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Corporate Transparency Act to be Re-evaluated

Client Alert

Over the past several months, the federal judiciary has provided numerous rulings on the enforceability of the Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA”), which became effective January 1, 2024.  For a more detailed overview on the CTA, click here.

On February 20th, we alerted business owners that the reporting required by the CTA was reinstated, as all nationwide federal injunctions had been lifted. However, on February 27th, the Department of Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”) issued a press release providing that no enforcement actions will be taken against businesses that fail to submit reporting.

The press release provides that FinCEN will be reevaluating the CTA and will provide new guidance and clarity “as quickly as possible.”  Public comment will be solicited by FinCEN during this reevaluation.

Given FinCEN’s new position on the CTA, businesses no longer have any obligation to submit reporting.  A reevaluation of reporting obligations will also be warranted by business owners in the event FinCEN does publish a new final reporting rule, as the impetus for change was a reduction of the regulatory burden on businesses while prioritizing reporting only for those entities that pose the most significant risks.

For further guidance on the changing landscape of CTA reporting, business owners should reach out to their BMD legal advisors or contact BMD Member Blake Gerney at brgerney@bmdllc.com.


Corporate Transparency Act Update

The Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA”), with an effective date of January 1, 2024, is set to impose strict reporting guidelines on business owners throughout the country. The following provides a brief update on two aspects of the CTA ahead of its effectiveness next week.

The Second Wave of UnitedHealthcare's Prior Authorization Cuts Started in November

In August 2023, UnitedHealthcare released its plan to eliminate roughly one-fifth of its then-current prior authorization requirements. The first round of prior authorization cuts took effect on September 1, 2023. In that round, UnitedHealthcare eliminated the necessity for some prior authorizations for UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage, UnitedHealthcare commercial, UnitedHealthcare Oxford and UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange plan members. The second and final round of prior authorization cuts began on November 1, 2023. The November 2023 Prior Authorization Cuts apply to the same plans as well as community plans (i.e., Medicaid managed care plans).

Legal Uncertainties Remain Following Passage of Issue 1 in Ohio

In the November 2023 General Election, Ohio voters passed Issue 1 which, among other things, “[e]stablish[es] in the Constitution of the State of Ohio an individual right to one’s own reproductive medical treatment, including but not limited to abortion”. Despite passage of Issue 1, questions persist about how its codification on December 7 affects previously passed legislation restricting abortion and related pending court cases.

NLRB Issues Final Rule on Joint-Employer Status

On October 26, 2023, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued its final rule on determining joint-employer status, departing from its prior 2020 standard. The final rule provides that two or more entities may be considered “joint employers” if each entity has an employment relationship with employees and if the entities share or codetermine one or more employees’ essential terms and conditions of employment. The final rule goes into effect on December 26, 2023, and will only be applied to cases filed after the effective date.

WEBINAR SERIES RECAP | Employment & Labor

BMD Partner and Co-Chair of the Employment & Labor Law Group, Bryan Meek, presented this four-part webinar series on trending topics in employment law.