Billy Wynne

Agency Requests Public Comment on Proposed Definitions for Crisis Response Services, Comments Due December 5th The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is requesting public comment on a new draft publication, Model Behavioral Health Crisis Services Definitions. According to the agency, this document was designed to provide clarity for providers, state and local…

Committee Addresses Disaster Funding Needs in Bipartisan Hearing The Senate Appropriations Committee convened a hearing to address the urgent federal funding needs for communities affected by recent natural disasters. The session highlighted the bipartisan commitment to providing relief despite the challenges posed by post-election transitions and ongoing work to finalize fiscal year (FY) 2025 appropriations…

Senate Subcommittee on Economic Policy Discusses the Failed Reality of the TCJA and Cautions Against Future Proposals The Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Policy convened a hearing to examine the future of tax policy as the country approaches 2025. The discussion centered on the consequences of the 2017 Tax…

House Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee Holds Hearing on NIH The House Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee held a hearing on November 19, 2024, to discuss the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Dr. Monica Bertagnolli appeared for the first time before the Subcommittee as the Director of the NIH.   Most of the hearing focused on Committee members’ general…

2024 Election Recap & 2025 Health Policy Outlook   Following the November 5th election, the Republicans are poised to have a “trifecta” and be in control of the White House, the Senate, and the House of Representatives.  When all votes are counted and certified the Republicans are expected to have a 53-47 majority in the…

Sen. Stabenow Finally Releases Farm Bill Text Today, Chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) introduced the Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act for Farm Bill reauthorization (press release; fact sheet; text). The legislation largely follows the framework Sen. Stabenow released in May (Impact summary), although the bill includes $39 billion in…

DEA Extends COVID-19 Telemedicine Flexibilities Through December 31, 2025 The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) jointly issued a third temporary rule that extends the full set of COVID-19 telemedicine flexibilities for prescription of controlled medications through December 31, 2025. What is it. The agencies note that…

CRS Releases Report Detailing Expiring Provisions in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) The Congressional Research Service (CRS) released a detailed table on November 13 summarizing the expiring provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA). Many of these provisions, which impact individuals, families, and businesses, are scheduled to expire by the end of 2025.…

Commissioners Consider Whether to Extend A-APM Bonus Payments The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) held a meeting to discuss the participation bonus for clinicians in Advanced Alternative Payment Models (A-APMS). Clinicians who meet certain thresholds for payment and patients in an A-APM receive the bonus payment as an incentive for A-APM participation. The five percent bonus was originally intended…

Commissioners Support Eliminating the 190-Day Lifetime Limit on Covered Days in Freestanding Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) convened a session to discuss the issue of Medicare’s coverage limits for inpatient psychiatric care in freestanding inpatient psychiatric facilities (IPFs). MedPAC staff presented recent data that underscores the negative impact of these limits…