HHS Unveils Next Steps to Enhance Cybersecurity of Health Care Records
Cybersecurity
HHS Unveils Next Steps to Enhance Cybersecurity of Health Care Records
2023-12-06 22:31:11
by Dan McCue

WASHINGTON — The bad guys in cyberspace want your health care records.  Between 2018 and 2022, there was a 93% increase in large breaches in the health care sector, with a 278% increase in large breaches involving ransomware, according to... Read More

HHS, Pfizer, Reach Agreement to Ensure Access to Paxlovid
Health
HHS, Pfizer, Reach Agreement to Ensure Access to Paxlovid
2023-10-16 20:26:30
by Dan McCue

WASHINGTON — The Department of Health and Human Services announced last week that it has reached an agreement with Pfizer to ensure continued patient access to the antiviral Paxlovid as it prepares to transition the COVID treatment to the commercial... Read More

HHS Said to Recommend Easing Federal Restrictions on Cannabis
Cannabis
HHS Said to Recommend Easing Federal Restrictions on Cannabis
2023-08-30 21:58:38
by Dan McCue

WASHINGTON — Officials at the Department of Health and Human Services are reportedly recommending the easing of restrictions on cannabis, a move, if approved by federal law enforcement, that could usher in a new era for the burgeoning though still... Read More

Fed’s Advice for Older Americans? Move More, Sit Less
Aging
Fed's Advice for Older Americans? Move More, Sit Less
2023-06-28 14:51:17
by Dan McCue

WASHINGTON — With one out of every five Americans expected to be age 65 or over by 2030, there has never been a more critical time to remind older adults of the substantial health benefits of engaging in regular physical... Read More

HHS Steps Up Effort to Reduce Antipsychotic Med Abuse in Nursing Homes
Aging
HHS Steps Up Effort to Reduce Antipsychotic Med Abuse in Nursing Homes
2023-01-18 20:25:30
by Dan McCue

WASHINGTON — The Department of Health and Human Services announced new steps on Wednesday aimed at reducing the inappropriate use of antipsychotic medications in nursing homes. “No nursing home resident should be improperly diagnosed with schizophrenia or given an inappropriate... Read More

Administration Seeks to Make Health Care More Accessible
White House
Administration Seeks to Make Health Care More Accessible
2022-12-14 21:23:01
by TWN Staff

The Biden administration has released a new rule that will provide and expand access to quality health care options for millions of consumers. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, the proposal, known as the 2024 Notice of... Read More

Initiative Makes $350M Available to Increase COVID-19 Vaccinations
COVID-19
Initiative Makes $350M Available to Increase COVID-19 Vaccinations
2022-11-30 17:16:42
by Dan McCue

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration is making $350 million available to increase COVID-19 vaccinations at Health Resources and Services Administration-supported health facilities. The funding will support health centers administering updated COVID-19 vaccines through mobile, drive-up, walk-up or community-based vaccination events,... Read More

HHS Encouraging Americans to Review Their Medicare Options During Open Enrollment
Health
HHS Encouraging Americans to Review Their Medicare Options During Open Enrollment
2022-10-14 15:57:49
by Dan McCue

WASHINGTON — Medicare Open Enrollment begins on Saturday, Oct. 15, and officials with the Department of Health and Human Services are encouraging Medicare recipients to review and compare their options due to beneficial changes stemming from the passage of the... Read More

Senators Urge CDC and HHS to Address Racial Disparities in Monkeypox Response
Health
Senators Urge CDC and HHS to Address Racial Disparities in Monkeypox Response
2022-08-30 15:27:21
by Dan McCue

WASHINGTON — Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., and 11 of his colleagues urged federal health care officials to track and address racial disparities in the nation’s public health response to the monkeypox virus. In a letter to the heads of the... Read More

Environmental Justice Index Announced to Help Guide Federal Policy
Justice
Environmental Justice Index Announced to Help Guide Federal Policy
2022-08-16 20:47:12
by Tom Ramstack

WASHINGTON — The Department of Health and Human Services is launching a new online tool to help communities gauge the extent pollution is contributing to health risks for their residents. It is intended primarily to benefit residents of disadvantaged communities.... Read More

