The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government as of 2:45 p.m. on Thursday, January 6.  Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents.

Provider Relief Fund

The White House

Department of Health and Human Services

COVID-19 Hospital Data Reporting Requirements

  • HHS has written to health care providers to inform them of changes in its COVID-19 hospital data reporting requirements guidance; it has suspended reporting on some data elements and added some new ones.  The letter summarizes the changes, lists dates and times for webinars to learn about and ask questions about the changes, and offers telephone numbers and emails for support.  Find the letter here and find the revised reporting requirements here; changes in those requirements are highlighted.  HHS provided a preview of these changes to state officials; find its presentation to the states here.

COVID-19

  • HHS has amended a past COVID-19-related emergency declaration to authorize licensed pharmacists and pharmacy interns in good standing to order and administer flu vaccines in states in which they are not currently licensed and for such individuals to have liability protection under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act.  See the amended order in this Federal Register notice.

Health Policy Update

  • HHS’s Health Services and Resources Administration (HRSA) offers a number of funding opportunities with application deadlines in the coming weeks.  Go here to learn more about the various programs, what they offer, who can apply, and when applications are due.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Health Policy Update

  • CMS has issued guidance to states and health insurers on state external review processes regarding requirements in the No Surprises Act, the federal surprise medical billing law that took effect on January 1.  See that guidance here.
  • CMS has published the latest edition of MLN Connects, its online newsletter with information about Medicare reimbursement issues.  The new issue includes items about changes in how Medicare Advantage plans will submit claims for monoclonal antibody treatments, the updated ambulatory surgical system payment system, a revised enrollment application for Medicare-covered opioid treatment, and more.  Go here to see the latest edition of MLN Connects.
  • CMS is seeking nominations for individuals to serve on several of its technical panels:  its technical expert panel for the Measurement Gaps and Measure Development Priorities for the Skilled Nursing Facility Value-Based Purchasing Program; for the CMS Quality Measure Development Plan and Quality Measure Index; and for its Dialysis Facility Quality of Patient Care Star Ratings Technical Expert Panel.  All of the nominations are due in the next few weeks.  Go here for further information about the individual panels, project summaries, and nomination criteria and deadlines.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

  • The CDC has updated its recommendation for when many people should receive a booster shot, shortening the interval from six months to five months for people who received the Pfizer vaccine.  This means that people can now receive an mRNA booster shot (Pfizer or Moderna) five months after completing their Pfizer primary series.  The booster interval recommendation for people who received the Johnson and Johnson vaccine (two months) and the Moderna vaccine (six months) has not changed.  Learn more from this CDC news release.
  • The CDC has endorsed its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ recommendation to expand eligibility of booster doses to those 12 to 15 years old.  The CDC now recommends that adolescents ages 12 to 17 years old should receive a booster shot five months after their initial Pfizer vaccination series.  Find that announcement here.
  • The CDC now recommends that moderately or severely immunocompromised children between five and 11 years of age receive an additional primary dose of vaccine 28 days after their second shot.  At this time, the CDC has authorized only the Pfizer vaccine for this age group.  Learn more from the same CDC news release.
  • The CDC has updated its general guidance on COVID-19 vaccines and boosters for people who are moderately or severely immunocompromised.
  • The CDC has posted an explanation of why it has shortened its isolation and quarantine recommendations for individuals who are asymptomatic and mildly ill with COVID-19.  See the explanation here and the revised recommendations here.
  • The CDC has updated its overview and safety information about the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.
  • The CDC has updated its guidance on when people should be tested for COVID-19, when they do not need to be tested, and what they should do based on the results of such tests.
  • The CDC has published research on severe outcomes from COVID-19 among people who completed a primary vaccination regimen.  The research found that risk factors for severe outcomes included age 65 years or older, an immunosuppressed state, and six other underlying conditions.  All persons with severe outcomes had at least one risk factor; 78 percent of persons who died had at least four.  Go here to see the CDC’s report.

Food and Drug Administration

  • The FDA has approved an abbreviated new drug application for albuterol sulfate inhalation solution, which is used for the relief of bronchospasm in patients two to 12 years of age with asthma.  This preparation is sometimes used in the treatment of COVID-19.  See the FDA announcement of this approval here and technical information about albuterol sulfate here.

Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC)

  • The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is now accepting nominations for individuals to serve as MACPAC commissioners.  Learn more from this Federal Register notice.  Nominations are due by January 27.
  • MACPAC has published the new issue brief “Medical Loss Ratios in Medicaid Managed Care,” which provides an overview of federal capitation rate setting standards and specific guidance regarding the medical loss ratio for Medicaid managed care plans and describes variations among the states that employ Medicaid managed care.  Find it here.

Stakeholder Events

MedPAC – January 13-14

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) will hold its next public meeting on January 13 and 14.  Watch this space for a meeting agenda and information about virtual participation.

MACPAC – January 20-21

The Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) will hold its next public meeting on January 20 and 21.  Watch this space for a meeting agenda and information about virtual participation.