Billy Wynne

January Behavioral Health Highlights Below please find highlights from the Biden Administration’s recent announcements on improving behavioral health systems across the nation. HHS Releases Fact Sheet on the Agency’s Accomplishments Since Releasing the Roadmap for Behavioral Health Integration  Last year, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released its Roadmap for Behavioral Health Integration which includes specific…

Chair Requests Input on Reforms to Employer-Sponsored Health Coverage; Due March 15 House Education and Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) issued a request for information (RFI) to inform legislative reforms to employer-sponsored health care (press release). Comments are due March 15.   The RFI is part of the Committee’s efforts to lower costs and improve access…

Actions to Protect and Expand Access to Contraception As part of the 51st Anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a series of new actions to protect and expand access to contraception (press release).   Letter to stakeholders on contraceptive coverage obligations: HHS reminds Medicare care plans, private…

Department Releases Guidance on FYI Program to Help Prevent Youth Homelessness Post-Foster Care The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released guidance aimed at preventing homelessness for young adults who have transitioned out of foster care. The guidance focuses on the Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) program, operated by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which provides…

CMMI Announces New Value-Based Care Model to Advance Integrated Behavioral Health Services The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) announced (model website) that it is planning to test a new voluntary, value-based care model to increase access to high-quality integrated care for Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries with substance use disorder and moderate to severe mental health…

ARPA-H Launches HEROES Program to Increase Investment In Addressing Preventable Health Challenges; Letters of Interest Due February 29 The Biden-Harris Administration launched a new program called Health care Rewards to Achieve Improved Outcomes (HEROES) through the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H). This initiative is part of President Biden’s Unity Agenda and aims to address preventable health…

FNS Announces Cooperative Agreement to Support Indigenous Foods in Child Nutrition Programs The Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) announced a request for applications (RFA) for cooperative agreements to support the use of Indigenous foods in child nutrition programs. FNS will award up to $2 million in total funding to up to four organizations to…

Agency Finds That Amounts of Nutrients in Prenatal Supplements Differ From Labels The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report on product labels for prenatal supplements. GAO says that it was asked to assess the accuracy of over-the-counter prenatal supplement labels for amounts of certain nutrients, and to determine if the supplements contain harmful substances. Key takeaways are…

Agency Finalizes the Advancing Interoperability and Promoting Prior Authorization Rule The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a final rule to advance interoperability and improve prior authorization (press release; fact sheet). The regulations apply to Medicare Advantage (MA) organizations, Medicaid managed care plans, State Medicaid Agencies, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) agencies and managed care entities;…

Department Proposes New Disability Access Requirements for Medical Diagnostic Equipment; Comments Due on February 12 The Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to update regulations regarding the accessibility of medical diagnostic equipment (MDE) (press release, fact sheet). What is it. DOJ has received complaints…