The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for April 11-16.  Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents.

CMS – New Proposed Regulations

FY 2027 Medicare Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System and Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System Proposed Rule

CMS has published its proposed FY 2027 Medicare hospital inpatient and long-term-care hospital prospective payment system rule.  The highlights of the proposed rule are:

  • A 2.4 percent rate increase for both acute-care hospital inpatient and long-term care hospital services.
  • A $564 million reduction in Medicare disproportionate share hospital (Medicare DSH) and Medicare uncompensated care payments.
  • A 28 percent increase in the inpatient outlier threshold, from the current $40,397 to $51,704.  CMS proposes maintaining the LTCH outlier threshold at its current level for FY 2027.
  • The resumption of the voluntary Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement Model that ended in 2024 through a new, enhanced CJR Expanded Model that would be mandatory for most hospitals beginning on October 1, 2027.
  • Updates of CMS’s Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM).
  • Modifications in the criteria for identifying new graduate medical education residency programs.
  • Additions, modifications, and removals of measures from the Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting Program, and Promoting Interoperability Program, Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program, and Hospital Value-Based Purchasing Program.
  • Removal of two measures from the LTCH Quality Reporting Program.
  • Requests for information on specific aspects of the Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting Program, Value-Based Purchasing Program, and LTCH Quality Reporting Program.

The deadline for stakeholders to submit written comments in response to this proposed rule is June 9.

Learn more about the proposed rule from this CMS fact sheet, a separate CMS news release on the proposed expansion of the CJR Model, and the proposed rule itself.

The Interoperability Standards and Prior Authorization for Drugs Proposed Rule

CMS has proposed new requirements for the prior authorization of drugs in Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, CHIP, and qualified health plans in the federal marketplace.  This proposal builds on requirements in the 2024 CMS Interoperability and Prior Authorization final rule that call on payers to offer electronic prior authorization for medical services and issue provider responses within required timeframes:  seven days for standard requests and 72 hours for expedited requests.  CMS proposes requiring these payers to have electronic prior authorization capabilities, through standardized data exchange, for drugs covered under their plans’ pharmacy benefit beginning October 1, 2027.  The rule also includes new proposed requirements for public disclosure of electronic prior authorization use data and technical specifications to enable the public to exchange data with their plans, as CMS required in the 2024 rule.  Learn more about the proposed rule from this CMS news release, an accompanying fact sheet, and the proposed rule.  The deadline for submitting comments about the proposed rule is June 15.

