Updates & Analysis

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…

In this update:  President Biden Issues Executive Order on America’s Supply Chains Biden Administration Extends COVID-19 National Emergency Declaration President Biden’s $1.9 Trillion Pandemic Aid Plan Approved for Floor Vote Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine Under Consideration by FDA, CDC HHS Issues Formal Enforcement Discretion for COVID-19 Vaccine Scheduling Apps OIG Issues Report on Increasingly…

Federal Updates Biden Administration Announces Updates on COVID-19 ResponseThe Biden Administration’s updates on efforts to combat COVID-19 this week include:  This week, the Administration will supply a total of 14.5 million doses to states and other jurisdictions, an increase from 13.5 million doses last week.  The Retail Pharmacy Program will receive an increased allocation of 100,000…

On January 21st, the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Care Transition and Support Teams (CTST) program in New York City. The goals of this program are to provide: Six CTSTs based on the critical time intervention (CTI) model; and Two high-touch intensive outreach, engagement,…

On January 19th, Governor Andrew Cuomo and Budget Director Robert Mujica delivered presentations on the proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 New York State Executive budget. The text of proposed budget bills and associated Article VII legislation was posted later that evening. SPG’s summary of major health-related provisions is available here. Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the…

On December 29th, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) Expansion Grants. CCBHCs provide comprehensive person- and family-centered services that aim to increase access to community-based care, stabilize individuals in crisis, and provide necessary treatment and recovery support services for…