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UPDATE: U.S. Treasury Secretary Announces Extended Tax Season

Client Alert

In a move for further relief for taxpayers, U.S. Treasury Secretary, Steve Mnuchin, has announced the April 15, 2020 filing deadline has been extended.

What It Is

The relief expands on the previous payment relief granted to taxpayers who have income tax payments due April 15, 2020. Now, in addition to a delay in payment, taxpayers will also not be required to file their returns until July 15, 2020. This extension is automatic and does not require the filing of the usual paperwork to obtain an extension. HOWEVER, taxpayers who wish to have the normal 6-month extension for filing their return MUST file the customary extension requests (Form 4868 or 7004) by the April 15, 2020 deadline.

State of Ohio

At this time, the State of Ohio has not issued any formal statement about extending either the due date or payment date for Ohio income taxes.  Ohio officials have said, they will “monitor IRS guidance as released” but have not committed to adopting the same deadlines and/or extensions. The Ohio Society of Certified Public Accountants has written a second letter to the governor in light of the previous payment relief granted by the IRS requesting that an extension be put in place and we are currently awaiting a response. Cities also have not made any pronouncements as their due date is tied to the State of Ohio due date.

Other States

Some other states have released guidance as to relief that they are granting taxpayers. The most up-to-date information for this is available on the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants website https://www.aicpa.org/content/dam/aicpa/advocacy/tax/downloadabledocuments/coronavirus-state-filing-relief.pdf

This information is all based on a tweet issued by Mnuchin today. No formal guidance or announcements have come from the IRS at this time. We will continue to update you on any changes as guidance becomes available.


Changes to Physician Assistant Statutes in Florida

In the last year, there have been many changes to the scope of practice and collaboration/supervision requirements for advanced practice providers such as APRNs and physician assistants in the state of Florida. In a previous Client Alert we discussed House Bill 607, which expanded the autonomous practice of APRNs providing primary care services in Florida.

Ohio Senate Bill 49 – Ohio Expands Lien Rights for Design Professionals

Effective September 30, 2021, Ohio granted limited lien rights to design professionals, including architects, landscape architects, engineers, and surveyors. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed Senate Bill 49 into law on July 1, 2021. This new law established a statutory right to lien commercial real estate by Ohio design professionals who, until now, could not file a lien for non-payment of professional services. Senator Vernon Sykes, a primary sponsor of Senate Bill 49, stated that the “legislation ensures that architects, engineers and other designers will get paid for their work, regardless of the outcome of their projects . . . It will support hardworking Ohioans by protecting the value of their labor . . ..”

Primary Care Practice Officially Defined in Florida for APRNs Practicing Autonomously

As many providers in Florida are aware, House Bill 607 (the “Bill”), which was passed in February of last year, gives certain APRNs in Florida the ability to practice autonomously. The only catch is that they must work in primary practice. When the Bill was initially passed, there was question as to what was exactly considered primary care, absent a definition from the Florida Board of Nursing. However, as of February 25, 2021, “primary care practice” has officially been defined.

Part II of the No Surprises Act

The Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) published Part II of the No Surprises Act on September 30, 2021, which will take effect on January 1, 2022. The new guidance, in large part, focuses on the independent dispute resolution process that was briefly mentioned in Part I of the Act. In addition, there is now guidance on good faith estimate requirements, the patient-provider dispute resolution processes, and added external review provisions.

Safer Federal Workforce Task Force - Guidance for Federal Contractors and Subcontractors

The Safer Federal Workforce Task Force has issued its Guidance for Federal Contractors and Subcontractors (Guidance). Note that the Guidance applies only to “covered contracts,” which are contracts that include the clause (Clause) set forth in Sec. 2(a) of Executive Order 14042 (Ensuring Adequate COVID Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors). The Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council (FARC) is to conduct rulemaking and take related action to ensure that the Clause is incorporated into federal contracts. Until that happens, federal contractors likely will not see the Clause in its contracts. Following is a broad summary of the Guidance.