Biden Signs Executive Order to Support Women Seeking Out-of-State Abortions
Health
Biden Signs Executive Order to Support Women Seeking Out-of-State Abortions
2022-08-03 21:22:15
by Dan McCue

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden signed an executive order Wednesday that directs the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to work with states to use Medicaid waivers to pay the expenses of women who have to cross state lines... Read More

Justices Uphold HHS Language on Medicare Reimbursements
Medicare
Justices Uphold HHS Language on Medicare Reimbursements
2022-06-24 20:23:03
by Dan McCue

WASHINGTON — Though few likely noticed given the court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court also decided a highly technical case Friday regarding how the Department of Health and Human Services calculates a class of Medicare payments. The... Read More

Senate Grills Health Agency Directors on Their Long-Term Pandemic Plans
U.S. Senate
Senate Grills Health Agency Directors on Their Long-Term Pandemic Plans
2022-06-16 20:46:12
by Tom Ramstack

WASHINGTON — Health experts told a Senate panel Thursday the drop in COVID-19 infections in the past few months should not lull them into complacency as the potentially deadly virus continues to mutate. Without additional preparation, the nation’s health care... Read More

HRSA Prepares Providers for End of Telehealth Flexibilities During COVID-19 PHE
Health
HRSA Prepares Providers for End of Telehealth Flexibilities During COVID-19 PHE
2022-05-18 16:07:54
by Alexa Hornbeck

WASHINGTON — The Department of Health and Human Services extended the COVID-19 public health emergency this week beyond the July 15 expiration to October. The eventual expiration of the declaration will lead to changes in certain flexibilities granted to Medicare... Read More

CMS Prepares Disability and Aging Networks for End of Public Health Emergency
Health
CMS Prepares Disability and Aging Networks for End of Public Health Emergency
2022-05-11 15:50:15
by Alexa Hornbeck

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is preparing states to return to normal eligibility and enrollment operations after the public health emergency expires, with special attention on how the end of the PHE will impact those... Read More

Millions Could Lose Medicaid Coverage Following End of PHE
Medicaid
Millions Could Lose Medicaid Coverage Following End of PHE
2022-04-13 15:04:51
by Alexa Hornbeck

WASHINGTON — The federal COVID-19 public health emergency, first declared Jan. 27, 2020,  was set to expire on April 16. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra on Wednesday extended the COVID-19 public health emergency for 90 days. A number... Read More

HHS Awards Grants to Help Reduce Health Care Provider Burnout
Health
HHS Awards Grants to Help Reduce Health Care Provider Burnout
2022-01-26 15:38:01
by Alexa Hornbeck

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through the Health Resources and Services Administration, awarded $103 million in American Rescue Plan Funds to 45 grantees to help reduce health care provider burnout and promote mental health and... Read More

FDA Approves Two New Over-the-Counter At-Home COVID-19 Tests
Health
FDA Approves Two New Over-the-Counter At-Home COVID-19 Tests
2021-12-30 15:34:20
by Dan McCue

WASHINGTON — Two new over-the-counter COVID-19 tests intended for home use have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Both of the tests, one manufactured by SD Biosensor and distributed by Roche and the other manufactured by Siemens, are... Read More

HHS Says A Record Number of Americans Signed Up for ACA Insurance
Health
HHS Says A Record Number of Americans Signed Up for ACA Insurance
2021-12-22 17:12:09
by Dan McCue

WASHINGTON — A record 13.6 million Americans have already signed up for health coverage on the Affordable Care Act insurance marketplaces with a month left to go in the open enrollment period, the Department of Health and Human Services said... Read More

Biden Administration Publishes Vaccine Mandate for Large Businesses
Health
Biden Administration Publishes Vaccine Mandate for Large Businesses
2021-11-04 14:15:22
by Dan McCue

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration rolled out a new COVID-19 vaccine mandate Thursday morning, giving large companies until Jan. 4 to ensure that their workforces are fully vaccinated. In a conference call with reporters Wednesday night, a senior administration official... Read More

Hospitals Push Back Against HHS Slashing of Reimbursement Rates
In The News
Hospitals Push Back Against HHS Slashing of Reimbursement Rates
2021-10-12 20:18:41
by Alexa Hornbeck

