Billy Wynne

OIG Highlights Difficulty in Accessing Behavioral Health Providers Within Medicare and Medicaid The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) released a report addressing the critical shortage of behavioral health providers within the Medicare and Medicaid systems. This shortage is particularly concerning given the significant demand for behavioral health…

Department Releases White Paper on Preventing Drug Shortages; Policy Proposals Include Manufacturer Resiliency Assessment and Hospital Resilient Supply Programs The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a comprehensive white paper aimed at addressing the persistent issue of drug shortages within the nation’s health care system (press release). The paper not only outlines the steps already taken…

CY 2025 MA and Part D Rate Notice Finalizes to Increase Payments to Plans by 3.7 Percent; Implements Final Components of Part D Redesign The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the Calendar Year (CY) 2025 Medicare Advantage (MA) Capitation Rates and Part C and Part D Payment Policies (press release, fact sheet)…

HHS Announces New Steps to Ensure Health Insurance Coverage During Medicaid and CHIP Renewals The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), announced new actions to make it easier for people to keep their health coverage as states conduct Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance…

Agency Publishes Revisions to Federal Standards for Gathering Data on Race and Ethnicity; Includes Creation of MENA Category The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) announced revisions to Statistical Policy Directive No. 15 (Directive No. 15), which outlines standards for maintaining, collecting, and presenting federal data on race and ethnicity. These revisions, the first since 1997, aim to improve…

FY 2025 Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities Proposed Rule Proposes Overall 2.6 Percent Increase in Payments; Comments due May 28 The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the fiscal year (FY) 2025 inpatient psychiatric facility (IPF) prospective payment system (PPS) proposed rule (fact sheet).   What it is. The wide-ranging proposed rule would update the…

Agency Issues Landmark AI Governance Policy for Federal Agencies Targeting Privacy Risks and Algorithmic Discrimination; Requests Information on Responsible Procurement of AI in Government The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued the first government-wide policy aimed at mitigating risks associated with artificial intelligence (AI) and maximizing its benefits (fact sheet). The finalized policy document for…

ONC Releases the Draft 2024-2030 Federal Health IT Strategic Plan; Requests feedback by May 28 The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) published the draft 2024-2030 Federal Health IT Strategic Plan. ONC describes health IT as an array of tools that enable the processing, storage, access exchange,…

CISA’s Proposed Cyber Incident Reporting Rule Limits Scope to Hospitals with Over 100 Beds; Comments Due June 3 The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), as mandated by the Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act of 2022 (CIRCIA), outlining regulations concerning cyber incident reporting and ransom payment reporting,…

House Oversight and Accountability Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic Hold Part Two of Vaccine Safety Systems Hearing The House Oversight and Accountability Coronavirus Pandemic Subcommittee convened its second session of a two-part hearing series to evaluate the effectiveness of vaccine safety reporting and injury compensation systems post-COVID-19 vaccine rollout. While the initial hearing featured…