Newswire Archives
AcademyHealth’s Evidence Informed State Health Policy Institute (ESHPI) has developed a Post-COVID-related research agenda, funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute Engagement Award Program, to explore how Medicaid can examine the long-term impact on beneficiaries and the program.
More information can be obtained at https://academyhealth.org/blog/2023-03/new-research-agenda-looks-foundational-research-needed-address-post-covid-and-medicaid.
According to a new report from AARP, family caregivers fill an essential role in the long-term services and supports (LTSS) system. In 2021, the estimated economic value of family caregivers’ unpaid contributions was approximately $600 billion, based on about 38 million caregivers providing an average of 18 hours of care per week for a total of 36 billion hours of care, at an average value of $16.59 per hour.
The report can be obtained at https://www.aarp.org/content/dam/aarp/ppi/2023/3/valuing-the-invaluable-2023-update.doi.10.26419-2Fppi.00082.006.pdf.
This afternoon, the President’s FY 24 budget request was released. The request for $1.73 trillion in discretionary funds is a nearly $90 billion (5.5 percent) increase over the current fiscal year. The request calls for a 7 percent increase in nondefense discretionary spending and a 3 percent increase in defense funding. House Republicans are seeking roughly 9 percent cuts from FY 23. The Administration’s FY 24 request for the Department of Education is $90 billion, a 10.8 billion (13.6 percent) increase. The maximum Pell of $8,215 for the next school year, a $820 overall boost from $7,395 which takes effect July 1. The Administration’s overall goal is to double the overall Pell maximum grant by 2029. The Administration is requesting a $15 billion (11+ percent) increase for the for the Department of Health and Human Services. In the President’s budget request, HRSA would receive a discretionary funding level of $9.205 billion, around $285 million less than what was enacted in FY 23.
The President’s budget request may be accessed here. The HHS budget in brief may be accessed here. A statement by Secretary of Education Cardona may be accessed here. The Department of Education budget summary and background may be accessed here. A funding chart of the HRSA Title VII and VIII Health Workforce Programs is available here.
PEN American and the American Council on Education (ACE) have released a resource guide, “Making the Case for Academic Freedom and Institutional Autonomy in a Challenging Political Environment.” The document provides an overview of divisive concepts laws that restrict higher education, and communication tools for tackling proposed restrictions on academic freedom.
The document may be accessed here.
Now that the COVID-19 public health emergency is ending, states have begun the process of reassessing eligibility for their Medicaid-covered residents. Some individuals are at risk of becoming uninsured. A blog from The Commonwealth Fund discusses options to prevent this outcome from occurring.
The blog can be obtained at End Continuous Coverage Requirement Losses Nonexpansion States | Commonwealth Fund.
The Coalition for Trust in Health & Science announced the formation and public launch of an effort to curb an infodemic of health and science misinformation and disinformation. It entails creating an alliance to unite leading organizations from across the entire health ecosystem to advance trust and factual science-based decision-making.
More information can be obtained at https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/980879.
The Senate HELP Committee is requesting input from all stakeholders to best understand the drivers of health care workforce shortages and hear ideas on potential solutions. The request for input comes in the form of a letter from Committee Chair Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Ranking Member Bill Cassidy (R-LA), following a hearing last month entitled, “Examining Health Care Workforce Shortages: Where Do We Go From Here?”. Responses will help the committee as it develops legislation.
Written response should be sent to HealthWorkforceComments@help.senate.gov by March 20, 2023. More details are available here.
ASAHP’s annual election will be conducted this Summer. The following positions are open for the 2023 election:
Board of Directors (three-year term) – 2 open positions
Secretary (two-year term) – 1 open position
Nominations & Elections Committee (two-year term) – 3 open positions
The election candidate form here, including CV and headshot photo, must be submitted online no later than Friday, April 14, 2023. Election information is also available here.
The House Appropriations Committee has released new guidelines on Community Project Funding (earmarks) for FY 24. Members of the House may request funding for projects within their districts. Each House office may set a different deadline for when the requests must be submitted to their respective offices and some deadlines are approaching soon. Institutions that are considering making a request should check with their respective House office for their deadline. Senate guidelines for FY 24 earmarks have also been released.
More details may be accessed here.
The Senate Appropriations Committee has released new guidelines on Congressionally Directed Spending (earmarks) for FY 24. Each Member of the Senate may request grants for projects within their states. Each Senate office may set a different deadline for when the requests must be submitted to their respective offices and some deadlines are approaching soon. Institutions that are considering making a request should check with their respective Senator’s office for their deadline. House guidelines for FY 24 earmarks have not yet been released but are expected soon.
