Updates & Analysis

In this update:  Covid-19 Updates HHS Renews Covid-19 PHE Supreme Court Affirms CMS Health Care Vaccine Mandate, Blocks OSHA Employer Mandate Biden Administration Requires Coverage of At-Home Covid-19 Tests Biden Administration Begins Distribution of Free At-Home Rapid Tests NYS to Institute Covid-19 Booster Dose Requirements for Healthcare Workers NYS DOH Updates List of Hospitals that…

On January 6th, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule including policy and technical changes for Medicare Advantage (MA) and Part D plans, and Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) for calendar year (CY) 2023. This is Part I of the 2023 Advance Notice and Draft Call Letter.…

In this update:  Covid-19 Updates Supreme Court Holds Hearing on Vaccine Mandates; CMS and NYC Proceed with Mandates FDA Approves Pfizer Boosters for 12-to-15-Year-Olds, Shortens Booster Time CDC Maintains Definition of “Fully-Vaccinated” HHS Updates Covid-19 Reporting Guidance for Hospitals Governor Hochul Addresses Covid-19 Surge and Extends Emergency Declarations DOH Issues Health Advisory on Pediatric Hospitalizations,…

On January 5th, Governor Kathy Hochul delivered her first State of the State speech, which outlined her policy agenda for the 2022 Legislative Session. The accompanying State of the State Book, entitled “A New Era for New York,” describes the Governor’s proposed agenda across nine sections. Notably, the first section is focused on the “healthcare…

On December 23rd, the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) released a Request for Applications (RFA) for one-time grants to licensed Article 31 clinics to expand school-based mental health services. Using federal funding provided through the 2020 year-end omnibus spending bill’s supplemental mental health block grant, OMH will provide $3 million in total…

On December 6th, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Enhancing Systems of Care for Children with Medical Complexity program. Through this opportunity, HRSA will fund:  Up to five demonstration projects to implement and evaluate evidence-informed, patient/family-centered models of care delivery; and  One coordinating…

Note: This will be SPG’s last weekly update for 2021, although we will continue to distribute notable information that arises to clients individually. As always, please feel free to contact us at any time to discuss any policy issues on your mind. We’d also appreciate any feedback on how we can make our updates more…

On December 10th, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) released a Concept Paper outlining a proposed Request for Proposals (RFP) for the operation of the Strong Messenger Project. Through this proposed RFP, DOHMH would seek one qualified organization to provide direct therapeutic services to over 225 frontline Cure Violence program…

On December 8th, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the fiscal year (FY) 2022 Harm Reduction Program Grants. This program supports community-based overdose prevention programs, syringe services programs, and other harm reduction services to: Enhance overdose and other prevention activities for individuals with or…

In this update:  Covid-19 Updates FDA Approves Pfizer Boosters for 16- and 17-Year-Olds CDC Updates International Travel Guidance Federal Judge Blocks Vaccine Mandate for Federal Contractors FDA Approves AstraZeneca Antibody Drug USAID Announces Global Vax Initiative Legislative Congress Delays Medicare Across-the-Board and Physician Cuts, Prepares to Raise Debt Limit Agency CMS Issues Guidance on Targeted…

On December 7th, the Commissioner of the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) released an updated telehealth regulatory waiver (available here). The updated waiver, which supersedes all previous waivers and their extensions, indicates that the emergency/proposed rule updating the Part 596 telehealth regulations posted in the State Register (here) is fully effective as of…

On November 16th, the Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health (NIH) released a Request for Applications (RFA) for studies that develop and test multi-level interventions to prevent opioid misuse, opioid use disorder, and co-occurring conditions by intervening on the social determinants of health. Interventions may be at the individual, interpersonal, community,…