Sandra M. DiVarco
Subscribe to Sandra M. DiVarco's PostsSandra (Sandy) M. DiVarco focuses her practice on the representation of hospitals and health systems. She has counseled health care facility and system clients regarding all aspects of health law transactions and health system restructurings. Read Sandra DiVarco's full bio.
UPDATE: CMS Issues COVID-19 Vaccination Interim Final Rule for Healthcare Facilities
By Sandra M. DiVarco, Gregory Fosheim, Lauren Knizner and Kristen O'Brien on Dec 2, 2021
Posted In Employee Benefits, Employment, Health and Welfare Plans, Labor
On November 16, 2021, 12 states—Montana, Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Utah and West Virginia—filed a complaint in the US District Court for the Western District of Louisiana requesting that the Interim Final Rule with comment period (IFR) that put in place the vaccination mandate applicable to certain covered healthcare...
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Whistleblowers, Fears of Losing Funds Key to Enforcing US Vaccine Rules
By Sandra M. DiVarco on Nov 17, 2021
Posted In Employment, Health and Welfare Plans, Labor
Even though the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit temporarily blocked the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) COVID-19 vaccination rule for employers (though not for the healthcare sector), businesses should continue preparing for important OSHA deadlines. According to this Reuters article, workplace whistleblowers and fears of disappearing federal funds will likely help...
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Federal Appeals Court Temporarily Blocks New OSHA Rule
By Abigail M. Kagan, Dawn Peacock, Michelle S. Strowhiro, Sandra M. DiVarco and Kristen O'Brien on Nov 9, 2021
Posted In Employee Benefits, Employment, Health and Welfare Plans, Labor
On November 6, 2021, the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit temporarily blocked the Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) issued on November 4, 2021, by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requiring employers with 100 or more employees to implement COVID-19 vaccination policies. The ETS is stayed until further notice, halting its implementation...
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OSHA and CMS Vaccination Rules Released: Here Are the Details
By Abigail M. Kagan, Dawn Peacock, Michelle S. Strowhiro, Sandra M. DiVarco and Kristen O'Brien on Nov 5, 2021
Posted In Employee Benefits, Employment, Health and Welfare Plans, Labor
On November 4, 2021, the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) unveiled its Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) to protect employees of large employers in all industries from COVID-19. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) simultaneously released its Omnibus COVID-19 Health Care Staff Vaccination Interim Final Rule, applicable to most Medicare- and Medicaid-certified...
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Can Employers Make Vaccines Mandatory in a Pandemic?
By Sandra M. DiVarco and Michelle S. Strowhiro on Oct 14, 2020
Posted In Employee Benefits, Employment, Health and Welfare Plans, Labor
Even though a vaccine to prevent COVID-19 isn’t available yet, it’s not too early for employers to start considering whether they will require employees to get the vaccination when it is ready. In a recent article by the Society of Human Resource Management, McDermott partners Michelle Strowhiro and Sandy DiVarco highlighted some of the factors,...
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Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact Eases the Practice of Nursing across State Lines
By Lisa Schmitz Mazur and Sandra M. DiVarco on Oct 17, 2017
Posted In Employee Benefits, Employment, Health and Welfare Plans
The Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (Compact) has now been adopted by 26 states, which means the Compact will be taking effect on January 19, 2018. Nurses who seek to practice telemedicine and deliver in-person care across state lines and who meet the Compact’s licensure requirements in these states will have one less obstacle to overcome...
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