The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) released a set of final recommendation statements on screening for anxiety disorders, depression and suicide risk in adults. Details on both recommendations follow. Final Recommendation Statement: Screening for Anxiety Disorders in Adults The Task Force issued a grade ‘B’ recommendation on screening for anxiety disorders in adults 64 years or younger, including pregnant… (Colocho, June 20, 2023) #Coverage Decisions, #Insurance Coverage, #Mental and Behavioral Health, #Prevention

Pursuant the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), conjunction with the Department of Education (ED) announced actions to address youth mental health and gun violence. To advance the priorities of the BSCA, HHS and the ED highlight the following actions taken to-date: The Secretaries of HHS and ED sent a joint letter to governor highlighting… (Slifer, June 16, 2023) #Mental and Behavioral Health, #Pediatrics

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) released its June 2023 Report to Congress (press release). The report discusses the following topics: High prices of drugs covered under Medicare Part B; Post-sale rebates for prescriptions drugs in Medicare Part D; Standardized benefits in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans; Favorable selection and future directions for MA payment policy; Disparities in outcomes for Medicare beneficiaries with… (Testa, June 15, 2023) #Medicare Advantage, #Medicare Part D, #Mental and Behavioral Health, #Post-Acute Care, #Prescription Drugs, #Telehealth

Today, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) issued requests for supplemental evidence and data submission to inform two Evidence-based Practice Centers (EPC) Program reviews: Evaluation of Dietary Protein Intake Requirements and The Effect of Protein Intake on Health. AHRQ commissioned the EPC Program to complete a review of the evidence for the association of protein intake on health and evaluations… (Marceno, June 13, 2023) #Nutrition, #Quality

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Office of the Actuary released (press release; Health Affairs Article) projections of National Health Expenditures (NHE) and health insurance enrollment for 2022-2031. CMS projects annual NHE to grow an average of 5.4% annually over this timeframe, outpacing 4.6% average annual growth in gross domestic product (GDP). As a result, health spending as… (Testa, June 14, 2023) #Costs, #COVID-19, #Hospitals, #Insurance Coverage, #Physicians

The Senate Finance Committee (SFC) Leadership, including Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-ID), along with Sens. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Jon Tester (D-MT), and Roger Marshall (R-KS) introduced the Patients Before Middlemen (PBM) Act (press release), which would delink pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) compensation from drug price and utilization.    Major Provisions: The bill requires that contracts between… (Slifer, June 14, 2023) #Pharmacy Benefit Managers

The House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee convened a hearing to continue the discussion on the reauthorization of the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA). This is the fourth hearing the Subcommittee does on preparedness and response, including a previous bipartisan hearing with agency officials from the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention… (Colocho, June 14, 2023) #Food and Drug Administration, #Prevention

In response to early reports of high Medicaid procedural disenrollment rates, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra is urging governors to adopt all available flexibilities to minimize terminations for procedural reasons during the COVID-19 unwinding period (press release). As part of this call to action, HHS announced several new flexibilities to increase ex parte renewal rates, support enrollees… (Llamas, June 13, 2023) #Coverage Decisions, #COVID-19, #Waivers

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a fact sheet on new actions the Biden Administration is taking to reach eligible seniors and people with disability and improve enrollment in the low-income subsidy (LIS) Extra Help Program. Pursuant to the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), beginning January 1, 2024, the LIS Extra Help program eligibility will be expanded to individuals with income… (Slifer, June 12, 2023) #Cost-Sharing, #Medicare Part D, #Prescription Drugs

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee convened a hearing to continue the discussion of the nation’s youth mental health crisis and explore viable policy solutions. The hearing featured Vice Admiral Vivek H. Murthy, U.S. Surgeon General, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Katherine Neas, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, U.S. Department of… (Marceno, Llamas, June 9, 2023) #Mental and Behavioral Health, #Public Health