Healthcare Policy News

ACA Withstands Another Court Challenge, HHS Boosts Public Health IT Workforce

The ACA was upheld after another court challenge and HHS boosts public health IT workforce. Meanwhile, government organizations collaborate for antiviral development and patient-matching initiative.

aca upheld and hhs boosts public health it workforce

Source: Getty Images

By Emily Sokol, MPH

- The Supreme Court once again upholds the ACA, but experts are worried some may still challenge the law. Meanwhile, HHS funding aims to bolster the public health IT workforce and intra-agency collaboration works toward antiviral drug development and better patient matching.

Supreme Court Upholds ACA, Now Experts Wonder About The Future Implications

On July 17, the Supreme Court dismissed California v Texas, the latest court case to challenge the Affordable Care Act. Since the case has been dismissed, though, it has sparked concern among experts over future litigations. The decision did not address the constitutionality of the individual mandate, leaving the law vulnerable to future legal challenges. READ MORE

HHS, NIH, NIAID Collaboration Targets Antiviral Development

Funding from the American Rescue Plan opened collaboration between several key government organizations to build a response plan for the need for antiviral treatments for COVID-19. The plan, called the Antiviral Program for Pandemics, will invest $3 billion toward the discovery, development, and manufacturing of antiviral medications. HHS, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) will all collaborate to develop more sustainable discovery platforms for novel antivirals beyond the coronavirus to prepare the healthcare system and country for future viral threats. READ MORE

Patient Matching Specification Open for Public Comment

The ONC Project US@ (‘USA’) Draft Technical Specifications Version 1.0 was released last week for public comment. The goal of the project is to improve data exchange and patient matching—connecting patient records across providers and healthcare facilities. The project would work to develop a cross-standards, industry-wide specification for patient address representations to improve the accuracy of patient matching through partnerships with the CDC, the United States Postal Services, health information exchanges, and other key stakeholders. READ MORE

Public Health Informatics & Technology Workforce Development Program Bolsters IT Workforce

HHS recently announced $80 million in funding from the American Rescue Plan for the Public Health Informatics & Technology Workforce Development Program. The goal of the program is to boost the public health IT workforce including roles in informatics and data science. ONC is inviting minority-serving institutions such as historically Black colleges and universities to apply for funding to help recruit and train interested students, secure paid internships, and assist in career placement throughout the public health workforce. READ MORE

Access to State-Based Marketplace Coverage Gets Boosted Funding From CMS

On June 21, CMS announced $20 million in American Rescue Plan funding to support increasing access to state-based marketplaces. States can apply for funding that works toward a variety of accessibility challenges including modernizing systems, bolstering technology to comply with federal marketplace requirements, and aligning with required implementation procedures like consumer notifications and stakeholder training. State applications are due by July 20 with an anticipated award in early September 2021. READ MORE

Four Telehealth Bills Combine to Gain the Attention of Congress

Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) is pushing for the combination of four of the dozens of telehealth bills before Congress in order to expedite the approval process and improve access to telehealth services. The four bills include:

  • Audio-Only Telehealth for Emergencies Act aimed at establishing payment parity for providers using audio-only telehealth platforms during the pandemic
  • Increasing Rural Telehealth Act working to expand remote patient monitoring programs in rural areas including funding for a remote patient monitoring pilot program
  • Telehealth Health Savings Account Act that would allow employers to offer high-deductible plans to employees that include connected healthcare and waive telehealth deductibles
  • Enhance Access to Support Behavioral Health Services Act for the establishment of payment parity in telemental health services delivered to Medicare and Medicaid members with no geographic restrictions

Combining the bills is an effort to grab the attention of lawmakers and push for the expansion of telehealth services in a time when telehealth is truly at the center of the healthcare industry. READ MORE

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