The House Energy & Commerce (E&C) Health Subcommittee convened a hearing to examine Medicare coverage of innovative drugs, medical devices, and technology, including the National Coverage Determination (NCD) process and coverage with evidence development (CED) requirements, particularly for Alzheimer’s Disease treatments, and the recently proposed Transitional Coverage for Emerging Technologies (TCET) pathway for breakthrough medical devices. Takeaways from the hearing… (Slifer, July 18, 2023) #Coverage Decisions, #Medical Devices, #Prescription Drugs

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is set to launch the Bridge Access Program for COVID-19 Vaccines in the fall of 2023. Announced earlier this year, the program aims to provide free COVID-19 vaccines and treatments to uninsured and underinsured adults in the United States until December 2024 (client summary). The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)… (Colocho, July 18, 2023) #COVID-19, #Health Equity, #Prevention, #Public Health

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a meeting of the Advisory Panel on Hospital Outpatient Payment (HOP Panel) for August 21 and 22, 2023. The HOP Panel advices the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and CMS Administrator on the clinical integrity of the Ambulatory Payment Classification (APC) groups and their associated weights…. (Colocho, July 17, 2023) #Ambulatory Surgical Centers, #Hospitals

One year after the rollout of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the addition of Spanish text and chat services. The 988 Lifeline is a network of over 200 state and local call centers providing services for individuals needing assistance with suicide, substance use, and mental health-related crises. Over the… (Marceno, July 17, 2023) #Health Equity, #Mental and Behavioral Health, #Prevention

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) on the impact of telehealth initiation of controlled substances. As part of the Administration’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) waived the requirement that a healthcare provider must see a patient in-person at least once to prescribe controlled substances via telehealth. The… (Marceno, July 14, 2023) #Mental and Behavioral Health, #National Institutes of Health, #Opioids

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a request for information (RFI) to inform the development of an episode-based payment model focused on improving beneficiary care and lowering Medicare expenditures by reducing fragmentation and increasing care coordination across health care settings. Comments are due by August 17, 2023. Our full summary of the RFI is attached.(Testa, July 14, 2023) #Accountable Care Organizations, #Care Coordination, #Costs, #Delivery Reform, #Demonstration Programs, #Health Equity, #Quality, #Risk Adjustment, #Social Determinants of Health, #Value-Based Purchasing

The House Energy & Commerce (E&C) Committee Health Subcommittee convened a markup of 17 bills related to a wide array of issues. While most of the bills experienced bipartisan support, the notable exceptions were separate legislative efforts to reauthorize the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA), and draft legislation to reauthorize the Substance Use Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery… (McClurg, July 14, 2023) #Graduate Medical Education (GME), #Mental and Behavioral Health, #Program Integrity, #Public Health, #Telehealth

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the calendar year (CY) 2024 Medicare Fee Schedule (MPFS) proposed rule (press release; fact sheet; MSSP fact sheet; QPP fact sheet), which addresses an array of policies under Medicare Part B and the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) Quality Payment Program (QPP). What it is. CMS’ major proposed rule… (Testa, July 13, 2023) #Accountable Care Organizations, #Clinical Labs, #Coverage Decisions, #Health Equity, #Medicare Access and Chip Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA), #Mental and Behavioral Health, #Mid-Level Practitioners, #Opioids, #Physicians, #Quality, #Social Determinants of Health, #Telehealth

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the Calendar Year (CY) 2024 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Payment System proposed rule (press release, fact sheet). What it is. CMS’ wide-ranging proposed rule affects payments to approximately 3,500 hospitals paid under the OPPS, including hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs) and 6,000 ASCs, beginning on Jan. 1, 2024. CMS proposes… (Slifer, July 13, 2023) #Hospitals, #Mental and Behavioral Health, #Prescription Drugs, #Quality, #Transparency

The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security convened a hearing to assess the challenges posed by antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and ensure the development, availability, and responsible use of effective antimicrobials. The hearing featured an antibiotic stewardship expert from the College of Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University, representatives of the Infectious Diseases… (Colocho, July 12, 2023) #Prevention, #Public Health