Billy Wynne

Report Finds HHS Oversight Shortcomings with Research Involving Potential Pandemic Pathogens The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report on public health preparedness finding that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) needs to improve oversight of research involving potential pandemic pathogens to ensure the safety of conducting such research. HHS oversees high-risk research…

Draft Guidance Issued on Optimizing Dosages for Oncologic Disease Treatments; Comments Due March 19 The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued draft guidance on optimizing the dosage of human prescription drugs and biological products for the treatment of oncologic diseases. The guidance is intended to assist sponsors in identifying the optimal dosage during clinical development…

Actions Aimed at Inappropriate Antipsychotic Use and Increased Transparency in Nursing Homes Announced The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced new actions to reduce the inappropriate use of antipsychotic medications and to increase transparency about nursing home citations. Additional details on each action follows: Reinforcement of Safeguards Against Unnecessary Medications and Treatments –…

Agency Announces $73.4 Million for Substance Use Disorder Grants The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced funding opportunities for five grants related to substance misuse and treating substance use disorder(SUD). SAMHSA highlights that 46.3 million people aged twelve or older had a SUD in 2021. Additionally, 94 percent of people aged twelve…

13.2 Million Medicare Beneficiaries will Participate in Accountable Care Arrangements in 2023 The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced today an increase in providers and beneficiaries participating in three leading accountable care programs for 2023. Overall, CMS reported that 700,000 health care providers and organizations will participate in at least one of the…

Commission Presents Annual Status Report of the Medicare Part D Program The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) convened a session to present an annual status report of the Medicare Part D program and discuss trends in program operations indicators. MedPAC staff highlighted Part D-related provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA), including how…

Commission Previews Findings from Mandated Report on Telehealth Use The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) convened a session to preview their findings for a mandated report on beneficiary and clinician’s use and experience of telehealth. Staff presented their findings, which will be featured in a chapter for the Commission’s forthcoming June 2023 report to Congress.…

Use of Outpatient Behavioral Health Services, Tele-Behavioral Health The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) will publish an informational chapter in the June 2023 report to Congress on the utilization and availability of behavioral health services for Medicare beneficiaries, in response to a request from then-Chairman Richard Neal (D-MA) of the House Ways and Means Committee…

Agency Announces Draft Research Plan on the Impact of Vitamin D and Calcium Supplements on Falls and Fractures The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) released a draft research plan for its review of vitamin D, calcium, or combined supplementation to prevent falls and fractures in community-dwelling adults. The proposed key questions to be reviewed…

Report Finds Gaps in Abuse and Neglect Reporting Requirements for Hospices The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report on abuse and neglect among hospitals, nursing homes, and hospices. In the report, GAO describes the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid’s (CMS’s) definitions of abuse and neglect and any differences in CMS requirements for reporting and…