Congress
  • House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has not brought the Senate-passed bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security to a vote pending action on a reconciliation package that would fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.  President Trump has given Congress a June 1 deadline to pass the party-line measure and has stated his preference that the scope of that bill remain narrowly focused on those two immigration agencies.  Some rank-and-file members argue that the suggested approach needs to be more expansive and warn this may be the party’s last legislative opportunity before the November mid-term elections.  The Senate Budget Committee is expected to introduce a budget-resolution to initiate the  reconciliation process as soon as next week.
    • If this reconciliation bill – or a future third measure – includes additional budgetary priorities, some Republican members are considering adding health care provisions to it, including expanded access to health savings accounts (HSAs); changes to the rate at which the federal government matches state Medicaid spending (FMAP); changes to Medicaid pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) spread pricing; and expanding site-neutral payment policies.
  • Today, the House Ways and Means Committee held a hearing with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., to discuss HHS’s priorities.  See the advisory here, the opening statement of committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO) here, and the Secretary’s full testimony here.  A recording of the hearing will be posted here.
  • The House Committee on Energy and Commerce will hold a hearing titled “The Fiscal Year 2027 Department of Health and Human Services Budget” on April 21.  Alongside HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., lawmakers will discuss potential legislation that would expand access to health care, lower costs, and protect American patients.  For more information, see the press release here and the hearing memo here.  A recording will be uploaded here.
  • The Ways and Means Committee will hold a hearing titled “Protecting Patients and Taxpayers:  Cracking Down on Medicare Fraud” on April 21 during which it will examine fraud, waste, and abuse in an effort to protect patients and taxpayers.  See the advisory here for more information.  A recording will be uploaded here.
  • The Ways and Means Committee plans to hold a hearing on health care affordability focusing on hospitals and providers.  The expected subjects to be addressed during this hearing will be the role of hospitals in rising health care costs; federal programs that create incentives for consolidation in the hospital industry; and whether consolidation can help preserve access to care, including in rural areas.  Information on the date and time of that hearing will be posted on the committee’s official calendar.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
  • CMS has updated the FAQ for its Rural Health Transformation Program.  Find the latest version here.
  • CMS has accepted more than 150 health care organizations – providers and digital health companies – to participate in the launch of its Advancing Chronic Care with Effective Scalable Solutions (ACCESS) Model.  The ACCESS Model will test an outcome-aligned payment approach in original Medicare to expand access to new technology-supported care options that help people improve their health and prevent and manage chronic disease.  The voluntary model will focus on conditions affecting more than two-thirds of people with Medicare, including high blood pressure, diabetes, chronic musculoskeletal pain, and depression.  It will run for 10 years beginning on July 5, 2026.  Learn more about the program from this announcement about the chosen participants and from the ACCESS Model web page.
  • CMS also announced that it is extending to May 15 the deadline for applying to participate in the program.  See the announcement for more information.
  • CMS has posted an FAQ about the provision of virtual cardiac rehabilitation, intensive cardiac rehabilitation, and pulmonary rehabilitation by hospital outpatient departments.  Find it here.
  • CMS has posted a bulletin describing the new monthly adjustment process for prospective payment system hospital interim bills verifying patient status and service dates.  Find that bulletin here.  The updates it describes take effect on October 5.
  • CMS has posted a bulletin describing the process for bypassing reason codes 31006 and 31007 for outpatient Critical Access Hospital services furnished by certified registered nurse anesthetists.  Find that bulletin here.  The changes it describes take effect on October 5.
  • CMS has posted a bulletin presenting the April update of its Medicare ambulatory surgical center payment system.  Find that bulletin here.  The updates it presents took effect on April 1.
  • CMS has posted a bulletin presenting updates in coding for cardiac contractility modulation for heart failure, adding information for HCPCS codes C1824, C1898, and K1030.  Find the bulletin here.
  • CMS has posted the electronic clinical quality measure (eCQM) specifications for measures proposed for inclusion in the 2028 reporting period for the Medicare hospital inpatient quality reporting, promoting interoperability, and PPS-exempt cancer hospital quality reporting programs.  Learn more and find a link to those measures from this CMS announcement.
  • CMS is seeking experts to work with one of its contractors on its Partnership for Quality Measurement committees, including Endorsement and Maintenance, Pre-Rulemaking Measure Review, and Measure Set Review.  These committees are designed to represent a variety of voices and perspectives, including clinicians, purchasers, payers, policymakers, researchers, measure developers, quality improvement professionals, rural health experts, patients, caregivers, and more.  Learn more from this announcement.  The deadline for submitting nominations is June 1.
  • CMS has asked the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for permission to introduce a new data collection tool involving Medicaid Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) Services.  The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024 established a new, optional Certified CCBHC state plan benefit and CCBHCs must be certified by their state Medicaid agency.  The requested data will be used to determine whether CCBHCs are meeting their obligations.  Learn more about the proposed new data collection from this CMS announcement.  The deadline for submitting comments is April 30.
Department of Health and Human Services
  • HHS has updated the charter of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.  Learn more about the committee and its objectives from the updated charter.
  • HHS’s Office of the Inspector General has updated its work plan with the addition of three new audits.  Learn more about the new projects here.
State-Directed Medicaid Payments

CMS has approved the following state preprints for Medicaid state-directed payments.

