Billy Wynne

NIST Releases Version 2.0 of Cybersecurity Framework; Update Includes Expanded Scope and New Cybersecurity Function The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) released version 2.0 of its Cybersecurity Framework (CSF), marking a significant update since its inception in 2014. The new version expands the framework’s applicability to all organizations, irrespective of their industry or…

Aspen Health Strategy Group Releases Report with Bipartisan Input Advancing Five Ideas to Reduce the Health Harms Associated with Firearm Violence The nonpartisan Aspen Health Strategy Group (AHSG), part of the Aspen Institute, released a new report examining the pressing need to reduce firearm injury and offering strategies for the health sector to mitigate its…

Administration Officials Describe IRA Clean Energy Investment Tax Credits for Tax-Exempt Entities 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…

HHS Releases Multiple Notice of Funding Opportunity Announcements for Behavioral Health Initiatives Highlights of recent federal funding announcements for behavioral health initiatives can be found below.  New Behavioral Health Notice of Funding Opportunity Announcements: Provider’s Clinical Support System – Universities NOFO, Applications Due April 15th The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced…

GAO Calls on HHS to Improve Efforts to Address Worsening Maternal Health Disparities The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report investigating the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on maternal health outcomes in the United States and evaluating the efficacy of federal measures in addressing maternal health disparities. This comprehensive study assesses data provided by…

Sen. Cassidy Releases Report Outlining Proposals for Strengthening Health Data Privacy Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA), the ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released a comprehensive report outlining proposals aimed at enhancing privacy protections for health data.  The report follows Sen. Cassidy’s request for information (RFI) in September 2023 seeking input on health…

Agency Finds that Providers Generally Met Medicare Requirements when Billing for E/M Services via Telehealth. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) released an audit of Evaluation and Management (E/M) services provided via telehealth during the first 9 months of the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE). Several COVID-19…

House Committee on Agriculture Holds Hearing with Secretary Vilsack; Debates Farm Bill, Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Investments, and More Last week, the House Committee on Agriculture held a hearing including testimony from Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. The full recording is available here.  The hearing included discussions regarding federal investments in nutrition programs such as the…

Agency Issues RFI to Inform Development of the FY 2026-2030 NIH Strategic Plan for HIV and HIV-Related Research; Comments Due March 28 The National Institutes of Health (NIH), through the Office of AIDS Research (OAR), issued a Request for Information (RFI) to solicit input for the development of the fiscal year (FY) 2026‒2030 NIH Strategic Plan for…

House Oversight and Accountability Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic Discusses Federal Vaccine Safety Reporting and Injury Compensation Systems The House Oversight and Accountability Coronavirus Pandemic Subcommittee convened the first session of a two-part hearing series to examine the effectiveness of vaccine safety reporting and injury compensation systems following the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine.…