The Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) held a discussion about the findings from an expert roundtable on the effect of Medicaid payment changes on beneficiary access to physician services. The themes of this discussion will inform future MACPAC research. Background. Staff began by recognizing the common conception that physicians are less likely to serve patients covered by Medicaid than those… (McClurg, January 26, 2024) #Health Equity, #Physicians

Below please find highlights from the Biden Administration’s recent announcements on improving behavioral health systems across the nation. HHS Releases Fact Sheet on the Agency’s Accomplishments Since Releasing the Roadmap for Behavioral Health Integration  Last year, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released its Roadmap for Behavioral Health Integration which includes specific policies to help integrate mental health and substance use… (Marceno, January 23, 2024) #Mental and Behavioral Health, #Opioids, #Public Health, #Social Determinants of Health, #Women’s Health, #Workforce

House Education and Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) issued a request for information (RFI) to inform legislative reforms to employer-sponsored health care (press release). Comments are due March 15.   The RFI is part of the Committee’s efforts to lower costs and improve access to health care in employer-sponsored coverage, which was the focus of a hearing convened by the Subcommittee on Health,… (Llamas, Lewis, January 23, 2024) #Insurance Coverage, #Insurance Reform

As part of the 51st Anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a series of new actions to protect and expand access to contraception (press release).   Letter to stakeholders on contraceptive coverage obligations: HHS reminds Medicare care plans, private insurance plans, and state Medicaid and CHIP programs of their obligations to comply… (Llamas, Slifer, January 22, 2024) #Women’s Health

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released guidance aimed at preventing homelessness for young adults who have transitioned out of foster care. The guidance focuses on the Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) program, operated by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which provides rental assistance and supportive services to individuals between the ages of 18 and 24 who have left or… (Colocho, January 22, 2024) #Care Coordination, #Housing, #Prevention, #Public Health

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) announced (model website) that it is planning to test a new voluntary, value-based care model to increase access to high-quality integrated care for Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries with substance use disorder and moderate to severe mental health conditions. The Innovation in Behavioral Health (IBH) Model builds off knowledge gained from previous models, including the Integrated… (Marceno, January 19, 2024) #Care Coordination, #Community Health Centers, #Delivery Reform, #Dual Eligibles, #Health Equity, #Health Information Technology, #Mental and Behavioral Health, #Social Determinants of Health, #Value-Based Insurance Design

The Biden-Harris Administration launched a new program called Health care Rewards to Achieve Improved Outcomes (HEROES) through the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H). This initiative is part of President Biden’s Unity Agenda and aims to address preventable health challenges, particularly in underserved communities. The HEROES program focuses on increasing investment in community-level preventative care resources. What it is. The program seeks… (Colocho, January 19, 2024) #Care Coordination, #Health Equity, #Health Information Technology, #Prevention, #Social Determinants of Health, #Women’s Health

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) announced a request for applications (RFA) for cooperative agreements to support the use of Indigenous foods in child nutrition programs. FNS will award up to $2 million in total funding to up to four organizations to provide regionally focused training and technical assistance to school nutrition professionals on the procurement, preparation, and crediting… (McClurg, January 19, 2024) #Health Equity, #Nutrition

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report on product labels for prenatal supplements. GAO says that it was asked to assess the accuracy of over-the-counter prenatal supplement labels for amounts of certain nutrients, and to determine if the supplements contain harmful substances. Key takeaways are included below: Background: GAO notes that prenatal supplements can help individuals who may not obtain the appropriate nutrients… (McClurg, January 19, 2024) #Nutrition

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a final rule to advance interoperability and improve prior authorization (press release; fact sheet). The regulations apply to Medicare Advantage (MA) organizations, Medicaid managed care plans, State Medicaid Agencies, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) agencies and managed care entities; issuers of Qualified Health Plans (QHPs) on the Federally-Facilitated Exchanges (FFEs), and eligible hospitals and… (McClurg, Colocho, Slifer, Llamas, January 17, 2024) #Health Information Technology