Updates & Analysis

The Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health (NIH) has released a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to support the development of digital therapeutics (DTx) to treat substance use disorders (SUD). DTx may include clinical-grade mobile, web, or other software-based platforms designed to deliver safe and effective SUD treatment (e.g., improving medication adherence,…

In this update: Biden Administration Announces Updates on Combatting COVID-19 Biden Releases Preliminary Discretionary Budget Request for FFY 2022 CMMI Announces Direct Contracting Participants, Will Not Accept Further Applications CMS Proposes SNF, Hospice, IRF, and IPF Payment Rules CMS Selects Value in Opioid Treatment Demonstration Participants HHS Announces Increased Enrollment in Marketplace Coverage During SEP…

On April 7th, the New York State (NYS) Legislature passed the Enacted Budget for NYS Fiscal Year (FY) 2021-22. Governor Cuomo is expected to sign the budget bills into law this week. Total spending across all sources (including NYS and federal funds) is estimated at about $212 billion, with $111 billion from State operating funds.…

In this update: President Biden Announces Updates on Combatting COVID-19 Biden Administration Announces “American Jobs Plan” Infrastructure Proposal Biden Administration Announces Drug Policy Priorities President Biden Signs PPP Extension Act of 2021 CMS Instructs MACs to Temporarily Hold Medicare Claims HHS Announces Implementation of Enhanced Premium Tax Credits for HealthCare.gov Coverage CMMI Delays CHART Model…

In this update: President Biden Announces Updates on Combatting COVID-19 Senate Confirms Surgeon General, HHS Assistant Secretary HHS Announces Further Administration Staff Appointments Senate Passes the PPP Extension Act of 2021 Senate Passes Bill to Extend Medicare Sequestration Moratorium CMS Extends Special Enrollment Period for Marketplace Coverage CMS Submits Modifications to Comprehensive Joint Replacement Model…

Today (March 25th), the Senate voted to pass the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Extension Act of 2021, by a vote of 52-48, without amendments. This Act, if signed by President Biden as expected, will extend the loan application period for the PPP program, which was originally set to expire on March 31st, through May 31st.…

Overview On March 2nd, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a Request for Applications (RFA) for the Preventing Violence Affecting Young Lives (PREVAYL) program. Through this program, CDC will award $10 million in total funding to entities (not-for-profit or for-profit) that address multiple forms of violence impacting adolescents and young adults in…

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…