The Congressional Review Service (CRS) has released an updated overview of the Medicaid Program.
The overview can be obtained at https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R43357.pdf.
Health Professional Shortage Areas
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announced in today’s issue of the Federal Register its Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) as of May 1, 2019.
Lists of HPSAs can be obtained at https://data.hrsa.gov/topics/health-workforce/shortage-areas.
Lower Health Care Costs Act Of 2019 Amended Through Updates
The U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee leaders released an amendment today to the Lower Health Care Costs Act of 2019 (S.1895), making several updates to bipartisan legislation focused on reducing health care costs.
The amendment can be obtained at https://www.help.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/S.1895%20Manager's%20Amendment.pdf.
Patient-Driven Payment Model Web Series
RehabCare will be hosting three webcasts called “The PDPM Project!” for you to learn about the Patient-Driven Payment Model and how it will impact the health care industry. The first session on Monday, July 1 at 2pm EST (11AM PST) will focus on “PDPM 101 Overview of the Patient-Driven Payment Model.”
To register or get more info, email Annie Roden at RehabCare: annie.roden@rehabcare.com
Allied Health LinkedIn Discussion Group
ASAHP has launched their “Association of Schools of Allied Health Professions” LinkedIn group. This new forum will allow educators, administrators, industry professionals, and students to engage with one another about research, events, and new ideas. All individuals are welcome to join the group, post, and comment as we continue to build our allied health community.
U.S. Women Approach Milestone In The College-Educated Labor Force
According to a new Pew Research Center analysis of data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, women are approaching a milestone in gender parity since 2019 likely will be the first year in which they are a majority of the college-educated labor force. As of the first quarter of 2019, 29.5 million women in the labor force had at least a bachelor’s degree, effectively matching the number of college-educated men in the workforce (29.3 million).
ACA Repeal And The Likelihood That Individuals With Different Characteristics Would Be Uninsured
In Texas v. United States, the plaintiffs argue that the entire Affordable Care Act (ACA) should be invalidated due to the elimination of the individual mandate penalties under the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. An analysis from the Urban Institute provides details on how individuals with different characteristics would be affected under such a finding.
The analysis can be obtained at https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/100409/qs_txvus_repeal_of_aca_03a_-_near_final_0.pdf.
House Ways & Means Announces Bills for HPOG Program
13 bills were announced by Democrats to improve the Health Profession Opportunity Grant (HPOG) program. Democrats plan to introduce legislation that will reauthorize the HPOG program before its current authorization expires on September 30, 2019. HPOG provides opportunities for individuals to gain experience or education in healthcare fields that expect to see a high demand or face workforce shortages.
Read more here.
Spousal Caregivers In The Last Years Of Life
An article appearing in the June 2019 issue of the journal Health Affairs discusses how caregiving in the last years of life is associated with increased depression and negative health outcomes for surviving spouses, many of whom are themselves in poor health. Yet, it is unclear how often spouses are caregiving alone, how they differ from supported spouses, and whether lack of support affects post-bereavement outcomes.
The article can be obtained at https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/pdf/10.1377/hlthaff.2019.00087.
Report To Congress On Medicaid And CHIP
The Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) issued its June report to Congress. It includes a recommendation approved at its recent meeting that Congress change the definition of Medicaid shortfall to exclude costs and payments for all Medicaid-eligible patients for whom Medicaid is not the primary payer.
The report can be obtained at https://www.macpac.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/June-2019-Report-to-Congress-on-Medicaid-and-CHIP.pdf.
MedPAC Issues Report To Congress
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission Friday (MedPAC) issued its June 2019 report to Congress. It includes several recommendations approved by the panel during its January and March meetings.
The report can be obtained at http://medpac.gov/docs/default-source/reports/jun19_medpac_reporttocongress_sec.pdf?sfvrsn=0.
Making Health Insurance Auto-Enrollment Work
A new report from the USC-Brookings Schaeffer Initiative for Health Policy discusses how to build on the Affordable Care Act and achieve coverage gains using a tool known as “auto-enrollment,” i.e., policies that enroll individuals in coverage without requiring them to seek out or submit an initial application.
The report can be obtained at https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Young_Autoenrollment_6.13.19.pdf.
America’s Health Rankings 2019 Senior Report
The United Health Foundation released "America’s Health Rankings 2019 Senior Report," created in partnership with the Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association (GAPNA).
The report can be obtained at https://www.americashealthrankings.org/learn/reports/2019-senior-report/executive-highlights.
US Dept of Ed Request for Comments on State Authorization & Student Notifications
The Department of Education is requesting public comment on their proposed regulations from their Negotiated Rulemaking sessions focusing on accreditation and state authorization. Topics include accreditation for distance education, reciprocity agreements, disclosures for educational programs, and licensure notifications for students. All comments must be received by July 12, 2019.
For more information or to submit a comment, click here.
Webcast: The Secretary's Advisory Committee For Healthy People 2030
The 14th meeting of the Secretary’s Advisory Committee on National Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Objectives for 2030 will be held online via webinar at Noon Eastern Time on June 26, 2019 and is open to the public. Individuals must pre-register to join the Committee meeting.
Profile Of Recently Arrived U.S. Immigrants
Recently arrived U.S. immigrants represent a growing part of the nation’s foreign-born population, which reached a record 44.4 million in 2017. According to a report from the Pew Research Center, their profile differs from immigrants who have been in the country longer.
The report can be obtained at https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/06/03/recently-arrived-u-s-immigrants-growing-in-number-differ-from-long-term-residents/.
The Health Plan Of Tomorrow
According to a report by the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions, as the health care industry transforms, health plans also will need to broaden their focus beyond enrollment and risk to managing health and well-being for members and collaborating across traditional and nontraditional players. A relevant question is whether health plans are ready to flip current business models on their heads?
The report can be obtained at https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/insights/us/articles/4920_Health-plans-of-the-future/DI_Health-plan-of-tomorrow.pdf.
Reducing Administrative Burdens For Providers And Patients
Yesterday, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) requested new and innovative ideas for reducing administrative burdens for health care providers and patients as part of its Patients over Paperwork initiative. CMS will publish a request for information in the June 11, 2019 issue of the Federal Register. Comments will be due by August 12.
The contents of the request can be viewed at https://s3.amazonaws.com/public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2019-12215.pdf.
New Rules On Health Information Technology Interoperability
New federal rules have the potential to help consumers access their personal health data more easily and improve the interoperability of health information technology, according to six key individuals who had the task of implementing the latest advances in health IT and electronic information exchange nationwide. They signed a letter to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in support of the new regulations.
The letter can be obtained at https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/hblog20190604.428654/full/.
Persistent Digital Gap Between Rural And Non-Rural America
According to the Pew Research Center, despite improved broadband availability over the past decade, rural Americans continue to lag behind urban and suburban adults in tech adoption.
Additional information can be obtained at https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/05/31/digital-gap-between-rural-and-nonrural-america-persists/?utm_campaign=2019-06-05+Rundown+(subject+line+first)&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Pew.