The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a statement recognizing the impact on health care operations of the cybersecurity incident affecting Change Healthcare, a unit of UnitedHealth Group (UHG), which occurred in late February. HHS stated it is prioritizing the coordination of efforts to minimize disruptions to care, and noted it has been actively engaged with UHG leadership,… (Colocho, March 5, 2024) #Health Information Technology, #Hospitals, #Privacy

Today, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Antitrust Division, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) jointly issued a request for information (RFI) to inform the agencies’ identification of enforcement priorities and future actions, including new regulations, aimed at promoting competition in health care markets and ensuring appropriate access to quality, affordable health… (Eisen, March 5, 2024) #Costs, #Delivery Reform, #Hospitals, #Primary Care

The National Security Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ) issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) in response to the Executive Order of February 28, 2024, titled “Preventing Access to Americans’ Bulk Sensitive Personal Data and United States Government-Related Data by Countries of Concern.” The Order mandates the Attorney General to establish regulations prohibiting or restricting U.S. persons… (Colocho, March 4, 2024) #Health Information Technology, #Privacy

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report examining opportunities for the Head Start Program to modify its resource allocation to better meet community needs as reflected by a community’s child poverty rate. This study found that Head Start availability and funding are not currently closely aligned with child poverty rates. Rather, data from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office… (Eisen, 1/1/70) #Health Equity, #Mental and Behavioral Health, #Pediatrics, #Public Health

The House Energy & Commerce (E&C) Health Subcommittee convened a legislative hearing to examine 18 bills aimed at improving patient access to treatments for rare diseases (hearing memo) – including legislation affecting the drug approval process at the Food and Drug Administration, Medicare and Medicaid coverage, and other issues. All bills are bipartisan, except for the Antimicrobial Resistance Research Assessment… (Eisen, March 1, 2024) #Costs, #Drug Pricing, #Food and Drug Administration, #Pediatrics, #Quality, #Value-Based Insurance Design, #Value-Based Purchasing

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) convened its inaugural National Equity Summit to announce and publish the USDA Equity Commission’s final report. The Equity Commission has been working on the report since February 2022 to provide a set of actionable recommendations to modify programs, policies, practices, culture, systems, and structures to reduce disparities, and advance racial justice and equity for underserved communities. The… (1/1/70) #Health Equity, #Nutrition

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued final part one guidance on a select set of topics for the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan (MPPP), which requires all Medicare prescription drug plans to offer their Part D enrollees the option to pay their out-of-pocket (OOP) Part D drug costs through monthly payments over the course of the plan year instead of as… (Slifer, February 29, 2024) #Drug Pricing, #Prescription Drugs

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s (AHRQ’s) Effective Health Care (EHC) Program has an opportunity to support the development of a review entitled, “Evidence Map on Home and Community-Based Services.” This technical brief aims to survey the current body of literature concerning home and community-based services, focusing on interventions, target populations, outcomes, person-centered approaches, pertinent quality measures, and to… (Marceno, February 28, 2024) #Health Equity, #Home Health, #Long-Term Care

President Biden issued an Executive Order (EO) aimed at safeguarding Americans’ sensitive personal data from exploitation by countries of concern. This order represents a significant step to enhance data security and prevent large-scale transfers of personal data to such countries. The focus lies on protecting various forms of sensitive information, including genomic, biometric, health, geolocation, and financial data, among others…. (Colocho, February 28, 2024) #Health Information Technology, #Privacy

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 size, aiming to help manage and reduce cybersecurity risks effectively. NIST unveiled the initial draft of the revised Cybersecurity Framework… (Colocho, February 27, 2024) #Health Information Technology