  • To Arizona, amending a uniform percentage increase established by the state for differential adjusted payments program eligible providers for the rating period covering October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026, which has been incorporated into capitation rates through a risk-based adjustment up to $151 million.
  • To Colorado, renewing a minimum fee schedule for behavioral health outpatient services for the rating period covering July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026, which has been incorporated into capitation rates through a risk-based rate adjustment up to $523 million.
  • To Florida, renewing a uniform percentage increase for primary care services and specialty physician services for the rating period covering October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026, which has been incorporated into capitation rates through a separate payment term amount up to $52 million.
  • To Florida, renewing a maximum fee schedule for inpatient hospital services and outpatient hospital services for the rating period covering October 1, 2024 through January 31, 2025, which was incorporated into capitation rates through a risk-based rate adjustment.
  • To Florida, renewing a maximum fee schedule for inpatient hospital services and outpatient hospital services for the rating period covering February 1, 2025 through September 30, 2025, which was incorporated into capitation rates through a risk-based rate adjustment.
  • To Florida, renewing a uniform percentage increase for inpatient and outpatient hospital services for rating periods covering October 1, 2024 through January 31, 2025, which was incorporated into capitation rates through a separate payment term amount up to $138 million.
  • To Florida, renewing a uniform percentage increase for inpatient and outpatient hospital services for rating periods covering February 1, 2025 through September 30, 2025, which was incorporated into capitation rates through a separate payment term amount up to $272 million.
  • To Florida, renewing a uniform percentage increase for primary care services and nursing facility services for rating periods covering February 1, 2025 through September 30, 2025, which was incorporated into capitation rates through a separate payment term amount up to $12 million.
  • To Florida, renewing a uniform percentage increase for primary care services and nursing facility services for rating periods covering October 1, 2024 through January 31, 2025, which was incorporated into capitation rates through a separate payment term amount up to $6 million.
  • To Georgia, renewing a uniform percentage increase for inpatient hospital and outpatient hospital services for rating periods covering July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026, which has been incorporated into capitation rates through a separate payment term amount up to $921 million.
  • To Georgia, establishing a uniform percentage increase for inpatient hospital services and outpatient hospital services for rating periods covering July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026, which has been incorporated into capitation rates through a separate payment term amount up to $112 million.
  • To Illinois, renewing a uniform increase established by the state for inpatient services at hospitals participating in delivery system transformation programs approved by the state for the rating period covering January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026,which has been incorporated into capitation rates through a separate payment term up to $190 million.
  • To Illinois, renewing a uniform increase for critical access hospitals established by the state for outpatient hospital services for the rating period from January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026, which has been incorporated into capitation rates through a separate payment term up to $14 million.
  • To Kentucky, renewing quality payment and uniform dollar increases for inpatient hospital services, outpatient hospital services, and professional services at an academic medical center for the rating period covering January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026, which has been incorporated into capitation rates through a separate payment term amount up to $136 million.
  • To Michigan, renewing a uniform increase established by the state for primary care and specialty physician services provided by practitioners employed or under contract with approved public entities for the rating period between October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026, which has been incorporated into capitation rates through a separate payment term up to $610 million.
  • To Missouri, renewing a uniform percentage increase for the professional services of designated providers affiliated with one of the qualifying hospitals for the rating period covering July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026, which has been incorporated into capitation rates through a separate payment term up to $52 million.
  • To Missouri, introducing a minimum and maximum fee schedule for inpatient and outpatient hospital services for children’s hospitals for the rating period covering July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026, which has been incorporated into capitation rates through a risk-based adjustment.
  • To Missouri, renewing minimum and maximum fee schedules established by the state for inpatient hospital services for the rating period covering July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026, which has incorporated into capitation rates through a risk-based adjustment.
  • To Missouri, renewing minimum and maximum fee schedules established by the state for outpatient hospital services for the rating period covering July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026, which has been incorporated into capitation rates through a risk-based adjustment.