More details may be accessed here.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) posted a blog on addressing rural health inequities in Medicare, a cornerstone of CMS’ effort to improve health equity. A three-pronged approach is advanced of supporting rural providers, making rural health care more effective, and transforming the rural health delivery system to improve access to high-quality, coordinated care in rural areas.
The blog can be obtained at Addressing Rural Health Inequities in Medicare | CMS.
In a new report, Commonwealth Fund researchers explore long-term financing systems in the U.S. and 12 other high-income countries, some of which employ more comprehensive approaches, such as social insurance or universal comprehensive coverage. These international models — along with innovative funding mechanisms being tested by a few U.S. states — offer important insights for U.S. stakeholders seeking a more affordable, fair, and equitable way to pay for long-term care.
The report can be obtained at U.S. and Global Approaches Financing Long-Term Care Patchwork | Commonwealth Fund.
The 2023 Semiannual Membership Meeting of the Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) took place virtually on Tuesday, February 7, 2023. The theme of this year’s meeting was “Driving Progress Toward Interprofessional Collaborative Practice” and the Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions (ASAHP) was represented at the meeting by ASAHP Partnerships, Alliances and Advocacy Committee and Interprofessional Task Force Chair Dr. Anthony Breitbach.
The full report written by Dr. Anthony Breitbach is available here.
Today we are recognizing Jesús García-Martínez, MD, PhD, FASAHP, as ASAHP Volunteer of the Month!
Jesús García-Martínez, MD, PhD, FASAHP, is the Dean of the Vera Z. Dwyer College of Health Sciences at Indiana University South Bend (@IUSouthBend). We are extremely grateful to have Jesús working with ASAHP to pursue continued growth for health professions education.
Dr. García-Martínez is currently involved in the following committees and programs with ASAHP:
Chair, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee
Member, Leadership Development Committee
Member, Research, Discovery, and Innovation (RDI) Committee
Chair, RDI Interprofessional Collaboration Research Grant Subcommittee
Participant, 2020 ASAHP Leadership Development Program
On Thursday, February 16, at 10am Eastern, the Senate HELP Committee, Chaired by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), will hold a full Committee hearing entitled, “Examining Health Care Workforce Shortages: Where Do We Go From Here?”. Testimony will be provided by James Herbert PhD, President, University of New England, James E.K. Hildreth Sr., PhD, MD, President and CEO, Meharry Medical College, Sarah Szanton PhD, RN, FAAN, Dean, Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, Leonardo Seoane MD, FACP, Chief Academic Officer, Ochsner Health, and Douglas Staiger PhD, Professor, Dartmouth College.
The hearing may be viewed here.
Legal settlements with opioid manufacturers, distributors, and pharmacies accused of fueling the opioid crisis will bring much-needed funding to states and counties that are seeing a record number of overdoses. A report from the Commonwealth Fund explores what a comprehensive approach to addressing opioid use disorder might look like.
The report can be obtained at Building Comprehensive Responses to the Opioid Crisis | Commonwealth Fund.
A report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) indicates that in 2012, Health and Human Services (HHS) established a program to ensure the U.S. could rapidly produce medical countermeasures—such as drugs and vaccines—in public health emergencies. The program didn't meet its goals in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, HHS found, and had trouble with large-scale production and quality control. HHS is transitioning to a new program, but needs to take additional steps to ensure that the new program doesn't repeat the previous program's challenges.
The report can be obtained at https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-23-105713.pdf.
A new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) examines the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) oversight of gain-of-function research.
The report can be obtained at https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-23-105455.pdf.
The Biden Administration announced that a record-breaking more than 16.3 million individuals have selected an Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace health plan nationwide during the 2023 Marketplace Open Enrollment Period (OEP) that ran from November 1, 2022-January 15, 2023 for most Marketplaces.
More information can be obtained at Marketplace 2023 Open Enrollment Period Report: Final National Snapshot | CMS.
A report from the Urban Institute projects how the pandemic’s cognitive and emotional impacts on schoolchildren may affect their degree attainment and lifetime earnings.
The report can be obtained at https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/2023-01/Academic%20and%20Socioemotional%20Impacts%20of%20the%20COVID-19%20Pandemic%20Will%20Affect%20Adult%20Earnings%20and%20Degree%20Attainment.pdf.
