- CMS: Request for Information; Health Technology Ecosystem
- VA: Staff Sergeant Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program Funding Opportunity
- State: 60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: J-1 Visa Waiver Recommendation Application
- Public Inspection: CMS: Request for Information: Health Technology Ecosystem
- HHS: Request for Information (RFI): Ensuring Lawful Regulation and Unleashing Innovation To Make American Healthy Again
- VA: Solicitation of Nominations for the Appointment to the Advisory Committee on Tribal and Indian Affairs
- GAO Seeks New Members for Tribal and Indigenous Advisory Council
- VA: Staff Sergeant Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program Funding Opportunity
- Telehealth Study Recruiting Veterans Now
- USDA Delivers Immediate Relief to Farmers, Ranchers and Rural Communities Impacted by Recent Disasters
- Submit Nominations for Partnership for Quality Measurement (PQM) Committees
- Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation of the Medicare Program (Executive Order 14192) - Request for Information
- Dr. Mehmet Oz Shares Vision for CMS
- CMS Refocuses on its Core Mission and Preserving the State-Federal Medicaid Partnership
- Social Factors Help Explain Worse Cardiovascular Health among Adults in Rural Vs. Urban Communities
Medicaid Telehealth Toolkit Updated, Telehealth Utilization Snapshot Published
On Oct. 14, the Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services (CMCS) updated its Medicaid telehealth toolkit to include additional detail on telehealth modalities, tools to support states in analyzing and further developing telehealth benefits, and specific examples from several states. This comprehensive toolkit includes special considerations for pediatric populations and compiles a variety of other federal telehealth resources for states. Alongside the toolkit update, CMCS also released a data snapshot analyzing the dramatic increase in telehealth in Medicaid since the beginning of this year. The snapshot, derived from Transformed Medicaid Statistical Information System (T-MSIS) data, shows telehealth utilization increasing over 2600% between January and June 2020, with significant increases across all age groups. The increases were most pronounced for adults aged 19 – 64.
Weigh in on DHS HIT Survey
The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) is conducting an important survey of the state’s outpatient healthcare provider practices. DHS is conducting the survey because CMS has requested each state to assess the current degree of Health Information Technology (Health IT) adoption, usage and challenges experienced by its healthcare providers. Some important considerations:
- Survey results will be reported to CMS as part of the Pennsylvania’s State Medicaid Health IT Plan, and will be used to inform policy decisions as part of the commonwealth’s efforts to encourage meaningful use of health IT.
- This survey should be completed by one individual on behalf of the entire practice/organization. The individual may be a provider, practice manager, CIO, or any individual who is familiar with the health center’s health IT adoption and is authorized to answer the survey on behalf of the FQHC.
- Your answers will be kept anonymous and reported only in the aggregate.
Access the survey here. For your convenience, DHS has also posted a downloadable copy of the survey (in PDF format) on its website so that you can preview it and use it to gather answers prior to completing the actual survey. Preview the PDF of the survey. The survey is estimated to take 15-20 minutes to complete.
RAND: Americans Pay 8x More for Insulin
Insulin prices are more than eight times higher in the United States than in 32 high-income comparison nations combined, according to a RAND Corporation study. This ranges from 3.8 times higher than Chile to 27.7 times higher than Turkey. Closer to home, they were 6.3 times higher than Canada. Even accounting for rebates and discounts, U.S. consumers are still likely to pay four times the average paid in other high-income nations. The study was sponsored by the Health and Human Services Office for Planning and Evaluation. Read more.
U.S. Fatal Overdoses Soared in First Quarter of 2020
As pandemic started, U.S. fatal overdoses soared. In the first three months of 2020, fatal drug overdoses nationwide rose by about 15 percent, compared with the same period a year before, new data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows. Read more.
Results from a 50-State Medicaid Budget Survey Released
Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) released findings from the 20th annual budget survey of Medicaid officials in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The survey was conducted by KFF and Health Management Associates (HMA) in collaboration with the National Association of Medicaid Directors (NAMD). Findings from this year’s budget survey policy report primarily focus on Medicaid policy changes planned for FY 2021, particularly those related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Key areas of focus include eligibility and enrollment, provider rates and taxes, delivery systems, long-term services and supports, benefits and telehealth, and pharmacy cost containment. The full report is available here.
Pennsylvania Company Receives FDA OK for Rapid Oral COVID-19 Test
Bethlehem-based OraSure has received emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its rapid COVID-19 test, allowing it to bring the test to market. The company had earlier said it hoped to release in the fourth quarter of this year.
CDC Finds Nearly 300,000 “Excess Deaths” in the U.S. Amid Pandemic and 25- to 44-Year-Olds Hit Hard
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that COVID-19 has taken a disproportionate toll on Latinos and Blacks, as previous analyses have noted. But the CDC also found, surprisingly, that it has struck 25- to 44-year-olds very hard: Their “excess death” rate is up 26.5 percent over previous years, the largest change for any age group. It is not clear whether that spike is caused by the shift in COVID-19 deaths toward younger people between May and August or deaths from other causes, the CDC said. “Excess deaths” is a calculation by researchers of the number of deaths overall during a particular period compared to how many people die during the stretch in a normal year. It is an important calculation because some people who die might never have been tested for the disease, for example, and if people die at home without receiving medical care, they might not make it into the confirmed data. In the most updated count to date, CDC researchers found that nearly 300,000 more people in the United States died from late January to early October this year compared to the average number of people who died in recent years.
NEW! CRNP Prescriptive Authority Applications Online Only
On Sept. 24, 2020, the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing (SBN) announced that the application for prescriptive authority approval for certified registered nurse practitioners (CRNPs) will need to be submitted online via the Pennsylvania Licensing System (PALS). Paper applications for prescriptive authority approval will not be accepted (Note: PACHC is working to confirm effective date). The change applies to both Initial applications for CRNP Prescriptive Authority ($95.00 fee) as well as additional applications for CRNP Prescriptive Authority ($45.00 fee). For more information on where to apply online, who can complete the application, the process to make changes to collaborative agreement substitute physicians, collaborating physician sign-off on changes, and more, contact Andrea Wandling, PACHC Manager, Member Relations and Human Resources.
Congressional Committee Leaders Seek Ideas on How to Improve 340B
Two retiring GOP congressional committee leaders invited 340B stakeholders to submit ideas on how Congress could improve the 340B program. Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) said “changes are needed and long overdue,” and Congress and program participants “must be open to updating 340B.” Comments are due by Oct. 30. Click here for sample comments. 340B stakeholders are asked to send their comments and recommendations to 340B@help.senate.gov and 340B@mail.house.gov. Read more.
Health Centers Sue HHS Over Drug Company Denials of 340B Pricing
The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) has filed suit in response to recent moves by drug manufacturers to dismantle the federal 340B drug discount program that health centers and the patients they serve count on. The suit seeks to compel the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to implement a long-delayed dispute resolution process that would allow health centers to act against drug companies that are violating the 340B statute and have abruptly stopped shipping discounted drugs to health centers’ contracted pharmacies. Across the country, millions of lives are at stake and health center operations and budgets face possible devastation amid an overwhelming public health pandemic. NACHC issued a news release with additional information.