  • To Nebraska, renewing a uniform increase for staff and faculty dental providers at an academic dentistry institution of a public university established by the state for dental services for the rating period covering January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026, which has been incorporated into capitation rates through a risk-based rate adjustment up to $1.3 million.
  • To Nebraska, renewing a uniform increase for faculty or staff members of an academic medical institution of a public university established by the state for the rating period covering January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026, which has been incorporated into capitation rates through a risk-based rate adjustment up to $23.5 million.
  • To Nevada, renewing a uniform dollar amount for inpatient hospital and outpatient hospital services for rating periods covering January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026, which has been incorporated into capitation rates through a separate payment term amount up to $1.3 billion.
  • To Nevada, amending a uniform increase for eligible professional services at designated academic medical centers for the rating period covering January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023, which was incorporated into capitation rates through a separate payment term up to $36 million.
  • To New Jersey, renewing a uniform dollar increase for inpatient and outpatient hospital services and behavioral health inpatient and outpatient services provided by participating hospitals in Ocean County for the rating period covering July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026, which has been incorporated into capitation rates through a separate payment term up to $253 million.
  • , amending the uniform increase for inpatient hospital services provided by public and private acute-care hospitals and freestanding psychiatric hospitals in Bergen County for the rating period covering July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024, which was incorporated into capitation rates through a separate payment term up to $327 million.
  • To New Jersey, renewing a uniform dollar increase for inpatient and outpatient hospital services and behavioral health inpatient and outpatient services provided by participating hospitals in Ocean County for the rating period covering July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026, which has been incorporated into capitation rates through a separate payment term up to $253 million.
  • To New Jersey, approving a uniform dollar increase for inpatient hospital services and outpatient hospital services provided by Gloucester County hospitals for the rating period covering July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026, which was incorporated into capitation rates through a separate payment term up to $71 million.
  • To New Jersey, renewing a uniform dollar increase for inpatient and outpatient hospital services provided by participating hospitals in Bergen County for the rating period covering from July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026, which has been incorporated into capitation rates through a separate payment term up to $516 million.
  • To New Jersey, renewing a uniform dollar increase for inpatient and outpatient hospital services provided by Middlesex County hospitals for the rating period of July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026, which has been incorporated into capitation rates through a separate payment term up to $534 million.
  • To New Jersey, renewing a uniform dollar increase for inpatient and outpatient hospital services provided by Mercer County hospitals for the rating period from July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026, which has been incorporated into capitation rates through a separate payment term up to $186 million.
  • To New Jersey, amending a uniform increase for inpatient hospital services provided by Middlesex County hospitals for the rating period covering July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024, which was incorporated into capitation rates through a separate payment term up to $187 million.
  • To New Jersey, approving a uniform dollar increase for inpatient hospital services, outpatient hospital services, and behavioral health inpatient services provided by general acute hospitals and a private acute psychiatric inpatient hospital in Union County for the rating period from July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026, which has been incorporated into capitation rates through a separate payment term up to $214 million.
  • To Ohio, establishing a uniform percentage increase for inpatient and outpatient hospital services, for qualified practitioner services at an academic medical center, and for a value-based performance payment to providers who attain quality performance target(s) starting July 1, 2025 for the rating period covering January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025, which was incorporated into capitation rates via a separate payment term up to $116 million.
  • To Ohio, establishing a new uniform percentage increase for qualified practitioner services at an academic medical center, primary care and specialty physician services, and dental services and for a value-based performance payment to providers who attain quality performance target(s) starting July 1, 2025 for the rating period covering January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025, which was incorporated into capitation rates via a separate payment term up to $12 million.
  • To Ohio, renewing a uniform percentage increase for qualified practitioner services at a non-academic medical center and a value-based performance payment to providers who attain quality performance target(s) for the rating period covering January 1, 2026 through December31, 2026, which has been incorporated into capitation rates through a separate payment term up to $18 million.
