On the First Anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) released a comprehensive report outlining the impact of the IRA on prescription drug costs for the more than 65 million Americans enrolled in the Medicare program. Highlights from the ASPE Report: Insulin… (Colocho, August 16, 2023) #Costs, #Drug Pricing, #Public Health

The Department of Justice (DOJ) released an updated Language Access Plan aimed at providing equal access to its programs, activities, and services for individuals regardless of their language proficiency (press release). The plan outlines strategies for improving translation and interpretation services, ensuring quality assurance, and expanding tools for better public service. The plan is in line with Attorney General Merrick… (Colocho, August 16, 2023) #Health Equity

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to implement the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA).  The NPRM outlines how the EEOC proposes to implement the law with the intention of ensuring that pregnant and postpartum workers can retain their jobs while having a healthy pregnancy and postpartum recovery.  The law applies to pregnancy,… (Joyce, August 15, 2023) #Health Equity, #Public Health, #Women’s Health, #Workforce

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released a Request for Application (RFA) detailing payment, care delivery, quality, and other policies for the Making Care Primary (MCP) Model (Impact Health summary). Interested applicants may apply to the model later this month when the Application Portal opens. CMS will accept applications between September 4 and November 30, 2023. Those… (Testa, August 14, 2023) #Delivery Reform, #Demonstration Programs, #Health Equity, #Mental and Behavioral Health, #Primary Care, #Quality, #Risk Adjustment, #Social Determinants of Health

A July publication from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation entitled Medicaid Managed Care Strategies to Reduce Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities in Mental Healthcare for Adults outlines strategies for states to utilize their Medicaid managed care (MMC) programs in pursuit of health equity goals. The brief focuses on mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia, while excluding substance-use disorders…. (Marceno, August 11, 2023) #Health Equity, #Mental and Behavioral Health

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced $88 million to programs aimed at further improving behavioral health. These initiatives seek to address a wide range of needs, including the development and support of school-based mental health programs, as well as expanding access to substance use disorder treatments…. (Marceno, August 11, 2023) #Mental and Behavioral Health, #Opioids, #Prevention

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published letters sent to state Medicaid agencies regarding the status of states’ efforts to comply with federal eligibility and reporting requirements during the unwinding of the Medicaid continuous enrollment condition. The letters focus on three sets of data metrics for May 2023 under CMS review: call center options, unwinding renewal outcomes on… (Llamas, August 10, 2023) #Coverage Decisions

The Office of Health Policy at the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) recently released a report analyzing new federal data on hospital ownership. The report is based on ownership data for all U.S. hospitals enrolled in Medicare that was publicly released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to improve transparency in health care markets. Beyond… (Testa, August 9, 2023) #Hospitals, #Transparency

Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and Raphael Warnock (D-GA) requested the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to evaluate nonprofit hospitals’ compliance with their tax-exempt requirements (full letter). The Senators are concerned about reports suggesting that some nonprofit hospitals are exploiting their tax-exempt status in ways that… (Colocho, August 9, 2023) #Hospitals, #Program Integrity, #Quality, #Transparency

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Climate Change and Health Equity (OCCHE), in collaboration with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), launched the Heat-Related Illness EMS Activation Surveillance Dashboard, known as the “EMS HeatTracker.” This groundbreaking online platform maps emergency medical services responses to heat-related illnesses across the United States to help public health officials… (Colocho, August 9, 2023) #Health Equity, #Public Health, #Wellness