Updates & Analysis

Overview On March 16th, the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the provision of Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO), telepsychiatry, and teletherapy services in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) that are accepting OMH long-stay patients, who are generally older adults with serious mental illness (SMI) and/or…

Overview On March 12th, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a Request for Applications (RFA) for state-based public health programs that improve the health of people with mobility limitations (ML) and intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD). The program’s aim is to reduce health disparities between adults with and without ML and/or I/DD. Through this…

In this update:  Biden Administration Announces Updates on Combatting COVID-19 Senate Confirms Xavier Becerra to Lead HHS CMS Increases Medicare Payment, Updates Medicaid Toolkit for COVID-19 Vaccine Adminsitration CMS Delays Medicare Breakthrough Device Coverage Rule CMS Releases ET3 Model Medical Triage Line Funding Opportunity CMMI Retracts Components of Part D Modernization Model RFA MedPAC Recommends Extension of…

On February 26th, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for organizations interested in expanding and enhancing access to medication assisted treatment (MAT) services for individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD). SAMHSA will award over $71 million in total funding to eligible organizations that will:  Increase the…

Federal Updates Biden Administration Increases Medicare Payment for COVID-19 VaccineOn March 15th, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that Medicare will increase the payment rate for the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine. Effective immediately, the Medicare national average payment rate will be increased to for $40 per dose. As a result, reimbursement…

In this update:  President Biden Announces HHS Assistant Secretary for Legislation Nominee Biden Administration Announces Purchase of Additional J&J Vaccine Doses President Biden Signs American Rescue Plan into Law CDC Issues Guidance for Fully Vaccinated Individuals HHS Announces $250 Million Funding Opportunity for Localities for COVID-19 Health Literacy Projects CMS Issues Updated Nursing Home Visitation…

On March 8th, the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) issued a letter (available here) announcing the continuation of Appendix K emergency modifications to the OPWDD 1915(c) Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Waiver. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has approved an extension of current flexibilities through March 31st. OPWDD expects further extension…

On March 10th, the House of Representatives voted to pass the amended Senate version of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021, an approximately $1.9 trillion relief package aimed at addressing the nation’s dual COVID-19-related public health and economic crises, by a vote of 220 to 211. President Biden is expected to officially sign the bill…

On February 26th, the Department of Health and Human Services’s (HHS) Administration for Community Living (ACL) released a grant opportunity for the Alzheimer’s Disease Programs Initiative (ADPI). The ADPI is designed to pilot dementia-capable home and community-based services (HCBS) programs, evaluate program outcomes, and use the resulting data to support sustaining successful initiatives after the…

On February 17th, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for primary care providers and health systems interested in providing Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) services to children, adolescents, and/or adults in primary care and community health settings. Approximately $10.7 million in total funding…

In this issue:  Biden Administration Announces Additional Staff Appointments Biden Administration Announces Merck and J&J COVID-19 Vaccine Manufacturing Deal Senate Considers President Biden’s $1.9 Trillion American Rescue Plan CMS Issues Guidance on Requirements for Plans to Cover COVID-19 Testing and Vaccination FCC Establishes Emergency Broadband Benefit Program FAIR Health Releases Report on Pediatric Mental Health…

Last month, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) released a funding opportunity for the development of research projects that test promising digital health care interventions aimed at improving quality of care and health care service delivery at the point of care (e.g., in a clinic setting, at the bedside, in the home, or…