Today, the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI/Innovation Center) released a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for the AHEAD Model (IHPP summary). The Innovation Center also hosted a webinar to discuss the new model, which followed a previous webinar in September (IHPP summary). During today’s webinar on the NOFO, the model Co-Leads and a Grants Management Officer went over… (Testa, McClurg, November 16, 2023) #Delivery Reform, #Demonstration Programs, #Health Equity, #Hospitals, #Primary Care

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) unveiled a comprehensive Language Access Plan aimed at enhancing access to health care and services for individuals with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) and disabilities. This initiative aligns with President Biden’s executive orders promoting equity and inclusion across federal services, addressing barriers to accessing critical information and care. What it is. The HHS… (Colocho, November 16, 2023) #Health Equity, #Public Health, #Social Determinants of Health

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the HHS Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2025 proposed rule (fact sheet) – a wide-ranging rule affecting Marketplaces and qualified health plans in the individual and small group markets, as well as requirements for agents, brokers, web-brokers, direct enrollment entities, and assisters. The proposed rule also includes proposals impact… (Llamas, McClurg, Marceno, Colocho, November 15, 2023) #Affordable Care Act, #Health Insurance Exchanges, #Insurance Reform

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced an investment of more than $52 million to improve dietary health and access to fresh fruits and vegetables through the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP). GusNIP funds various projects that work with other USDA nutrition programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to increase the purchase of fruits and vegetables or provide… (McClurg, November 14, 2023) #Nutrition

The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) released two final recommendation statements concluding that evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of routine screening and preventive interventions performed by primary care clinicians for oral health conditions, including dental caries, in asymptomatic adults and asymptomatic children and adolescents aged 5 to 17 years. For both of the… (Colocho, November 13, 2023) #Coverage Decisions, #Dental Health, #Insurance Coverage, #Prevention, #Primary Care

The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security convened a hearing to examine the potential benefits and risks of integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into the health care sector. This marks the first Senate HELP hearing exploring the application of AI in health care, following President Biden’s recent Executive Order (EO) on shaping AI… (Colocho, November 9, 2023) #Coverage Decisions, #Health Equity, #Health Information Technology

The Senate Finance Committee (SFC) convened a markup of the Modernizing and Ensuring Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) Accountability (MEPA) Act (IHPP Summary, CBO score, description of the Chairman’s Mark). The bill was advanced out of Committee by a vote of 26-0. There was one abstention. Overall, the bill features the following: Expanding the number of mental health and substance use providers participating in Medicare–including psychologists,… (Marceno, November 8, 2023) #Mental and Behavioral Health, #Pharmacy Benefit Managers, #Physicians

According to CDC data, newborn syphilis cases increased by a factor of more than ten-fold since 2012.  If testing and treatment do not occur in a timely manner, syphilis during pregnancy can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, infant death and lifelong medical conditions.     Per the data, more than 3,700 babies were born with syphilis in 2022.  This is 10 times higher… (Joyce, November 8, 2023) #Health Equity, #Pediatrics, #Prevention, #Primary Care, #Public Health, #Women’s Health, #Workforce

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) released a report with estimates of eligibility and program reach in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).WIC provides access to food, nutrition education including breastfeeding promotion and support, and referrals to health and social services. Eligibility includes women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or postpartum non-breastfeeding, infants, and children up to… (McClurg, November 7, 2023) #Nutrition, #Pediatrics, #Women’s Health

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) published a final research plan on behavioral counseling interventions to promote a healthy diet, physical activity, and/or weight loss to prevent cardiovascular disease in adults. The draft research plan was posted for public comment from May 18, 2023, to June 14, 2023, and was previously titled “Weight Loss Interventions to Prevent Obesity-Related Morbidity… (Colocho, November 7, 2023) #Health Equity, #Mental and Behavioral Health, #Nutrition, #Prevention, #Primary Care, #Wellness