  • To Ohio, renewing a uniform percentage increase for qualified practitioner services at a non-academic medical center and a value-based performance payment to providers who attain quality performance target(s) for the rating period covering January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026, which has been incorporated into capitation rates through a separate payment term up to $14 million.
  • To Ohio, renewing a uniform percentage increase for qualified practitioner services at a non-academic medical center and a value-based performance payment to providers who attain quality performance target(s), for the rating period covering January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026, which has been incorporated into capitation rates through a separate payment term up to $20 million.
  • To Oregon, renewing a uniform dollar increase for ground emergency medical transportation for privately-owned providers, established by the state for the rating period covering January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026, which has been incorporated into capitation rates through a separate payment term up to $28 million.
  • To Oregon, renewing a uniform dollar increase for governmental units providing ground emergency medical transportation, established by the state for the rating period covering January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026, which has been incorporated into capitation rates through a separate payment term up to $23 million.
  • To Oregon, renewing a uniform increase established by the state for inpatient and outpatient hospital services provided by qualifying academic health centers for the rating period covering January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026, which has been incorporated into capitation rates through a separate payment term of up to $976 million.
  • To Oregon, renewing a minimum fee schedule for behavioral health outpatient services furnished by qualified providers for the rating period covering January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026, which has been incorporated into capitation rates through a risk-based adjustment.
  • To Pennsylvania, amending a quality payment/pay for performance (Category 2 APM, or similar) and performance improvement initiative for nursing facility services for rating periods covering January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024, which was incorporated into capitation rates through a separate payment term amount of up to $15 million.
  • To Pennsylvania, renewing a uniform percentage increase for inpatient hospital and outpatient hospital services for rating periods covering January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026, which has been incorporated into capitation rates through a separate payment term amount up to $2.3 billion.
  • To Pennsylvania, renewing a uniform percentage increase for inpatient hospital and outpatient hospital services for rating periods covering January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026, which has been incorporated into capitation rates through a separate payment term amount up to $425 million.
  • To Tennessee, renewing a value-based purchasing model for behavioral health outpatient services for the rating period covering January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2028, which has been incorporated into capitation rates through a risk-based rate adjustment up to $27 million.
  • To Tennessee, renewing a uniform dollar increase for emergency ground ambulance services for rating periods covering January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026, which has been incorporated into capitation rates through a separate payment term amount up to $30 million.
  • To Tennessee, renewing a value-based payment and uniform percentage increase for professional services at an academic medical center for the rating period covering January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026, which has been incorporated into capitation rates through a separate payment term amount up to $14 million.
  • To Tennessee, renewing a uniform percentage increase for inpatient and outpatient hospital services for the rating period covering January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026, which has been incorporated into capitation rates through a separate payment term up to $3.2 million.
  • To Virginia, amending a uniform percentage increase for professional services at an academic medical center for rating periods covering July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025, which was incorporated into capitation rates through a separate payment term amount up to $255 million.
  • To Wisconsin, renewing a uniform percentage increase established by the state for eligible home- and community-based services for the rating period covering January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026, which has been incorporated into capitation rates through a risk-based rate adjustment up to $115 million.
  • To Wisconsin, renewing a uniform percentage increase established by the state for eligible home- and community-based services for the rating period covering January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026, which has been incorporated into capitation rates through a separate payment term amount up to $147 million.
  • To Wisconsin, renewing a uniform percentage increase established by the state for eligible home- and community-based services for the rating period covering January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026, which has been incorporated into capitation rates through a risk-based rate adjustment up to $91 million.
  • To Wisconsin, renewing a minimum fee schedule for home- and community-based services for the rating period covering January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026, which has been incorporated into capitation rates through a risk-based rate adjustment up to $231 million.
HHS Newsletters, Reports, and Videos
Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC)

