The new national mental health/suicide hotline, 988, received more than 9.2 million calls in its first six months of operation, according to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS). HHS indicated that the call volume is well beyond what was anticipated.

The Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) will fund nine regional recovery hubs throughout Pennsylvania that will work to embed, expand and promote recovery-oriented systems of care in each region. Each hub will provide technical assistance and collaborate with a variety of entities to enhance a recovery-supportive community and facilitate recovery-support service delivery.

Last week, the Census Bureau released the official list of urban areas (UA) which includes definition changes to urbanized areas made Spring of 2022. The data is used to define rural areas for multiple programs, including Rural Health Clinic eligibility. The release of the UA files will allow organizations to start calculating updated rural definitions with 2020 Census data. All places with urban land use meeting the Census criteria are now delineated as UAs. All other places are rural when using the Census definition. See the December Federal Register Notice for more information on the UA changes for the 2020 Census.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released a draft of new criteria for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHCs) and is seeking public comments on the revised criteria. Comments are due Jan. 20, 2023, by email to CCBHCCriteria@samhsa.hhs.gov.

In early 2022, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published a request for information requesting feedback from stakeholders about healthcare access in Medicaid and CHIP including enrollment in coverage; maintaining coverage; and access to services and supports. This information is to inform a CMS strategy on equitable access in Medicaid and CHIP for all care delivery systems. A summary of the findings can be found on the Medicaid webpage and the full report here.

Effective January 1, 2023, changes to simplify Medicare enrollment and reduce gaps in coverage took effect. The changes were signed into law as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule on Oct. 28, 2022, to implement key provisions of this law. Click here to learn more.

With the end of the Health Insurance Marketplace Open Enrollment Period coming on Jan. 15 for most states, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services estimates nearly 16 million people have signed up for coverage. This is a 13% increase over last year, which includes more than three million people new to Marketplaces. As of December 30, 359,835 customers enrolled in Pennie with 49,366 of those enrollments completed by new customers.

Medicaid continuous coverage under the Family First Coronavirus Response Act is set to expire on March 31 due to the passage of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023. This allows states to begin the unwinding process and end continuous coverage as of April 1, 2023. Medical Assistance and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) recipients must complete an annual renewal to remain eligible. More than 3.6 million Pennsylvanians are currently enrolled in Medicaid coverage with an estimated over one million Pennsylvanians potentially losing coverage due to income ineligibility or not completing the necessary renewal paperwork. Consumers will get a renewal packet in the mail when it is time to renew and will start to receive information in the mail about 90 days before it is due. For those losing Medicaid coverage, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) in conjunction with Pennie will be sending notices with enrollment information. Visit the DHS website for more information. Sign up as a DHS Helper on the website to continue to receive the latest information.

The COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) was extended this week for another 90 days, maintaining the associated flexibilities that come with it. Administration officials declined to comment on whether this would be the final extension. Although previously tied to the PHE, Medicare telehealth was extended under the Federal Omnibus FY 2023 Package, including audio-only for Medicare beneficiaries, until Dec. 31, 2024. Also disconnected from the PHE by the omnibus budget bill was the requirement for the maintenance of Medicaid coverage. Medicaid eligibility determinations will begin on April 1, 2023, whether or not the PHE is again extended.