Administration Updates
USDA: USDA Invests $4.5 Million to Build Nutrition Hub Network (07/11) - USDA announced the availability of $4.5 million in funding to establish three additional USDA Nutrition Hubs in communities across the country. The new Nutrition Hubs will provide tailored and scalable approaches to equitably advance food and nutrition security and help prevent diet-related chronic diseases, especially in historically underserved communities. Applications for this new competitive award program are being accepted through October 3, 2024
White House: The White House Blueprint for Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis: Two Years of Progress (07/10) - The White House released a blueprint marking two years of progress in addressing the maternal health crisis, highlighting significant initiatives and policy changes aimed at improving maternal health outcomes. This includes expanding access to care, enhancing data collection and research, and addressing health disparities among different communities.
CMS: Calendar Year (CY) 2025 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Proposed Rule (07/10) - This rule includes updates to Medicare payment rates and introduces several policy changes aimed at improving access and quality of care. Key proposals include adjustments to hospital outpatient and ASC payment rates, new measures to enhance health equity, and expansions in the scope of covered services. The rule also solicits feedback on a range of topics to refine future policies, such as care coordination and addressing social determinants of health. Comments are due on September 9, 2024.
CMS: Calendar Year (CY) 2025 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) Proposed Rule (07/10) - The rule includes provisions to enhance health equity, expand access to caregiver training services, and support behavioral health integration. It also proposes increased payment rates for primary care and chronic disease management. CMS seeks public feedback on the proposed changes to ensure the rule effectively addresses health disparities and promotes high-quality care for all patients. Comments are due on September 9, 2024.
ONC: Health Data, Technology, and Interoperability: Patient Engagement, Information Sharing, and Public Health Interoperability (HTI-2) Proposed Rule (07/10) - The HTI-2 Proposed Rule by ONC aims to enhance interoperability and information sharing among patients, providers, payers, and public health authorities. It includes new certification criteria for health IT, updates on standards and technology, and requires the adoption of USCDI version 4 by 2028. The rule also proposes adjustments to information blocking regulations and establishes governance rules for the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA). This initiative seeks to improve healthcare outcomes and streamline data exchange processes in the healthcare ecosystem. Comments will be due in 60 days from being published in the Federal Register.
CMS: CMS Announces First States to Participate in AHEAD Model (07/02) - CMS announced that Maryland, Vermont, and Connecticut have been selected as the first states to participate in the States Advancing All-Payer Health Equity Approaches and Development (AHEAD) Model. Hawaii will also participate, pending satisfaction of certain requirements. CMS will issue Cooperative Agreements to each state, which will have the opportunity to receive up to $12 million from CMS during the first five and a half years of the model to support implementation.
CMS: HHS Authorizes Five States to Provide Historic Health Care Coverage for People Transitioning out of Incarceration (07/02) - CMS authorized five states—California, Kentucky, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington—to provide Medicaid coverage for up to 90 days before release to individuals transitioning out of incarceration. The goal of these demonstrations is to address health disparities by offering continuous care and coordination across health and social services agencies, thus improving health outcomes and reducing recidivism.
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