Are You Ready for June 27? New Federal Law Requires 8-Hour Training in Opioid Abuse Treatment

The Medication Access and Training Expansion (“MATE”) Act was signed into law on December 29, 2022. The Act applies to all “qualified practitioners” anticipating initial or renewal DEA registration on or after June 27, 2023.  A qualified practitioner is someone licensed under state law to prescribe controlled substances (excluding veterinarians). As part of the DEA…

Arizona’s New Health Professional Wellness Programs: Five Things You Should Know

For the past few years, healthcare professionals have faced unprecedented challenges, which have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. A recent survey revealed that one of the top drivers for nurses leaving their current positions was the emotional toll of the job.[1] Conditions such as understaffing can lead to additional stress for physicians and other…

COVID-19 Federal Vaccination Mandates: Guidance for Employers

What mandates presently apply? Three federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates have proven to be a frequently-moving target for employers nationwide as to both implementation and compliance.  As of the date of this article, all three vaccine mandates are blocked in full or in part. On September 9, 2021, President Biden announced federal COVID-19 vaccination mandates as…

OSHA’S COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard: What Employers Need to Know

  On June 21, 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (“OSHA”) emergency temporary standard (“ETS”) aimed at limiting the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace went into effect.[1]  OSHA found, in part, that the COVID-19 pandemic “presents a grave danger to workers in all healthcare settings” and issued the ETS in response.[2]  Who is…