Billy Wynne

Proposed Information Collection Request for Medicare Transaction Facilitator Data Transmission Released; Comments Due December 27 The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released an information collection request (ICR) on the Medicare Transaction Facilitator (MTF) to be used in 2026 and 2027 in the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program. What is it. The notice indicates…

Task Force Requests Public Comment on Draft Recommendations for Breastfeeding Support and Screening for IPV and Caregiver Abuse; Comments Due Nov. 18 and 25 The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) released a draft recommendation statement and evidence review on behavioral counseling interventions to support breastfeeding, and a draft recommendation and evidence review focusing on…

TEP Nominations to Develop and Evaluate Physician Cost Measures and Patient Relationship Codes, Due November 18th The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking nominations for a Technical Expert Panel (TEP) to support the development and evaluation of Physician Cost Measures and Patient Relationship Codes (PCMP). This initiative aims to enhance the effectiveness and…

Administration Issues National Security Memorandum on Artificial Intelligence and Companion Framework for AI Governance and Risk Management The Biden-Harris Administration issued a National Security Memorandum (NSM) on Artificial Intelligence (AI), directing federal agencies to adopt AI responsibly in national security and intelligence work, while building guardrails to mitigate misuse risks (fact sheet). The NSM, the…

Biden-Harris Administration Announces $110 Million from ARPA-H’s Sprint for Women’s Health The Biden-Harris Administration has announced a substantial investment of $110 million in women’s health research, addressing historical gaps in the field. Since the launch of the White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research in November 2023, the focus has been on conditions that disproportionately…

Biden-Harris Administration Launches Window-Shopping for Marketplace Open Enrollment The Biden-Harris Administration has introduced a “window-shopping” feature for the 2025 Open Enrollment Period, starting November 1, enabling consumers to preview health coverage options. Thanks to expanded tax credits from the American Rescue Plan and the Inflation Reduction Act, many consumers can access plans with $0 premiums…

Department Issues Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for Limiting Data Transfers to Countries of Concern and Accompanying CISA Security Requirements; Comments Due Nov. 28 The Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to implement Executive Order (EO) 14117, aimed at preventing access to sensitive U.S. personal and government-related data by foreign adversaries…

Department Announces New Initiatives to Strengthen the Health Workforce: HHS and CSU Collaboration, ASPE Report, and Funding Opportunities The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) took significant steps to strengthen the nation’s health workforce by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the California State University (CSU) system. This agreement establishes a national model…

CBO Letter to House Budget Committee Chair Projects that the Thrifty Food Plan Increase Decreased Labor Force Participation The Director of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Phillip Swagel sent a letter in response to a request from the House Budget Committee Chair Jodey Arrington (R-TX) about the impact of increasing the Thrifty Food  Plan (TFP) on the…

Report Finds Nearly $1 Billion in Out-of-Pocket Prescription Drug Savings Due to Inflation Reduction Act The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) released a report on the 2024 out-out-pocket (OOP) spending limit (OOP cap) and its associated savings for Medicare beneficiaries (press release). Pursuant to…