NY Schools to Offer Telemental Health, USPSTF Updates Anxiety Screenings
A school district in Rochester, New York, will offer students telehealth access, and the USPSTF is rolling out extensive anxiety and depression screening recommendations.
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By - In healthcare policy news this week, school leaders from the Rochester City School District are instituting a telemental healthcare program for students. Meanwhile, the nation’s preeminent preventive care authority recommends thorough screenings for anxiety and depression.
Department of Veterans Affairs Reassures After Oracle Cerner Layoffs
Acting program executive director of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) EHR Modernization (EHRM) Integration Office, Neil Evans, MD, said last week that VA leadership is fully committed to the success of the EHRM project despite significant staffing changes at Oracle Cerner. According to a June 20 email, the entire clinical team from Oracle Cerner was terminated this month due in part to the recent challenges with implementation. READ MORE.
Senators Question Amazon Data Sharing Policy
New England Democratic senators Peter Welch (VT) and Elizabeth Warren (MA) sent a letter to Amazon executives on Friday seeking details about the company’s online healthcare service, Amazon Clinic, and its sharing of protected information.
“Amazon Clinic customers deserve to fully understand why Amazon is collecting their health care data and what the company is doing with it,” the letter stated. “Congress is also evaluating legislative efforts to protect health data in the context of emerging technologies.” READ MORE.
New York Public Schools Offer Telehealth Services
Rochester City School District will begin to provide its students with telehealth units for acute care and chronic mental health issues. County and local credit funding was levied to initiate the student health centers in response to the growing mental health crisis affecting US youth. Efforts to introduce telehealth programs in public schools are growing, with multiple school districts introducing similar programs since the beginning of the pandemic. READ MORE.
FDA Grants Bluebird Bio Priority Review for Gene Therapy
Last week, Bluebird Bio was granted priority review for its new sickle cell disease treatment. The drug is a one-time gene therapy that reduces the number of deformed blood cells in a patient’s body, reducing the chances of dangerous long-term health effects.
“The burden that people living with SCD and their families live with today is staggering. Beyond extreme pain crises that send patients to the hospital, SCD progression is associated with grave long-term consequences,” said Andrew Obenshain, chief executive officer of the company, in its press release. READ MORE.
USPSTF Updates Mental Health Screening Procedures
The United States Preventive Task Force updated its guidelines recommending anxiety screenings for anyone aged 8 to 64. New guidelines also suggest that all adults be screened for depression. Experts found insufficient evidence to offer the same guidance for suicide risk screening. READ MORE.
HHS Partners with Upstream to Increase Contraceptive Access
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) partnered with Upstream USA to increase patient access to contraceptive options. Upstream, founded in 2014, is headquartered in Boston, MA, and provides training, technical assistance, contraceptive care, and reimbursement for healthcare providers. After reaching a $2 million partnership with CVS Health last year, the company will expand its reach again with the new five-year HHS deal. READ MORE.
