Newsletter March 2014

The countdown is over and Spring is officially here!  I love this time of year.  I have been longing for these warmer days, especially after this Winter we have endured.

Last year a very important piece of legislation was finalized that affected many of you.  The new rules and regulations regarding modifications to the HIPAA Privacy, Security, enforcement and Breach Notification Rules under the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act and the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act affected both healthcare providers and businesses.  Make time this Spring to educate your new hires regarding these significant changes and re-educate the rest of your team.  It is best practices to conduct a HIPAA training and risk assessment once a year.

We at Karen McKeithen Schaede Attorney at Law, PLLC are experts in HIPAA and HITECH.  Our knowledge and skill enables us to provide you with all the updates to protect your business.

Also, do not forget to contact us about drafting your Estate Planning documents.  I know it may not be at the top of your list, but make it a priority.  Your family will appreciate you making your wishes known, and alleviating some of their stress at such a difficult time.

We look forward to working with you.

Sincerely,

Karen McKeithen Schaede Attorney at Law, PLLC

The U.S. Supreme Court Agrees to Hear N.C. Board of Dental Examiners Case

The Supreme Court has granted oral arguments in North Carolina Board of Dental Examiners v. Federal Trade Commission. This case was initiated when North Carolina Board of Dental Examiners (the Board), began sending threatening warnings to nondentists providing teeth-whitening services and their landlords.   These letters stated that only dentists could use peroxide treatments to remove teeth stains.

In a unanimous ruling issued December 2011 the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) determined, the Board “issuing cease and desist orders against certain purveyors of teeth whitening, had violated federal antitrust laws by engaging in unfair competition in the market for teeth-whitening services in North Carolina.”

Read On…

Family and Medical Leave Enhancement Act of 2014

The additional benefits would include 24 hours per year of unpaid Parental Involvement and Family Wellness leave. Eligible employees would be able to “participate in or attend an activity that is sponsored by a school or community organization and relates to a program of the school or organization that is attended by a son or daughter or a grandchild of the employee.” Not only would Parental Involvement and Family Wellness leave cover school or community programs, it would also allow eligible employees to “meet routine family medical care needs, including for medical and dental appointments of the employee or a son, daughter, spouse, or grandchild of the employee, or to attend to the care needs of elderly individuals who are related to the eligible employee, including visits to nursing homes and group homes.