-1B registration process, and the registration was... Read More

Relaxed Regulations for Food and Beverage Sales

As restaurants, bars, and breweries struggle to adjust to our new social-distancing normal, the state has relaxed some of the regulations on how these businesses can continue to provide alcohol to their customers. Specifically, there has been significant flexibility provided as to what, and how, beer or liquor can leave the facility. All... Read More

USDA Approves Iowa’s Hemp Plan, IDALS Releases License Application

Governor Reynolds signed the Iowa Hemp Act into law May 13, 2019. Nearly a year later, applications are now being accepted by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) for growing outdoor hemp crops. Applications were released following the USDA’s March 20, 2020 approval of Iowa’s industrial hemp plan. Iowa is now one of 12... Read More

DOL Issues Much Anticipated Guidance for FFCRA Paid Leave Requirements

Today, the US Department of Labor announced its much anticipated temporary rule, providing regulations to implement the Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act and the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). These temporary paid leave laws are intended to help workers forced to grapple with... Read More