CMS Increases Call Center Wages, ONC Shifts SVAP Timeline
Biden Harris Administration greenlights LGBTQ+ care in CO, FDA recommends authorization of J&J booster, CMS increases wages for workers, and SVAP timeline is shifted.
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By - The Biden-Harris Administration greenlit transgender care to be included as a part of Colorado’s Essential Health Benefits. Days later, CMS has boosted their hourly wages for call center workers to counter an employment slump in the healthcare industry.
Meanwhile, the ONC has recently announced that it will be delaying the release of approved standards for the SVAP. Additionally, HHS has dedicated $100 million to support primary clinicians around the country. And the FDA voted unanimously to recommend approval for J&J’s booster shot.
Administration Greenlights Colorado LGBTQ+ Care
In an unprecedented decision, the Biden-Harris Administration has approved a request to provide gender-affirming surgery in Colorado’s health insurance markets as a part of the state’s Essential Health Benefits (EHB). The new EHB benchmark is a step away from the “one-size-fits-all” transgender care framework and it includes operations like eye and lid modifications, face tightening, and breast/chest reduction or construction. This type of gender-affirming care is recognized as standard by medical associations, including The American Academy of Family Physicians. READ MORE.
ONC Shifts SVAP Timeline
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information (ONC) has revised its 2020 Standards Version Advancement Process (SVAP) to support the coordination of health IT data. In a blog post, ONC officials affirmed the importance of standardization while reiterating the relatively young nature of the SVAP program. Adjustments announced in the blog post extended the comment period through May 2, 2022, and delayed the announcement of newly approved standards. READ MORE.
FDA Recommends J&J Booster
An FDA committee has voted 19-0 in support of authorizing a J&J booster for adults. The decision was based on study data that showed significant boosts in antibody levels. Evidence from real-world studies showed a 12-fold antibody increase in the four weeks following booster inoculation. Following this vote will be a ruling to approve emergency use authorization for the booster. READ MORE.
CMS Increases Wages for Call Center Workers
Call center staff working at the federally facilitated health insurance market will receive a bump in pay to $15/hour. The expanded workforce of 12,000 employees is now entering the busiest time of year as it fields calls concerning the open enrollment period. The pay raise also comes during a shift in employment that has resulted in healthcare employment dropping significantly. CMS hopes that the wage increase will allow their call centers to remain competitive as workforce strategies change. READ MORE.
HHS Announces SLRP Funds for Primary Healthcare
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has made $100 million from the American Rescue Plan available for the support of primary care clinicians. Funding is set to aid state-run programs that support, recruit, and retain clinicians who work in underserved communities. Applications from all 50 states will be accepted starting April 8, 2022. READ MORE.
