COVID-19

Federal Health Policy Update for Friday, May 14

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government as of 2:30 p.m. on Friday, May 14. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. The CDC and Mask Guidance The CDC has updated its guidance on when people who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 do and do not need to wear masks and when they do and do not need to seek testing when they believe they have been exposed to someone with the virus. This is the guidance that was released amid a great deal of public attention on Thursday. The [...]

iqtsupport2021-05-14T16:26:03-04:00May 14, 2021|Coronavirus, COVID-19, Medicaid, Medicare|

Federal Health Policy Update for Monday, May 10

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government as of 2:15 p.m. on Monday, May 10. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. The White House COVID-19 The White House has posted a transcript of the May 7 press briefing by its COVID-19 response team and public health officials. Department of Health and Human Services COVID-19 HHS and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) have announced a joint-agency effort to increase access to COVID-19 prevention and treatment services, including testing and vaccinations, among disproportionately affected communities, including among HUD-assisted [...]

iqtsupport2021-05-10T17:02:49-04:00May 10, 2021|Coronavirus, COVID-19, Medicare reimbursement policy|

Federal Health Policy Update for Wednesday, May 5

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government as of 2:45 p.m. on Wednesday, May 5. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. The White House COVID-19 The White House has posted a transcript of the May 5 press briefing by its COVID-19 response team and public health officials. Department of Health and Human Services COVID-19 HHS has created a web page for its new COVID-19 Coverage Assistance Fund through which providers can be reimbursed for the cost of administering COVID-19 vaccines to the uninsured and to those whose health insurance [...]

iqtsupport2021-05-05T17:25:41-04:00May 5, 2021|Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Coronavirus, COVID-19, MACPAC, Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission, Medicare regulations, Medicare reimbursement policy, post-acute care|

Federal Health Policy Update for Monday, May 3

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government as of 3:15 p.m. on Monday, May 3. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. The White House COVID-19 The White House has posted a transcript of the April 30 press briefing provided by its COVID-19 response team and public health officials. Department of Health and Human Services COVID-19 HHS and its Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) have announced a new program to cover the costs of administering COVID-19 vaccines for patients enrolled in health plans that either do not cover vaccination [...]

iqtsupport2021-05-03T17:28:49-04:00May 3, 2021|Coronavirus, COVID-19|

Federal Health Policy Update for Thursday, April 29

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government as of 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 29. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. The White House COVID-19 The White House has posted a transcript of the April 27 press briefing provided by its COVID-19 response team and public health officials. Health Policy News Speaking before a joint session of Congress, President Biden on Wednesday night formally presented his proposed American Families Plan. In general, the plan defers action on most health care matters to other, separate legislation, but it does call for [...]

iqtsupport2021-04-29T17:06:18-04:00April 29, 2021|Coronavirus, COVID-19, Medicare disproportionate share, Medicare DSH, Medicare post-acute care, Medicare reimbursement policy|

Federal Health Policy Update for Tuesday, April 27

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government as of 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 27. The White House COVID-19 The White House has posted a transcript of the April 23 press briefing provided by its COVID-19 response team and public health officials. Health Policy News The White House has nominated Miriam Delphin-Rittmon to serve as Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use in the Department of Health and Human Services. The nomination is subject to Senate confirmation. Congress The New Democrat Coalition is a group of 94 mostly centrist Democrats working to bridge the gap [...]

iqtsupport2021-04-27T22:25:58-04:00April 27, 2021|Congress, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Medicaid, Medicare|

Federal Health Policy Update for Thursday, April 22

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government as of 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 22. Department of Health and Human Services COVID-19 HHS’s Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response has published a new edition of its online publication The Exchange. The issue focuses on the work of hospital allied and supportive care providers during COVID-19 and is divided into three subjects: COVID-19 and acute hospital care, home care, and hospice; the role of allied health care professionals; and engineering and environmental support during COVID-19. For each subject the issue directs readers to [...]

iqtsupport2021-04-22T17:30:26-04:00April 22, 2021|Coronavirus, COVID-19, Medicare, Medicare regulations|

Federal Health Policy Update for Tuesday, April 20

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government as of 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 20. Congress This afternoon Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) put a hold on the president’s nomination of Chiquita Brooks-LaSure to be CMS administrator in response to the administration’s decision to revoke a Medicaid waiver the previous administration granted to his state. The White House COVID-19 The White House has posted a transcript of the April 19 press briefing provided by its COVID-19 response team and public health officials. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services COVID-19 CMS has issued section 1135 waivers to Colorado, Maine, [...]

iqtsupport2021-04-20T17:08:52-04:00April 20, 2021|Congress, COVID-19, MACPAC, Medicare|

Health Policy Update for Friday, April 16

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government as of 2:45 p.m. on Friday, April 16. The White House COVID-19 The White House announced $1.7 billion in new federal spending from the American Rescue Plan to help states and other jurisdictions improve their detection, monitoring, and mitigation of COVID-19 variants. This $1.7 billion includes $1 billion to expand genomic sequencing; $400 million to support innovation initiatives, including the launch of new innovative Centers of Excellence in Genomic Epidemiology; and $300 million to build and support a National Bioinformatics Infrastructure.The first pool of funding will be distributed [...]

iqtsupport2021-04-17T10:18:11-04:00April 17, 2021|Coronavirus, COVID-19|

Federal Health Policy Update for Wednesday, April 14

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government as of 2:45 p.m. on Wednesday, April 14. Temporary Halt to Use of the Johnson & Johnson Janssen Vaccine The White House held a press briefing on Tuesday, April 13 during which the White House press secretary, its COVID-19 response coordinator, and Dr. Anthony Fauci discussed the decision to halt administration of the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine until its safety can be further examined. Learn more from a transcript of that briefing. Representatives of the FDA and CDC briefed the news media on the situation involving the [...]

iqtsupport2021-04-14T17:11:09-04:00April 14, 2021|Coronavirus, COVID-19, Medicaid, Medicare|