WASHINGTON -- The Department of Health and Human Services slashed 30% in Medicaid reimbursement rates to eligible hospitals under the 340B drug discount program. The program, which has existed for 29 years, requires manufacturers of pharmaceutical companies under the Medicaid... Read More

Federal Ban on ‘Surprise’ Medical Bills Coming January 1
Business
Federal Ban on ‘Surprise’ Medical Bills Coming January 1
2021-10-01 19:48:33
by Dan McCue

WASHINGTON -- A ban on so-called “surprise” medical bills --  unexpected, exorbitant health care bills for out-of-network care that arrive on insured patients' doorsteps, oftentimes when they are still at their most vulnerable - is on pace to go into... Read More

Identity Authentication Key Piece of Cybersecurity Puzzle
Technology
Identity Authentication Key Piece of Cybersecurity Puzzle
2021-09-22 20:42:18
by Victoria Turner

WASHINGTON -- Identity authentication is taking a front-and-center role in the administration's approach to ensuring robust cybersecurity across the U.S. government, according to Carole House, director of cybersecurity and secure digital Innovation at the White House National Security Council.  It... Read More

White House Unveils Plan to Cut Prescription-Drug Prices
Prescription Drugs
White House Unveils Plan to Cut Prescription-Drug Prices
2021-09-09 19:41:12
by Dan McCue

WASHINGTON -- The Biden administration on Thursday offered the first detailed look at actions the White House may take in conjunction with congressional action to lower prescription drug prices. The 29-page plan, released through the Department of Health and Human... Read More

HHS to Require COVID-19 Vaccine for 25,000 Health Care Workers
Health
HHS to Require COVID-19 Vaccine for 25,000 Health Care Workers
2021-08-12 15:45:34
by Dan McCue

The Department of Health and Human Services on Thursday announced that it will require more than 25,000 members of its health care workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The new mandate applies to staff at the Indian Health Service and... Read More

Watchdog: Nursing Home Deaths Up 32% in 2020 Amid Pandemic
Health
Watchdog: Nursing Home Deaths Up 32% in 2020 Amid Pandemic

WASHINGTON (AP) — Deaths among Medicare patients in nursing homes soared by 32% last year, with two devastating spikes eight months apart, a government watchdog reported Tuesday in the most comprehensive look yet at the ravages of COVID-19 among its... Read More

Support Grows in Congress For Revised Child Abuse Law
Congress
Support Grows in Congress For Revised Child Abuse Law
2021-06-10 23:29:46
by Tom Ramstack

WASHINGTON -- A Senate committee unanimously approved a sweeping overhaul of federal legislation on Thursday to prevent child abuse and neglect. The House already approved a similar version of the bill, nearly guaranteeing it will reach President Joe Biden’s desk... Read More

Report Looks at Why Antipsychotics Are Being Overprescribed in Nursing Homes
Aging
Report Looks at Why Antipsychotics Are Being Overprescribed in Nursing Homes
2021-05-17 21:50:06
by Alexa Hornbeck

A recent report from the Health and Human Services Department finds that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services needs to improve data used to monitor antipsychotic drugs in nursing homes, as insufficient data underestimates the scope of the antipsychotic... Read More

Drive to Enhance COVID-19 Vaccine Awareness Garners Bipartisan Support
Health
Drive to Enhance COVID-19 Vaccine Awareness Garners Bipartisan Support
2020-12-18 15:58:45
by Sean Trambley

WASHINGTON - This week, Rep. Brad Wenstrup, R-Ohio, introduced legislation in the House to authorize a public advocacy campaign to promote COVID-19 vaccine participation and provide science-backed information to the public. Joined by Reps. Ron Kind, D-Wis., Roger Marshall, R-Kan.,... Read More

Biden Picks California Attorney General Becerra for Health and Human Services Secretary
Health
Biden Picks California Attorney General Becerra for Health and Human Services Secretary

WASHINGTON — President-elect Joe Biden has tapped California Attorney General Xavier Becerra to be the next health and human services secretary, a historic choice that would make the former Los Angeles congressman the first Latino to hold the office, according to sources familiar with the decision. Becerra, 62, a... Read More

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