Akerman LLP
In collaboration with the world’s most successful enterprises and entrepreneurs, Akerman LLP is a client-driven enterprise. As ranked within the top 100 U.S. law firms, they assemble hand-picked teams for every engagement for navigating change, seizing opportunities, and to assist in overcoming barriers on innovation. With more than 700 lawyers and professionals across 25 offices, Akerman works to create better opportunities for the future through their financial services, real estate, and other dynamic sectors.
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The Trump Administration Targets DEI: What Employers Need to Know
The first weeks of the second Trump administration have been marked by a flurry of executive orders, several of which are targeted toward fulfilling President Donald Trump’s campaign pledge to eliminate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives across the federal government, educational institutions, and within the private sector. Though the primary impact of these orders…
False Claims Act Enforcement Trends in Healthcare: FY 2024
The Department of Justice (DOJ) released its annual False Claims Act (FCA) enforcement statistics on January 15, 2025, announcing that it had recovered in excess of $2.9 billion from FCA resolutions during Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 (ending September 30, 2024).…
Best Practices for Employers in Managing USCIS Administrative Onsite Inspections, ICE Raids, and Form I-9 Audits
In today’s increasingly complex immigration enforcement setting, employers face multiple challenges, including unannounced USCIS Administrative site visits (also known as onsite inspections), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) workplace raids, and Form I-9 audits. While these processes all aim to ensure compliance with federal laws, they have distinct purposes and require different strategies to effectively…
The Potential Impacts of President Trump’s Administration on DACA and Temporary Protected Status
President Donald Trump has indicated a strong intention to eliminate both the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) programs, which allow foreign nationals to temporarily live and work in the United States without the fear of deportation. In light of these anticipated measures, employers should take proactive steps to support…
Update: Appellate Showdown Over FCA Qui Tam Provision’s Constitutionality Reaches Eleventh Circuit
As we anticipated in our October 17, 2024, blog, both the Government and the Relator have appealed the district court’s decision in U.S. ex rel. Zafirov v. Florida Medical Associates, LLC, et al. (Zafirov), the first case to hold that the qui tam provision of the federal False Claims Act violates the Appointments Clause…
Paid Prenatal Leave for Pregnant New Yorkers Has Arrived
New York is the first state in the U.S. to pass a law entitling workers to paid prenatal leave. The law, which took effect on January 1, 2025, requires private sector employers, regardless of size, to provide their New York-based employees with 20 hours of paid leave for prenatal healthcare services during their pregnancy,…
New Year, New HIPAA Security Rule Requirements? OCR Proposes Sweeping Changes for HIPAA Security Rule To Bolster Cybersecurity
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) recently proposed a sweeping rewrite of the HIPAA Security Rule that, if finalized, will require that many Covered Entities and their Business Associates (Regulated Entities) invest significant resources to comply with new, less flexible requirements designed to strengthen the cybersecurity posture…
Year-End Watch List: Possible Simplification to Employer Group Health Plan Reporting
2024 might almost be over, but the Senate recently passed two bills that are intended to ease at least some employer burdens under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) moving forward. The bills, both of which are pending signature by President Biden, are:
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Don’t Be Suspicious, Don’t Be Suspicious: New OIG Special Fraud Alert Warns About Suspect Payments in Medicare Advantage Marketing Arrangements
The latest Special Fraud Alert from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) warns about marketing schemes involving questionable payments and referrals among Medicare Advantage plans, health care professionals, and third-party marketers, such as agents and brokers. Issued on December 11, 2024, this new Special Fraud Alert focuses on…