Happy Juneteenth!
According to the CDC’s COVID-19 cases in the U.S. website, which the FEHBlog tracks, over the past five weeks the numbers of new cases had taken a downward path for the first three weeks and then turned up for the past two weeks. New deaths have seen consistent weekly reductions over the same time span.
| Week ending | New Cases | New Deaths |
| May 22 | 159,496 | 8,160 |
| May 29 | 148,210 | 7,561 |
| June 5 | 142,829 | 6,553 |
| June 12 | 155,371 | 5,850 |
| June 19 | 161,289 | 4,865 |
The FEHBlog had been wondering when the current COVID-19 emergency period expires. The American Hospital Association informs us that the expiration date is July 25. The AHA is seeking an extension.
In other news —
- The Labor Department’s Employee Benefits Security Administration released “a proposed Self-Compliance Tool intended to help improve compliance with the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) and additional related requirements under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). The tool [which was last updated in 2018[ will enable group health plans, plan sponsors, plan administrators, health insurance issuers and other parties determine whether a group health plan or a health insurance issuer complies with the provisions in both laws. EBSA is requesting public comments on the MHPAEA’s Self-Compliance Tool proposed revisions by July 24, 2020
- The Labor Department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration released non-essential business re-opening guidance.