The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the distribution of $500 million from the Provider Relief Fund to the Indian Health Services (IHS) and tribal hospitals, clinics, and urban health centers for COVID-19 response. HHS notes that the COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted IHS, creating an increased need for personal protective equipment (PPE) and labor. HHS details that... Read More
SAMHSA: COVID-19 Emergency Response Suicide Prevention Funding Opportunity Announced; Applications Due May 22
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced a funding opportunity for COVID-19 emergency response suicide prevention. SAMHSA notes that the public health emergency is contributing to urgent need to address mental health, including suicidality, and the purpose of the program is to support states and communities during the COVID-19 pandemic in advancing efforts to prevent suicide attempts... Read More
HHS: HRSA-Funded Health Centers Receive $1.32 Billion From CARES for COVID-19 Response
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) awarded 1,387 health centers across the country a collective $1.32 billion in funding through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. A list of award recipients and funding amounts is available here by state. The Act provides supplemental funding to health... Read More
HHS: HRSA-Funded Health Centers Receive $100 Million for COVID-19 Response
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that 1,381 health centers across the country were awarded a collective $100 million in funding through the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020. President Trump signed the Act into law on Friday March 6, 2020, which provides $8.3 billion in emergency funding for federal agencies to respond to the... Read More
CDC: 2020 Million Hearts Hospital & Health System Recognition Program; First Round Applications Due April 30
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced the start of the 2020 Million Hearts® Hospitals & Health Systems Recognition Program – a program to acknowledge hospitals and health systems that demonstrate a commitment to the cardiovascular health of the communities they serve. Each year, CDC recognizes institutions for their work in the following priority areas of the Million... Read More
Education & Labor: At Hearing, Subcommittee Hears from Expert Panel on the Causes of and Solutions to Address Increasing Rates of Maternal and Infant Mortality
The House Education & Labor Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions convened a hearing to discuss the state of maternal and infant mortality in the U.S. and explore potential policy solutions. Members heard from an expert panel of witnesses with a demonstrated understanding of both maternal mortality more broadly, and the particular experience of minority populations in this regard... Read More
SAMHSA: CCBHC Expansion Grants Announced; Applications Due March 10
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) recently announced a funding opportunity announcement (FOA) for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) Expansion Grants. The latest FY 2020 CR package (WHG summary) that was passed in December included an extension of CCBHC funding for the eight current participating states, as well as $50 million in expansion grants for the program... Read More
House Appropriations: Legislative Text of FY 2020 Appropriations Packages
House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita Lowey (D-NY) released the legislative text of two appropriations packages to fully fund the government for the remainder of fiscal year 2020. The appropriations minibus, H.R. 1865 provides a total of $94.9 billion for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), a $2.6 billion increase from the 2019 enacted level and $7.5 billion above... Read More
E&C: Democrats Announce Investments in Medicare, Public Health With Savings from H.R. 3
House Energy and Commerce (E&C) Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Ways and Means (W&M) Committee Richard Neal (D-MA), and Education and Labor Committee Chairman Bobby Scott (D-VA) released an outline of Medicare and public health programs that would be funded with savings generated from the Lower Drug Costs Now Act (H.R. 3), ahead of the floor vote next week... Read More
WH: President Trump Signs Second Continuing Resolution; Extends Funding Through Dec. 20
President Trump signed a second continuing resolution (H.R. 3055) to extend current funding levels through December 20 to avert a government shutdown. Like the previous continuing resolution, H.R. 3055 temporarily reauthorizes funding for community health centers; teaching health centers; the certified community behavioral health clinic demonstration; National Quality Forum; and other public health, Medicaid, and Medicare programs. Additionally, the continuing... Read More
Senate: Democrats Press for Community Health Center Funding Extension
Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) led 85 of their Democratic colleagues in sending a letter to congressional leadership urging them to provide a five-year extension to the Community Health Center Fund (CHCF), the National Health Service Corps (NHSC), and the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education program. Funding for these programs was... Read More
KFF: Report Finds Supplemental Funding Not Targeting Title X Gaps
Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) published a new report that examines the gaps in the Title X program and supplemental funding. Following the departure of several Title X grantees due to the new rule prohibiting abortion referrals, the Office of Population Affairs (OPA) announced the availability of $33.6 million in fiscal year (FY) 2019 supplemental funding awards for remaining grantees. Fifty... Read More
KFF: Community Health Centers Report a Decline in Immigrant Medicaid Enrollment and Utilization
The Kaiser Family Foundations (KFF) published an issue brief on the effect of immigration policy on Medicaid enrollment and utilization of health centers. Using interviews with community health center staffs, KFF examined how the impending "public charge" rule affected immigrants decisions to seek out health care in the year leading up to its implementation. The rule was set to take... Read More
