The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) convened a hearing to address pressing issues within the health care system, focusing on the underrepresentation of minority health care professionals and the alarming rate of maternal mortality, particularly affecting communities of color. Throughout the session, committee members delved into bipartisan strategies to enhance maternal health outcomes and foster diversity within the… (Eisen, 1/1/70) #Delivery Reform, #Graduate Medical Education (GME), #Health Equity, #Mental and Behavioral Health, #Prevention, #Public Health, #Social Determinants of Health, #Women’s Health

The House Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee convened a legislative hearing to consider 19 pieces of proposed legislation to address Medicaid access and program integrity. The hearing featured testimony from CMS Deputy Administrator Daniel Tsai, and members had the opportunity to address CMS directly on areas of focus. Republicans used the hearing as an opportunity to reinforce key messages of… (Marceno, May 1, 2024) #Delivery Reform, #Primary Care, #Program Integrity

The Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of Civil Rights (OCR) released a final rule (press release; fact sheet) entitled, “Discrimination on the Basis of Disability in Health and Human Service Programs or Activities.” The rule is intended to advance equity and strengthen protections for individuals with disabilities by amending regulations for Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of… (Joyce, May 1, 2024) #Health Equity

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) finalized changes the Health Breach Notification Rule (HBNR), aimed at clarifying its applicability to health apps and other emerging technologies. The final rule comes in response to the increasing collection of health data by businesses and the growing need for timely notification in case of breaches, especially in the context of mobile health app developers… (Colocho, April 29, 2024) #Health Information Technology, #Privacy, #Transparency

HHS’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announced $105 million today in funding for the Healthy Start program which exists to address disparities and improve health outcomes before, during and after pregnancy (see program details).  The funding will support more than 100 community-based organizations that are working to address disparities and improve maternal and infant health through an array of community-level interventions. Interventions… (Joyce, 1/1/70) #Mental and Behavioral Health, #Public Health, #Quality, #Social Determinants of Health, #Wellness, #Women’s Health

The Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) announced it finalized a Foundational Rule aimed at codifying protections for unaccompanied children. This rule, building upon and surpassing the 1997 Flores Settlement Agreement, establishes clear standards and protections for ORR’s Unaccompanied Children (UC) Program. What it is. The Foundational Rule surpasses the requirements of the Flores… (Colocho, April 29, 2024) #Care Coordination, #Health Equity, #Pediatrics, #Public Health

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released the final rule implementing Section 1557 of the Affordable Care (ACA) that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, and disability in certain health programs and activities (fact sheet).  What it is. The final rule, “Nondiscrimination in Health Programs and Activities,” reinstates and strengthens protections from… (Slifer, April 26, 2024) #Health Equity, #Women’s Health

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the selection of 20 states to participate in two separate technical assistance programs that aim to enhance the recruitment, training, and retention of direct care workers, particularly those providing home and community-based services (HCBS) for older adults and individuals with disabilities. Both programs are facilitated by the Administration for Community Living’s Direct Care Workforce… (Colocho, April 26, 2024) #Care Coordination, #Home Health, #Workforce

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) shared a progress update on its work with the Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and Treasury (Departments), as well as the Office of Personnel Management, on rulemaking for the good faith estimate (GFE) and advanced explanation of benefits (AEOB) requirements of the No Surprises Act (NSA). CMS did not provide… (Llamas, April 25, 2024) #Transparency

The Biden Harris Administration, through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), released the 2024 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention (National Strategy) along with a Federal Action Plan to create a coordinated and comprehensive national approach to suicide prevention. These efforts are a collaboration between the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Centers for Disease… (Marceno, April 24, 2024) #Mental and Behavioral Health, #Prevention, #Public Health