Articles and Blogs

Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle Discusses Health Care Reform with Hall Render On Thursday, Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD) joined Hall Render Chairman Bill Thompson and McKinsey and Company Director Paul Mango for a wide-ranging panel discussion on the future of health care reform. The three health policy experts covered a... READ MORE

Expanded access to health coverage for employees and other individuals under the Affordable Care Act (“ACA”) is set to take effect in January of 2014.  However, employers should be aware that certain provisions of the Act require more immediate action on their part.  More specifically, employers are required to provide notice to employees of... READ MORE

Early this month, a Treasury official announced in a blog that the Obama Administration would delay implementation of certain health care coverage reporting requirements and the “pay or play” shared responsibility payments under the Affordable Care Act (“ACA”).  (See July 3, 2013 Hall Render blog post “Obama Administration Takes Its Foot off the Gas Pedal,... READ MORE

Late in the day on July 2, 2013, the Obama Administration announced via two blog posts that it will provide a one-year delay to the implementation of significant aspects of the Affordable Care Act (“ACA”) affecting employers.  This delay applies to: (1) the ACA’s new health care coverage reporting requirements applicable to employers, insurers... READ MORE

Discharge for Lactation Is Sex Discrimination In a recent decision, a federal appeals court held that a termination for “lactating or expressing milk” is sex discrimination under Title VII because it would clearly impose upon women “a burden that male employees need not – indeed, could not – suffer.”  The Court also ruled that... READ MORE

The Affordable Care Act requires employers who are subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act to provide each employee a written notice of certain rights and information.  This notice was to be provided no later than March 1, 2013 to current employees and to any employees hired after that date.  However, the U.S. Department... READ MORE

On September 14, 2012, CMS published a Survey and Certification letter addressing “Hand in Hand: A Training Series for Nursing Homes.” This training is in response to Section 6121 of the Affordable Care Act, which requires that CMS ensure that nurse aides receive regular training on caring for residents with dementia and prevention of... READ MORE

Future of the Affordable Care Act: The Debate Rages On… Yesterday, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act’s (“ACA”) individual mandate by a 5-4 majority (click here to view Hall Render’s Broadcast sent 06/28/12).  Yet the fate of the landmark legislation remains far from decided.  On Capitol Hill, Republicans will... READ MORE

Hall Render has learned the Supreme Court will not issue an opinion on the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act this week. Sources at the Court tell Hall Render the earliest the Court might rule on the landmark health care law is Monday, June 18. READ MORE

As a means of improving care to residents residing in Medicare/Medicaid nursing facilities, CMS announced on March 15, 2012 an initiative to help reduce avoidable hospitalizations.  Organizations interested in participating in this initiative must submit an application to CMS by June 14, 2012. The goal of the initiative is to improve care for residents... READ MORE