Interim Rule Advances Key Protections Against Surprise Medical Bills
An interim final rule with comment period to further implement the No Surprises Act details a process that will take patients out of the middle of payment disputes, provides a transparent process to settle out-of-network (OON) rates between providers and payers, and outlines requirements for healthcare cost estimates for uninsured (or self-pay) individuals.
HHS Announces the Availability of $25.5 Billion in COVID-19 Provider Funding
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is making $25.5 billion in new funding available for healthcare providers affected by the COVID- 19 pandemic.
OCR Issues Guidance on HIPAA, COVID-19 Vaccinations and the Workplace
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights (OCR) issued guidance to help the public understand when the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy Rule applies to disclosures and requests for information about whether a person has received a COVID-19 vaccine.
HHS Extends COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
At the end of July, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services extended the national public health emergency declared for the COVID-19 pandemic, which grants COVID-19 payment and regulatory fl exibilities, for another 90 days.
Judge Rules Against Hospitals’ Suit Challenging New Price Transparency Rules
A federal judge ruled against the American Hospital Association and other hospital groups that filed suit in December contesting a finalized rule by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that requires hospitals to disclose price information, including negotiated prices with insurers.
$1.95M Grant Awarded to Study Autoimmune Diseases
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded a $1.95 million federal grant to researchers investigating the underlying cause (molecular mechanisms) of autoimmune diseases.
FDA Implements New Warnings for Cigarette Packages and Advertisements
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a final rule to require new health warnings on cigarette packages and in cigarette advertisements, which feature textual statements with photo-realistic color images depicting some of the lesser-known, but serious health risks of cigarette smoking, including impact to fetal growth, cardiac disease, diabetes and more.
Waiver Allows Medicare Patients to Receive Free Telehealth Services
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has broadened access to Medicare telehealth services so beneficiaries can receive a wider range of services from their doctors without having to travel to a healthcare facility.
FDA Campaign Designed to Help Consumers Use New Food Label
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has launched a campaign to help consumers use the new Nutrition Facts label that appears on packaged foods to maintain healthy dietary practices.
Finalized Rule Gives Patients More Control Over Their Health Data
In March, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) finalized two rules that give patients unprecedented safe and secure access to their health data.
