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

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are collaborating to provide $374.9 million in grants to enhance cybersecurity for state and local governments, responding to increasing threats to critical infrastructure and public safety (funding notice). Year 2 of the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program (SLCGP) offers funding for building cyber capabilities. The… (Colocho, August 8, 2023) #Grants, #Health Information Technology

Pursuant to the Easy Medication Access and Treatment for Opioid Addiction Act (P.L. 116-215), the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) issued a final rule to allow practitioners to dispense a three-day supply of narcotic medication to start detoxification treatment or maintenance treatment for people who use opioids. This change aims to expand access to medication for individuals suffering from withdrawal symptoms,… (Marceno, August 7, 2023) #Mental and Behavioral Health, #Opioids, #Prevention

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that Action For Healthy Kids, in partnership with the Healthy Meals Incentives Initiative, is awarding nearly $30 million in subgrants to 264 school districts across 44 states for small and rural school districts. Each district will receive funding that will be used to improve the nutritional quality of their meals and modernize their operations,… (McClurg, August 7, 2023) #Nutrition, #Pediatrics

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) released two new toolkits aimed at enhancing the safety culture in labor and delivery units, thereby reducing maternal and neonatal adverse events arising from communication gaps and system failures. The Toolkits to Reduce Hypertension in Pregnancy and Obstetric Hemorrhage are specifically designed to address obstetric hemorrhage and severe high blood pressure during… (Marceno, August 4, 2023) #Prevention, #Public Health, #Women’s Health

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration shared four new resources created in July to support parenting and pregnant people struggling with substance use disorder (SUD). SAMHSA states that there are effective interventions for opioid use disorder (OUD), such as medication-assisted treatment (MAT), which can lead to positive outcomes for both the mother and the infant. However, it is… (1/1/70) #Mental and Behavioral Health, #Opioids, #Women’s Health

The Office of Health Policy at the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) released a report showing that the national uninsured rate in the United States reached an all-time low of 7.7 percent in early 2023. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) notes this is the first report on the uninsured rate since the Affordable Care Act… (Colocho, August 3, 2023) #Coverage Decisions, #COVID-19, #Health Equity, #Public Health