On November 6, 2018, when Massachusetts voters go to the polls to select a new Governor and other key elected officers, they will also consider Ballot Question 1, which will mandate rigid registered nurse staffing ratios for hospitals across the Commonwealth effective as of January 1, 2019. This proposal would make Massachusetts the second state…… Continue reading this entry
The following is a wake-up call to all employers, especially those in the health care industry, that have adopted “zero tolerance policies.” These policies will increasingly butt up against the tidal wave of laws legalizing the medical and recreational use of marijuana. In a just-decided case, a federal judge in Connecticut issued a ruling in…… Continue reading this entry
Earlier this month, the Department of Labor (DOL) released its Final Rule seeking to expand the scope of participation in Association Health Plans. The Final Rule, titled “Definition of ‘Employer’ under Section 3(5) of ERISA – Association Health Plans”, with a few revisions, codified the Proposed Rule. At its heart is a change to the…… Continue reading this entry
The Trump administration’s mark is certainly evident at the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and health care employers are breathing a sigh of relief. The NLRB is a five member Board that decides cases governing most aspects of private sector labor relations in the health care industry. The manner in which Board members’ terms are…… Continue reading this entry