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 the tax credits, grants, and other supports made available by the IRA. OCCHE is hosting a series… (McClurg, March 21, 2024) #Hospitals

The House Appropriations Labor, Health, and Human Services and Education Subcommittee convened a hearing with HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra to examine President Biden’s fiscal year (FY) 2025 budget for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) (Impact Summary). The Secretary highlighted numerous key funding priorities in the President’s budget including women’s health, lowering prescription drug costs, and increasing access… (Marceno, March 20, 2024) #Budget, #COVID-19, #Drug Pricing, #Health Equity, #Mental and Behavioral Health, #Primary Care, #Public Health

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) recently announced two funding opportunities aimed at improving maternal and child health outcomes across the United States. The Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program, administered in partnership with the Administration for Children & Families (ACF), seeks to provide coordinated and comprehensive early childhood home visiting services to eligible families, targeting… (Colocho, March 20, 2024) #Health Equity, #Prevention, #Public Health, #Women’s Health, #Workforce

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) announced (model website) a new voluntary model to test how prospective payments and increased funding for primary care in accountable care organizations (ACOs) impact health outcomes, quality, and costs of care.The ACO Primary Care Flex Model (ACO PC Flex Model) will focus on primary care delivery in the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) for low… (McClurg, March 19, 2024) #Accountable Care Organizations, #Delivery Reform, #Primary Care

President Biden issued an executive order entitled “Advancing Women’s Health Research and Innovation” aimed at transforming women’s health research across the life span at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and beyond through new investments (fact sheet). This follows the President’s fiscal year 2025 budget request, which includes $12 billion in new funding to create a Fund for Women’s Health… (Slifer, March 18, 2024) #Health Equity, #National Institutes of Health, #Women’s Health

The Senate Finance Committee convened a hearing to examine President Biden’s fiscal year (FY) 2025 budget for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra gave testimony outlining key points of the budget, including achievements such as increasing access to health insurance and addressing prescription drug costs through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Secretary Becerra emphasized the Administration’s commitment… (Colocho, March 15, 2024) #Affordable Care Act, #Budget, #Costs, #Drug Pricing, #Food and Drug Administration, #Graduate Medical Education (GME), #Health Equity, #Health Information Technology, #Hospitals, #Insurance Coverage, #Mental and Behavioral Health, #Pharmacy Benefit Managers, #Physicians, #Prevention, #Public Health, #Skilled Nursing Facilities, #Telehealth, #Women’s Health, #Workforce

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report that examined the appeals and grievances data related to Medicaid Managed Care plans, aiming to assess their effectiveness in protecting enrollees and ensuring quality of care. With over 70% of Medicaid enrollees receiving services through managed care, GAO has concerns regarding potential financial incentives for plans to deny or limit services. This… (Eisen, March 14, 2024) #Transparency

The House Energy and Commerce (E&C) Health Subcommittee convened a markup of 19 legislative proposals that support patients and caregivers. The legislative proposals cover a range of health-related issues, including Alzheimer’s, maternal and child health, organ transplant discrimination prevention, emergency medical services for children, health care provider protection, poison control centers, traumatic brain injury, cardiomyopathy, congenital heart disease, cancer screening,… (Colocho, March 14, 2024) #Health Equity, #Pediatrics, #Physicians, #Prevention, #Public Health, #Wellness, #Women’s Health, #Workforce

On Thursday, Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Tom Carper (D-DE), John Cornyn (R-TX), Mark Warner (D-VA), and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) introduced the Delivering Unified Access to Lifesaving Services (DUALS) Act of 2024 to promote the integration of care for individuals who are dually eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid (dual eligibles) (press release; section-by-section). The Senators are members of the Senate Duals Working Group, and… (McClurg, March 14, 2024) #Care Coordination, #Delivery Reform, #Dual Eligibles

The House Energy and Commerce (E&C) Health Subcommittee convened a hearing to discuss bipartisan legislative proposals that support patients and caregivers. The hearing focused on 19 bills, 18 of which are bipartisan, aimed at reauthorizing or creating significant public health programs. Specifically, the discussed bills encompassed bipartisan efforts to enhance access to care, support patients and caregivers, address gaps in… (Colocho, February 15, 2024) #Health Equity, #Mental and Behavioral Health, #Pediatrics, #Physicians, #Prevention, #Public Health, #Wellness, #Women’s Health, #Workforce