Billy Wynne

Senate Finance Health Subcommittee Explores Barriers to SUD Treatment in Medicare and Medicaid The Senate Finance Health Subcommittee hosted a roundtable panel discussion on opportunities to improve substance use disorder care in federal health programs. Roundtable participants shared their expertise in the treatment of substance use disorder, with particular insights on treatment for adolescents and…

HRSA Releases New National Survey on the State of the Nursing Workforce and Holds Roundtable to Discuss Findings The Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) released findings from the National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses (NSSRN) and hosted a roundtable with leaders from more than 25 nursing and health care organizations to discuss the future…

HRSA Increases Loan Repayments by 50% for Primary Care Providers in High Need and Rural Areas The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has taken steps to fortify the primary care workforce by increasing loan repayments through the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Loan Repayment Program. HRSA has increased loan repayments by 50% for primary…

House and Senate Commerce Chairs Unveil Comprehensive Data Privacy Draft Legislation that Would Not Preempt State Health Laws but Includes Private Right of Action The House Energy and Commerce Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Chair Maria Cantwell (D-WA) unveiled the American Privacy Rights Act (APRA), a draft federal privacy…

CMMI Officials Describe New ACO PC Flex Model During Webinar The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI/Innovation Center) held a webinar to describe the new Accountable Care Organization (ACO) Primary Care Flex (ACO PC Flex) Model that was announced on March 19th (Impact summary). The model includes low-revenue Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) ACOs and will…

CY 2025 MA and Part D Policy and Technical Changes Final Rule Includes Provisions to Advance Behavioral Health and Address Broker Compensation The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the Contract Year (CY) 2025 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage (MA) program and Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program (Part D) final…

Organizations Discuss Financing Options for Clean Energy Projects 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 tax credits, grants,…

Senate HELP Subcommittee on Primary Health & Retirement Security Explores Corporate Greed in Health Care and Discusses Future Legislation The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security convened a field hearing to examine the impact of private equity (PE) on access to health care, particularly in light of…

OIG Highlights Difficulty in Accessing Behavioral Health Providers Within Medicare and Medicaid The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) released a report addressing the critical shortage of behavioral health providers within the Medicare and Medicaid systems. This shortage is particularly concerning given the significant demand for behavioral health…

Department Releases White Paper on Preventing Drug Shortages; Policy Proposals Include Manufacturer Resiliency Assessment and Hospital Resilient Supply Programs The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a comprehensive white paper aimed at addressing the persistent issue of drug shortages within the nation’s health care system (press release). The paper not only outlines the steps already taken…