Billy Wynne

Commission Issues Rule to Ban Non-Compete Clauses; Will Apply Jurisdictional Test to Non-Profits The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a final rule prohibiting employers from imposing or enforcing non-compete clauses on workers (press release; fact sheet). What it is. The final rule prohibits employers from entering into non-compete clauses with all workers, on or after the final rule’s effective…

FNS Announces SNAP Program Improvement and Fraud Protection Grants The Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) announced two new grant opportunities to strengthen the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The first is a Process and Technology Improvements Grant and the second is a Fraud Implementation Grant. The opportunities are described briefly below. SNAP…

CMS Finalizes New Standards to Help Ensure Access to Medicaid Services The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released two final rules yesterday to strengthen access to coverage and care for Medicaid enrollees. The Ensuring Access to Medicaid Services Final Rule, described in this email, is intended to strengthen access to and quality of care…

ICER Releases White Paper on Strategies to Address Payer Challenges Associated with Gene Therapies, Provides Needed Policy Reforms and Market Actions The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) and Tufts Medicine NEWDIGS released a white paper entitled “Managing the Challenges of Paying for Gene Therapy: Strategies for Market Action and Policy Reform.” ICER explains…

Agency Finalizes Minimum Staffing Standards for Long-Term Care (LTC) Facilities and Medicaid Institutional Payment Transparency Reporting The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a Minimum Staffing Standards for Long-Term Care (LTC) Facilities and Medicaid Institutional Payment Transparency Reporting final rule (press release, fact sheet). What it is. The final rule outlines minimum staffing requirements for Medicare…

Leadership Consortium Requests Input from Health Care and Biomedical Sciences Professionals Regarding its AI Code of Conduct Draft; Comments Due May 3 The National Academy of Medicine (NAM) unveiled a draft framework aimed at ensuring the responsible adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in health care and biomedical sciences. The framework, titled “Artificial Intelligence in…

Administration Wraps Up IRA Catalytic Program Webinars and Highlights Future Work The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Climate Change and Health Equity (OCCHE) held a presentation to discuss the Office’s Catalytic Program on Utilizing the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The catalytic program is intended to support health care providers in taking advantage of the…

Colorado submits 1115 waiver proposal to expand access to mental health services, strengthen Medicaid coverage for formerly incarcerated individuals, and adopt continuous coverage for children ages 0-3. Comments are due by May 18, 2024 Today, CMS announced that Colorado is seeking to amend its Medicaid Section 1115 Colorado Expanding the Substance Use Disorder Continuum of Care demonstration…

Agency Releases Report on Factors Influencing Budgetary Savings for Medicare ACOs The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released a comprehensive report detailing the performance and future directions of Medicare Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). Medicare Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) have been in operation for over a decade, aiming to improve the quality and cost-effectiveness of care provided…

Department Issues Proposed Rule to Reduce HUD-Assisted Housing Barriers for Applicants with Criminal Records; Comments Due June 10 The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released a proposed rule entitled, “Reducing Barriers to HUD-Assisted Housing” on April 10th.  The overarching goal of the proposed rule is to revise existing regulations to remove barriers…