CMS: Agency Finalizes Various Burden Reduction Provisions for Providers and Suppliers in Omnibus Final Rule; Effective in 60 Days
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the publication of an “omnibus” final rule (fact sheet) that combines and finalizes provisions that were proposed in three separate proposed rules dating back to 2016, each aimed at revising “unnecessary, obsolete, or excessively burdensome” regulations impacting health care providers and suppliers. What it is: Spurred by the Patients Over Paperwork... Read More
Senate Appropriations: Lawmakers Fail to Pass House-Approved FY 2020 Minibus; Includes Labor-HHS-Education Funding
The Senate failed (51-44) to pass a “motion to proceed” to the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Defense, State, Foreign Operations, and Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, 2020 (H.R. 2740), and thus unable to vote on the FY 2020 Labor-HHS-Education and State-Foreign Options spending bills released by the Senate Appropriations Committee. The Senate Appropriations Labor-HHS-Education Subcommittee had planned... Read More
KFF: Report Reveals Title X Participation to Decline Following New Rule
The Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) issued a report detailing which Title X recipients are no longer participating in the program, or are no longer drawing down federal funding until the court case has been settled. Effective July 15, 2019 sites that receive Title X funding can no longer provide abortion referrals or services pursuant to the Trump Administration rule issued... Read More
HHS: Quality Improvement Awards Issued to Leading Health Centers
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the award of nearly $107 million in Quality Improvement Awards to 1,273 health centers across the U.S. The awards, funded by the Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA), are given to the health centers that ranked in the top 1-2% in one or more key areas—behavioral health, diabetes prevention and management, and... Read More
E&C: Health Subcommittee Advances 10 Bills to Full Committee on Surprise Billing, Drug Pricing, Extenders
The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health convened a markup of 10 health care bills, including advancing H.R. 3630, the “No Surprises Act,” bipartisan legislation to address surprise medical bills. The Subcommittee also advanced H.R. 2296, the FAIR Drug Pricing Act, which requires pharmaceutical manufacturers to justify price increases above a certain threshold. The Subcommittee adopted an amendment in... Read More
CRS: Agency Releases Report on Health Care-Related Expiring Provisions of the 116th Congress, First Session
The Congressional Research Service released a report, summarizing health care-related provisions set to expire during the first session of the 116th Congress (i.e., calendar year 2019). Provisions include: Funding for community health centers, teaching health centers, and the National Health Service Corps (expiring after September 30, 2019); Medicaid- and Medicare-related programs (expiring after September 30, 2019); and Fees and taxes... Read More
E&C: Health Subcommittee Examines Public Health Program Extenders; Community Health Centers, Teaching Hospital GME, PCORI, and the Special Diabetes Program Addressed
The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health convened a hearing to discuss 12 legislative proposals aimed at extending public health care programs, which are detailed in the Subcommittee memorandum. Our attached summary reflects the first panel of witness and seven legislation proposals regarding the community health centers (CHCs) fund, the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education (THC GME), the... Read More
CRS: Federal Support for Reproductive Health Services: Frequently Asked Questions
This report provides answers to frequently asked questions concerning the provision, funding, and coverage of reproductive health services. The report is organized by the federal program that pays for or directly provides these services. It concludes with questions about coverage requirements for reproductive health services under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA, P.L. 111-148, as amended), and discussions... Read More
CMS: Agency Releases CY 2019 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule; Consolidated E/M Code Finalized for CY 2021, WAC Cut for New Part B Drugs, Telehealth, ACOs, MACRA, PAMA Data Collection Addressed
CMS released the calendar year (CY) 2019 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) final rule (fact sheet), which addresses an array of policies affecting payments under Medicare Part B and finalizes policies for the third year of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) Quality Payment Program (QPP). What it is. CMS’ major final rule affects payments to physicians, nurse... Read More
HELP: Roundtable Hearing on Rural Health Care Examines Reimbursement for Telehealth, Physician Shortages, Hospital Closures; Single-Payer Proposals Discussed
The Senate HELP Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security convened a roundtable hearing titled, “Health Care in Rural America: Examining Experiences and Costs.” Lawmakers heard testimony from four witnesses with expertise in rural medicine and addiction services, state insurance systems, rural hospital systems, and telehealth applications and technology. Members discussed issues of physician shortages, hospital closures, and telehealth reimbursement,... Read More
Over $1 Billion in Opioid Response Grants Issued Across Three Agencies
HHS this week awarded over $1 billion in opioid-specific grants across three sub-agencies. SAMHSA issued $930 million in State Opioid Response Grants; HRSA awarded $396 million to community health centers, academic institutions and rural organizations to expand treatment services; and the CDC issued nearly $200 million to prevent at treat and track opioid overdoses by states, tribes and non-profit agencies... Read More
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