MedPAC’s commissioners held their latest public meeting last week.  The subjects on the meeting’s agenda were:

  • improving payment incentives in Medicare
  • analysis of regional benchmarks and benchmark-plan availability in the Part D prescription drug plan market
  • preferred networks and pharmacy access in Part D
  • estimated association between Medicare Advantage enrollment and hospitals’ and post-acute care providers’ finances
  • information sources that beneficiaries use to make Medicare enrollment decisions
  • institutional special-needs plans:  provision of services, network-adequacy requirements, and star ratings
  • mandated report:  assessment of the Medicare ground ambulance data collection system

Go  here for summaries of the issues and key points and links to the presentations delivered by MedPAC staff and go here for a transcript of the two-day session.

Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC)

MACPAC’s commissioners met last week in Washington, D.C.  The following is MACPAC’s own summary of the meeting.  During their deliberations, MACPAC’s staff made the following presentations to the commissioners:

  • implementing community engagement requirements in Medicaid
  • state and federal tools for ensuring accountability of Medicaid managed care plans
  • children and youth with special health care needs transitions to adult coverage
  • automation in the prior authorization process:  draft recommendations
  • exploring the role of the state Medicaid agency in the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE)
  • health and welfare in self-directed home- and community-based services (HCBS)
  • pharmacy benefit managers and Medicaid
  • introduction to Medicaid program integrity
  • Medicaid coverage of assistive technology for adults
  • intensive community-based behavioral health services

Go here for a brief description of each subject and links to the full presentations made by MACPAC’s staff during the meeting.

Stakeholder Events

CMS – Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program Public Engagement Events – April 6-23

From April 6 through April 23, CMS will hold a series of public information events to gather stakeholder information about its Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program and the specific prescription drugs covered by that program.  The agency invites patients, caregivers, clinicians, and others to share their experience relevant to the drugs selected for negotiation and renegotiation under the program.  Learn more from this CMS bulletin about the public informational events and learn more about the individual events, the specific drug or drugs each event will address, and how to participate from this CMS web page and go here to learn about livestreamed town hall meetings.

Medicare Cost Report E-Filing System Webinar – April 22

CMS will hold a webinar on the Medicare cost report e-filing system on Wednesday, April 22 at 1:00 (eastern).  During this webinar, the agency will address new and upcoming functionality for Medicare Part A cost reports and hospice cap determinations in the Medicare Cost Report e-filing system.  Go here (and scroll down to “Medicare Cost Report E-Filing System Webinar – April 22”) to learn more about the webinar and go here to register to participate.

CMS – Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program 2026 Supplier Summit – April 23

CMS will hold a Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program supplier summit on Thursday, April 23 at noon (eastern) to help program participants and suppliers learn about how the program can benefit their organization and community, learn about the differences between program delivery modalities, and receive important updates from CMS and the CDC about the new online delivery option.  Learn more about the event from this CMS notice and go here to register to participate.

FDA – Increasing Access to Nonprescription Drugs Public Meeting – April 23

The FDA will hold a public meeting on Thursday, April 23 at 12:30 (eastern) on increasing access to non-prescription drugs.  Learn more about the meeting, how to submit comments, and how to register to participate from this FDA notice.

OPTN – National Town Hall Meetings – April 28 and May 13

The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) will hold town hall meetings for members of the community and the public on Tuesday, April 28 at 4:00 and Wednesday, May 13 at 3:00 (both are eastern time).  These town halls will provide updates on the current state of the OPTN and its modernization efforts.  Participants will have the opportunity to submit questions in advance, and each session will include a moderated question-and-answer period.  Go here to learn more and to register to participate.

CDC – Clinician Outreach Call on Rabies – April 30

The CDC will hold a call for clinicians on Thursday, April 30 at 2:00 (eastern) during which it will discuss the current rabies landscape in the U.S. and CDC resources to help clinicians and health departments with risk assessments.  Presenters also will highlight animal-related costs and effects from rabies and how risk assessments can help avoid financial damage from costs associated with rabies exposures.  Learn more about the event and its objectives, additional resources, how to participate, and how to obtain continuing education credits for participating from this CDC notice.

MACPAC – Commissioners Meeting – May 7

MedPAC’s commissioners will hold their next public meeting virtually on Thursday, May 7.  An agenda for the meeting and information about how to participate have not yet been posted; when they are, they will be found here.

HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy/Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology/Health Information Technology Advisory Committee – May 7

The Health Information Technology Advisory Committee of HHS’s Office of the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy will hold its next meeting on Thursday, May 7.  This committee’s role is to identify priorities for standards adoption and make recommendations to the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy.  Learn more about the committee, its structure, and its purpose from this HHS notice, which also outlines the meeting’s agenda.  Information about how to participate in the meeting is not yet available but when it is it will be posted here.  Other 2026 meetings will be held on September 24 and November 5.

MedPAC – Commissioners Meeting – September 3-4

MedPAC’s commissioners will hold their next public meeting virtually on Thursday, September 3 and Friday, September 4.  An agenda for the meeting and information about how to participate have not yet been posted; when they are, they will be found here.