The Institute for Well-Being in Law, a collective of legal professionals focused on promoting mental health and work-life balance within the legal industry, has expressed severe criticism of a recent decision by the Fifth Circuit. The disputed Court decision found that social media posts by the Louisiana State Bar Association on varied issues such as…
As we’re all preparing for the Thanksgiving season, it’s a wonderful time to reflect upon the blessings we have in our lives. Whether it’s our family, friendships, any kindness we’ve received, or simply our ability to meet day-to-day needs, there’s always something to be grateful for. Alongside this gratitude, it’s also important to ponder the…
The impending lawsuit against Warrick Newco Operations, Newburgh, Indiana, has captured the attention of environmental legal experts and industry stakeholders. Warrick, the operator of an aluminum smelting complex in Newburgh, is under fire for alleged violations of the Clean Water Act. This lawsuit has been sparked by a Notice of Intent to Sue (NOI) sent…
The California Protection Agency’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) is set to introduce a significant alteration to the highly controversial Proposition 65 short-form warning. This change will mandate for specific Proposition 65 chemicals to be identified within the warning itself. At present, a short-form warning under Prop. 65 requires the identification of a…
In an era where safety and security are paramount, schools across the country have employed various surveillance technologies in their institutions. Technologies being used range from school communications monitoring, online monitoring, web filtering, weapon detection systems, and remote video monitoring as highlighted in an article on JD Supra. According to a survey carried out by…
It is evident that the landscape of Human Resources Management is experiencing transformative changes as we approach 2024. Adapting operational models, realigning priorities, embracing technological innovations, and championing employee wellbeing are just some of the areas experiencing significant shifts. This article will delve into 20 notable trends affecting Human Resources Management based on insights from…
The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), in its latest endeavor, has proposed amending the “short form” warning provisions of Proposition 65, marking its third attempt. Proposition 65 is a key consumer protection statute enforced widely throughout the state. The agency presented this proposal on October 27th, aiming to bring significant changes to…
Businesses are increasingly responding to a growing number of disclosure standards including, most recently, those proposed by the Task Force for Nature-Related Financial Disclosures, a market-led and science-based initiative supported by governments, companies, and financial institutions. Yet this shift towards transparency might be obscuring deeper changes happening in the relationships between companies and their investors….
On Tuesday, a California federal judge ruled against major social media platforms in their attempt to dismiss a case launched by parents, advocacy groups, and school districts. The case addresses the plaintiffs’ concerns over the platforms’ alleged addictive designs, which they assert have caused millions of children to become habituated to multiple platforms such as…
Recent events underscore the importance of employee assistance programs (EAPs) in the entertainment industry. Beloved actor Matthew Perry, renowned for his role as Chandler Bing on the enduring NBC television sitcom Friends, tragically passed away on October 28, 2023, at age 54 in his Pacific Palisades home. As per law enforcement, Perry died after an…
A recent survey conducted by YouGov for Included Health, revealed that workers show a greater degree of trust in their employers regarding their health than in their insurance providers. The numbers sizzle: just 37% of employees trust their insurer to suggest high-quality care regardless of cost, while 53% rest their faith in their employers’ hands….
The legal landscape for mass torts and class action lawsuits continues to shift, most notably with the commencement of the first trial against Johnson & Johnson subsequent to the dismissal of its dual talc bankruptcy cases which took place in California. Meanwhile, lawsuits surrounding mental health issues purportedly caused by social media giants like Facebook…
In a significant ruling on Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers of the Northern District of California rejected the request to dismiss lawsuits that allege YouTube, Facebook, and other social media platforms have caused addiction and subsequent mental health issues among young users. The Judge’s verdict establishes that the immunity provided under Section 230…
The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) has been making headlines recently due to proposed regulations released by the key US Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and the Treasury. This legislative draft brought forth by the aforementioned departments aims to amend the current MHPAEA guidelines. The proposed changes have been met…
California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) is proposing changes to the short form warnings currently allowed by Proposition 65. Known formally as the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, Proposition 65 requires businesses to provide clear and reasonable warnings about significant exposures to chemicals that cause cancer, birth defects, or…
Dealing with mental illness often presents significant barriers to securing and maintaining gainful employment. Recognizing this, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has implemented disability benefits to support individuals diagnosed with certain mental health conditions that substantially and demonstrably impair their ability to work. These aids come in the form of two federal programs: Social Security…
In light of alterations to the Proposition 65 warning requirements that came into being in 2018, a significant number of corporations opted for the usage of the “short-form” warning, which doesn’t mandate the identification of a specific chemical. Nevertheless, on the 27th of October, 2023, the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (“OEHHA”) publicized a…
The November 2023 edition of the Washington Healthcare Update brings noteworthy information about the recent activities of some key legislative bodies in the United States. The report follows last week’s Senate Finance Committee’s latest output, the Better Mental Health Care, Lower-Cost Drugs and Extenders Act, and the Senate’s confirmation of the new National Institutes of…
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear a case centered around Michael Johnson, an inmate in solitary confinement at the Pontiac Correctional Center in Illinois. Johnson, who suffers from an array of severe mental health issues, was kept under such confinement for three years, frequently devoid of outdoor exercise. The legal professional community…
On November 2, 2023, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued its 2024 Physician Fee Schedule final rule (Final Rule) for calendar year 2024. This rule is expected to implement significant changes aimed at improving access to behavioral health care in Medicare. The changes align with the CMS’s Behavioral Health Strategy. As reported…
In what is being recognized as a significant legislative move, Minnesota recently enacted an extensive healthcare law article– Chapter 70–S.F.No. 2995. The bill, as indicated by the state, aims to amend various sections in Minnesota’s current healthcare provisions.Further details on this can be found here. The legislation covers a wide range of healthcare components, most…
As we advance into 2023, legal professionals must navigate the intricacies of telemental health laws that are evolving rapidly across the United States. Epstein Becker Green (EBG) attorneys have been diligently researching, compiling, and analyzing these state-specific legal requirements since 2016, providing valuable insight for both professional mental/behavioral health practitioners and stakeholders looking to provide…
On November 10, 2023, the Senate Finance Committee held a Markup on the Better Mental Health Care, Lower-Cost Drugs, and Extenders Act. The package, defined by its bipartisan support, seeks to address key issues pertaining to American health care, such as broadening the mental health care workforce, minimizing prescription drug costs, and extending the use…
The true intent behind congressional action can often be discerned from the information found within Proposed Regulations Comment Letters. The proposed regulations under the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) have recently sparked a rigorous investigation, with a particular focus on the letters issued by the U.S Departments of Labor, Health and Human…
California’s contentious Proposition 65, also known as the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, is once again under scrutiny. The state’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) is making its third attempt in recent years to modify the so-called “short form” warning provisions of Prop 65. Critics have compared the move…