Monthly Archives: March 2020

(March 25, 2020 9:51 PM) Governor Gretchen Whitmer today signed Executive Order 2020-25, which will allow pharmacists to dispense emergency refills of prescriptions for up to 60 days’ worth of supply for patients and require insurers to cover these emergency refills during the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The order will also allow pharmacists to dispense COVID-19 treatments according to government-approved protocols. Executive Order 2020-25 takes effect immediately and ends on April 22 but could be renewed as needed. “No Michigander should be worried about running out of critical medications during the COVID-19 pandemic, which is why I signed this Executive Order authorizing pharmacists to refill up to 60 days of medication for their patients and easing restrictions on pharmacists so they can continue to help their patients during this crisis,” said Governor Whitmer. “Residents who are limiting their time in public places and practicing social distancing shouldn’t have to fear running low on their prescription drugs during these trying times.” The Executive Order only applies to non-controlled substances. Pharmacists will also have the discretion to substitute therapeutically equivalent medications without prescriber approval if there are critical shortages. “This Executive Order will ease a burden on seniors and families worried about…

(March 25, 2020 8:53 PM)  Governor Gretchen Whitmer today signed Executive Order 2020-24, clarifying how the expansion of eligibility for unemployment benefits during the COVID-19 will work.   The order:   Suspends the requirement for an individual seeking unemployment to request a registration and work search waiver from their employer;   Allows anyone with an active unemployment claim to receive up to a six-week benefit extension.  Expands cost-sharing with employers. Any benefit paid to a claimant that is laid off or placed on a leave of absence will not be charged to the employer’s accounts, but instead will be pooled and assumed by the Nonchargeable Benefits Component of employer accounts. Employers who unlawfully misclassify their workers and have underpaid their unemployment tax do not get the benefit of this enhanced cost-sharing.  “These are challenging times that all Michiganders are facing, and no one should be worried about how to make ends meet if they cannot work because of self-isolation or self-quarantine in response to contracting the coronavirus,” said Governor Whitmer. “I will continue to take action that protects public health, while also ensuring that working families have the support they need during these hard times.”  Executive Order 2020-24 takes the place of Executive…

(March 25, 2020 7:07 PM) Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Chief Medical Executive Dr. Joneigh Khaldun will provide an update on the state’s response to COVID-19 tomorrow morning.  The briefing is scheduled for Thursday, March 26 at 11 AM. The briefing will be live streamed on Twitter and Facebook: Twitter.com/MichStatePolice Facebook.com/MichiganStatePolice   JTV will carry the briefing live on JTV and JTV.TV www.jtv.tv/live

(March 25, 2020 6:01 PM) Jackson Crossing Mall has temporarily closed in accordance to Governor Whitmer’s Executive Order, “Stay Home, Stay Safe”. The owner of the mall, Namdar Realty Group, posted the following notice on their website: "The health and safety of our patrons, merchants and employees are a top priority, our thoughts are with those impacted by the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic. We are committed to ensuring the health and safety of all, our teams have been monitoring the situation closely and taking precaution measures at all our properties. In response to growing concerns regarding the spread of COVID-19, Governor Whitmer issued an Order on March 23, 2020, mandating the closure of all malls in Michigan operated by Namdar Realty Group. Pursuant to the Order, the malls will be shut down by close of business, March 23, 2020.  Namdar Realty Group will continue to monitor the situation closely and ensure compliance with all state regulations and government decrees.  We hope to reopen the malls as soon as permissible.  Should anyone merchants or employees need immediate assistance or access to the property, please contact Mall Security or Mall Management."

(March 25, 2020 5:36 PM) The Michigan Retailers Association and several industry trade groups are advising retailers that they can temporarily stop accepting bottle and can returns as of March 24 through April 13. According to the MRA, the Governor’s office clarified that they do not consider bottle and can returns under the state’s bottle deposit law an essential service under Executive Order 2020-21. The state has indicated that the FAQ on the Executive Order will be updated soon to include clarification in writing. The MRA requested the state follow Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Oregon and Vermont’s lead and suspend its enforcement of the bottle deposit law to allow workers to focus on providing essential services and avoid contamination from surfaces that may be harboring the coronavirus. A spot check of area grocers and retailers confirms that stores have stopped accepting bottle and can returns.  Both Polly’s and Meijer have stopped accepting returns. Michigan trade organizations, Michigan Beer & Wine Wholesalers Association, Midwest Independent Retailers Association and Michigan Retailers Association all say the change is meant to protect employees who have to handle the empty bottles.

(March 25, 2020 5:16 PM) USDA Rural Development has taken a number of immediate actions to help rural residents, businesses and communities affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.  USDA Rural Development issued a list of changes concerning loans, eviction and foreclosure moratoriums along with contact information. There are a variety of loan programs and other opportunities USDA Rural Development is implementing to provide immediate relief to the customers, partners, and stakeholders. The agency released the following list: OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMMEDIATE RELIEF Rural Housing Service Single-Family Housing Effective March 19, borrowers with USDA single-family housing Direct and Guaranteed loans are subject to a moratorium on foreclosure and eviction for a period of 60 days. This action applies to the initiation of foreclosures and evictions and to the completion of foreclosures and evictions in process.  Guaranteed Loan Program: • Guaranteed Loan borrowers who are in default or facing imminent default due to a documented hardship can have payments reduced or suspended by their lender for a period not to exceed 12 months delinquency. Once the hardship is resolved, the lender can modify the loan to cure the delinquency or make up the missed payments based on the borrower’s individual circumstances. • Guaranteed Loan…

(March 25, 2020 3:30 PM) After her Consumer Protection intake lines were flooded with phone calls related to violations of the state’s new rules implemented as a result of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is providing guidance on how to file complaints about individuals and businesses that aren’t complying with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s executive orders.   “These are unprecedented times and my office is working with Gov. Whitmer’s office, local law enforcement agencies and other parties to ensure these executive orders are being followed,” Nessel said. “The orders are in place to protect the public health and welfare of Michigan’s residents, and consequences will result to those found to be in willful violation. By working together through this public health emergency and staying home, we can help slow the spread of COVID-19 across the state.”   The Attorney General’s Consumer Protection intake team will continue to receive consumer reports of price-gouging and scams. Those can be made online or by calling the office’s tip line at 877-765-8388. For other violations of the Governor’s executive orders, please contact the law enforcement agency where you reside.  Anyone seeking interpretation of an executive order should first review those orders and the Frequently Asked Questions listed on the state’s website devoted to COVID-19. Weblinks to those pages and additional information can…