On May 16, the CFPB released a report examining metrics on mortgage servicers’ responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the report, homeowners are still facing significant risks and challenges in working with mortgage servicers, particularly borrowers struggling with mortgage payments after their COVID-19 hardship forbearances and other protections under the CARES Act have expired.
The Cannabis Conundrum: Can Cannabis Companies File Chapter 15?
Recreational cannabis is now legal in 19 states and Washington D.C., driving the growth of legal cannabis sales estimated at $33 billion this year—up 32% from 2021—and expected to reach $52 billion by 2026.[1] This movement signals that financial investment in cannabis is not abating but accelerating notwithstanding the impact of the lingering COVID-19…
Zai Jian Zhongguo, Bienvenidos a México: The Trend of Production Moving from China to Mexico – Regulatory and Practical Considerations
By Curtis Dombek & Lisa Mays
In recent years, a wide array of trade actions pursued by the United States, foreign and domestic policies of the United States and China, reputational risks, and supply chain breakdowns are driving a trend of more and more manufacturing moving from Asia to Mexico. The Biden Administration has made no secret of its desire to…
CMS Issues Contract Year 2023 Final Rule for Medicare Advantage Organizations and Prescription Drug Sponsors
On April 29, 2022, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”), issued the final rule on Contract Year 2023 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Programs (the “Final Rule”). CMS promotes the Final Rule as advancing “CMS’ strategic vision of expanding access to affordable health care…
No Relief in Sight: CFPB and FTC Continue to Take Action Against Debt Settlement Companies
On April 29, the CFPB filed a proposed order in federal court seeking final judgment against three California-based defendants for engaging in unlawful fee-charging practices and deceptive telemarketing. According to the complaint, the defendants, a student loan debt relief business and a general debt-settlement company, along with their owner and CEO charged illegal upfront fees…
FTC, DOJ Seek to Enjoin Internet Provider From Facilitating Illegal Robocalls
On April 26, the DOJ filed a federal complaint on behalf of the FTC against a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service, a related company, and its owner for allegedly facilitating the transmission of illegal telemarketing robocalls.
According to the complaint, the companies and owner assisted in the transmission of millions of robocalls, including…
Cal/OSHA Adopts Fourth Iteration of COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standards
On April 21, 2022, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (“Cal/OSHA”) Standards Board adopted the fourth iteration of its COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standards (“ETS”). Sheppard Mullin previously wrote about the proposed revisions to the current ETS here, which were adopted without substantive changes. The revised ETS will become effective once approved by…
CFPB Signals Foray into Protecting Small Businesses from Abusive Debt Collectors
On April 15, the CFPB and FTC announced the release of a joint annual report to Congress administering the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). The annual report highlights both agencies’ efforts to protect and provide debt collection relief to consumers, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic hardship.
The report also…
Some Renters Protected Under California’s Extended Eviction Moratorium
By Aaron Duffy
On March 31, 2022, the California legislature approved Assembly Bill (AB) 2179, extending the state’s eviction moratorium through June 30, 2022 for certain tenants who have applied for rental assistance on or before March 31, 2022. This latest extension was passed in response to significant delays reported by both the state and local jurisdictions related to the…
7 Things to Know About the New AdvaMed Code Updates
By Amy Dilcher
On March 18, 2022, AdvaMed announced updates to the Code of Ethics on Interactions with Health Care Professionals (“Code”), a voluntary code that provides medical technology companies with guidance on ethically compliant interactions and relationships with healthcare professionals. The changes will take effect on June 30, 2022. The updates are part of a concerted effort…
Alert to Providers: Another Shot to Comply with Provider Relief Fund Reporting Requirements
As of April 11, 2022, the Health Resources & Services Administration (“HRSA”) is now offering providers who missed the original Provider Relief Fund (“PRF”) reporting deadlines the opportunity to request the ability to report in compliance with the PRF Terms and Conditions. Request submissions for Reporting Period 1 are due by Friday, April 22…
Further Updates to Cal/OSHA’s COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standards Likely Coming Soon
At its upcoming April 21, 2022 meeting, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (“Cal/OSHA”) Standards Board will decide whether to readopt the fourth iteration of its COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standards (“ETS”), which first went into effect on November 30, 2020. The ETS apply to all employees not covered by Cal/OSHA’s Aerosol Transmissible Disease…
CMS Begins Option to Extend Medicaid Postpartum Coverage
On April 1, 2022, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) announced states may seek to extend Medicaid postpartum coverage from 60 days to one year through a new state plan option offered by the American Rescue Plan Act (“ARPA”). The new state plan option allows state Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program…
Online Investment Site Settles with FTC, $2.4M Fine
On March 8, the FTC settled with the operators of an online stock trading platform over allegations that the operators fraudulently marketed investment-related services that they claimed would enable consumers to make consistent profits and beat the market. FTC alleged that the consumers were misled and those who subscribed to the operators’ stock and option…
U.S. Visas for Ukrainians and Russians: Navigating the Maze
When the Russian army entered Ukraine on February 24, 2022, that set in motion panic for family and friends in the U.S. and the need to quickly explore visa options for their loved ones in the Ukraine, Russia, and neighboring countries. Below is a brief general survey of visa options:
Temporary Protective Status (TPS): …
Making Sense of the Solar Supply Chain Issues
As current supply chain issues continue to threaten the U.S. photovoltaic solar industry, solar module suppliers, manufacturers, renewable energy developers and utilities alike face great uncertainty surrounding the immediate future of the solar module supply market. The bottom-line is that supply chain issues are increasing shipping and equipment costs for solar cells and panels, however,…