Billy Wynne

Agency Proposes Rule to Enhance Interoperability and Streamline Prior Authorization; Includes New Data Exchange Requirements and 5 RFIs The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a proposed rule to improve the electronic exchange of health care data and streamline prior authorization (press release; fact sheet).  The regulations apply to Medicare Advantage (MA) organizations,…

Agency Issues the March 2022-September 2022 Semiannual Report to Congress The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) released the Semiannual Report to Congress providing an overview of the Agency’s activities from March 2022 through September 2022. The report includes data on OIG’s reports, audits, investigations, and other statistics.…

Agency Announces A New Center of Excellence to Study Nutrition and Chronic Diseases The Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a new virtual Agricultural Science Center of Excellence for Nutrition and Diet for Better Health (ASCEND for Better Health) that will accelerate research on diet-related chronic diseases. The new center will connect existing resources, people, and…

HHS Extends Enforcement Discretion for Good Faith Estimates; NPRM Scheduled for Jan. 2023 Likely to Propose New Applicability Date The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) extended enforcement discretion, pending future rulemaking, for the requirement that convening providers and facilities provide good faith estimates (GFEs) for uninsured (or self-pay) individuals of expected charges from…

Agency Reminds Hospitals of Duty to Protect Staff and Patients from Workplace Violence The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a Quality, Safety & Oversight memo on workplace violence in hospitals. The memo reiterated the regulatory obligation Medicare certified hospitals have under the Medicare Hospital Conditions of Participation (CoP) (§482.13(c)(2)), including the Medicare…

Updated Clinical Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Pain Released The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued clinical practice guideline for prescribing opioid for pain. The 2022 edition updates and expands the 2016 version and provides evidence-based recommendation for clinicians who provide pain care, including those prescribing opioids, for acute pain, subacute pain, and…

FNS Proposes Changes to WIC Food Packages The Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) released a proposed rule with changes to the food packages in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) (proposed rule; press release). The updates reflect science-based revisions and incorporate recommendations from the National Academies…

Task Force Releases Annual Report on High-Priority Evidence Gaps Focused on Healthy Behaviors The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) released its annual Report to Congress on high-priority evidence gaps for clinical preventive services. USPSTF is an independent, volunteer panel of experts that makes recommendations about preventive services. This report focuses on research gaps related…

Senate Advances Same-Sex and Interracial Marriage In a crucial advancement for human rights and equality, the Senate voted 72 to 37 to advance the Respect for Marriage Act (HR 8404).  The legislation would codify protections for same-sex and interracial marriage.  A final vote is expected after Thanksgiving.(Joyce, November 16, 2022) #Public Health

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Maternal and Infant Health and Efforts to Address Them The Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) recently released an issue brief on racial and ethnic disparities across selected measures of maternal and infant health, the factors that drive these disparities, and recent efforts to address them. This summary provides the key takeaways…