The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted 13 to 1 to recommend the 2023-2024 monovalent, XBB containing COVID-19 vaccines as authorized under the FDA’s Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) or approved by Biologics License Application (BLA) for all persons ages 6 months and older.  Yesterday, the FDA approved the updated boosters.   Presentations:  A total of 13 presentations were included in the meeting.  All are available… (Joyce, September 12, 2023) #COVID-19, #Health Equity, #Prevention, #Primary Care

Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA), the ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released a request for information (RFI) on enhancing the protection of health data privacy in the United States. In his request, Cassidy expressed concern that health data created and collected from new technologies such as wearable devices, smart devices, and health and wellness… (Colocho, September 12, 2023) #Health Information Technology, #Privacy, #Transparency

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) released a report on the reporting of falls with major injury by Home Health Agencies (HHAs). Beginning in 2019, HHAs were required to report that their patients experienced falls with major injury in the patient Outcome Assessment Information Set (OASIS) assessments. OIG says that the Centers for… (McClurg, September 11, 2023) #Home Health

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) convened a session to discuss ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs) and the factors that might be slowing the shift from hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs) to ASCs. Principal Policy Analyst Daniel Zabinski presented a status report on ASCs and discussed how shifting procedures from hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs) to ASCs could prove beneficial to Medicare, beneficiaries,… (Colocho, September 11, 2023) #Ambulatory Surgical Centers, #Costs, #Hospitals, #Physicians

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) released a report the emergency preparedness of nursing homes. OIG examined a random sample of nursing homes in geographic areas that have a high or relatively high risk for natural hazards to learn about their emergency preparedness and resilience. OIG found that although nursing homes often… (McClurg, September 11, 2023) #Post-Acute Care, #Public Health

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a fact sheet detailing the factors the agency will consider when developing an initial offer under the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program. CMS explains that it will consider the following information, data, and evidence when developing an initial offer: Evidence about alternative treatments, as available, including: The extent to which the selected drug… (Slifer, September 11, 2023) #Medicare Part D, #Prescription Drugs

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) convened a session to discuss a presentation on the Commission’s context chapter on Medicare payment policy and financing. Senior Analyst Rachel Burton detailed that the chapter serves as the backdrop for MedPAC’s discussion and recommendations over the coming year and features information on Medicare spending trends, factors influencing Medicare’s future spending, the financial status… (Colocho, September 8, 2023) #Delivery Reform, #Hospitals, #Medicare Advantage, #Physicians, #Quality, #Workforce

House leadership from the Energy and Commerce (E&C), Ways and Means (W&M) and Education and Workforce Committees introduced the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act – bipartisan legislation that largely includes previously marked up and advanced bills from the three Committees (press release; text; section-by-section). The legislation features the following provisions: Increasing transparency of hospital prices, clinical diagnostic laboratory test prices,… (Llamas, September 8, 2023) #Pharmacy Benefit Managers, #Transparency

The Medicare Payment and Access Commission (MedPAC) convened to discuss their analytic workplan on Medicare Advantage (MA) for the 2023-2024 cycle. Commissioners expressed strong support for the workplan, which will culminate in five chapters. The March 2024 report will include chapters on: (1) annual MA status report, including updates on coding intensity and favorable selection; (2) congressionally mandated report on… (Llamas, September 7, 2023) #Medicare Advantage

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released (press release; fact sheet) a proposed rule to amend the regulations at section 504 which protect against discrimination based on disability by recipients of financial assistance through HHS programs or activities. This rule clarifies the application of section 504 and expands its application to federally funded child welfare programs and activities…. (McClurg, September 7, 2023) #Health Equity, #Hospitals