Changes to Form 1-9 and New Options for Employers to Remotely Examine Employees’ Documents

SESCO Management Consultants

USCIS and DHS Announce a Revised Form I-9 and a New Option for Employers to Remotely Examine Employees’ Documents

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) has announced that a revised version of Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification will be available starting August 1, 2023. The current version can be used through October 31, 2023; however, as of November 1, 2023, only the revised version may be used.

Additionally, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) has announced that employers who are enrolled in E-Verify will have the option to remotely examine employees’ identity and employment authorization documents. The revised Form I-9 will have a checkbox designated for E-Verify-enrolled employers to indicate when the employer has remotely examined an employee’s documents. This new flexibility option also goes into effect on August 1, 2023.

To take advantage of the new option for remotely verifying employees’ identity and employment authorization documents, the employer must:

• Be enrolled in E-Verify;
• Examine and retain copies of all documents;
• Conduct a live video interaction with the employee; and
• Create an E-Verify case if the employee is a new hire.

DHS is considering expanding these flexibilities to even more employers, but for now, employers who are not enrolled in E-Verify must comply with DHS’s previous deadline of August 30, 2023, to perform all required physical examination of identity and employment authorization documents for employees hired on or after March 20, 2020, if the employee’s documents were examined only virtually or remotely as was permitted under prior COVID-19 temporary flexibilities.

In its announcement, USCIS also highlights the following new features of the Form I-9:

• Sections 1 and 2 are consolidated into a single page.
• The I-9 is available as a fillable form on tablets and mobile devices.
• The “Preparer/Translator Certification” section is now a standalone supplement of the form, permitting employers to provide employees a copy of that single page as needed.
• Section 3 for reverifications and rehires is now a standalone supplement of the form that employers can print whenever a rehire or reverification is required.
• “Acceptable Documents” include receipt notices for certain filings that automatically extend employment authorization, along with related guidance and links to information.
• The form instructions are reduced from 15 pages to 8 pages.
• A checkbox has been added for employers enrolled in E-Verify to use in performing remote examination of employees’ identity and employment authorization documents (as previously noted above).

If you are not a retainer client, contact us to learn about our services by calling 423-764-4127 or click here.

Parkinson’s Foundation: Community Partners in Parkinson’s Care

What is the Program
A program designed to educate and prepare staff to provide better care for people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) who are living in senior care communities or utilizing home care agencies across the country.

Benefits to Joining the Program
The program provides a full curriculum of Parkinson’s education through virtual and in-person trainings. Utilizing the train-the-trainer model, the membership program educates two or more site champions at each location and provides the necessary tools to educate at least 70% of the staff at their site. The program, formerly known as the Struthers Parkinson’s Care Network, funded by the Edmond J. Safra Foundation, has continued to expand and now includes more than 100 member sites across North America.

Cost to Join Program*

• Membership for home care agencies: $1,500 (annual fee)
• Membership for senior care communities: $2,750 (annual fee)

*Care communities serving underserved communities should reach out to us to discuss possible discounted rates as from time to time, sponsors will cover these costs.

Steps to join the Program as NEW members

1. Complete new member application (www.parkinson.org/communitypartners)
2. Application is reviewed for acceptance
3. Agreement and Invoice are sent for completion and payment (this triggers the membership cohort, Q1, Q2, Q3, or Q4)
4. Once payment is received, site champions are invited to the virtual training with program details and given access to the online modules
5. Two site champions participate in the training
6. After training, site champions return to work and share materials with colleagues, they (the administrator) work with staff to ensure 70% or more of clinical staff have completed the modules
7.  Once 70% threshold is met and confirmed, member is recognized as part of the program and may advertise their membership

Current members who wish to train new or additional site champions

1. Complete current member application (www.parkinson.org/communitypartners)
2. Application is reviewed for acceptance
3. Person(s) is/are invited to next quarterly training

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President's Message

Posted: July 25, 2023

As we enter the dog days of summer, I have just returned from representing APTA Home Health in APTA's House of Delegates along with Eva Norman. We passed motions relating to specialty practice in physical therapy, rural health, the ability of PTAs to serve as component delegates, gender equity and transparency in pay, and several other topics. We will provide a full report in the coming weeks.

As you read this on Tuesday, July 25, both Eva Norman, our delegate and federal affairs liaison, and Chris Chisler, our Student Council Representative, are bringing our cause to Capitol Hill as they meet with our nation’s legislators on topics important to physical therapy. Also present in Washington, DC this weekend was Silke Mildenberger, our PTA Council Representative. In addition to attending the first in person meeting of the PTA Council, Silke was able to observe the first day of the House meetings.

APTA’s House of Delegates is focused on the future of our association and the profession. As your delegates, we represent you, our members. If you have an idea for the 2024 House of Delegates to consider, now is a good time to bring that forward, as it takes time and collaboration to bring a viable motion to fruition. Please reach out to me at [email protected] with your ideas.

Sincerely, 

Phil Goldsmith
President
APTA Home Health

Pediatric COVID-19 Core Outcome Measures Survey

The APTA Sections & Academies created a COVID-19 Core Outcome Measures Task Force who recommended a core outcome measure set to capture key constructs for COVID-19-related impairments across all settings and functional levels for adults. We are now seeking volunteers to help us understand the use of the recommended core outcome measure set and explore related issues around PASC/Long COVID. 

This survey is anonymous and should take no longer than 10 minutes to complete. 

Please take this brief survey to help us learn more about the implementation of the COVID-19 Core Outcome Measures in the clinic and what other tests and measures you are utilizing with the pediatric population.

The survey will remain open until August 1.