Lance's Corner

HRSA Issues Health Newsletter

Feb 14, 2024
The United States Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has issued its latest health newsletter, which you can read below.

January in Brief

In January, HRSA launched the year-long Enhancing Maternal Health Initiative; participated in a panel discussion at the HHS's "Food is Medicine" summit; hosted an all-grantee meeting for the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting program; participated in the White House Cervical Cancer Forum; and commemorated Maternal Health Awareness Day.

Recent HRSA Highlights

HRSA Launches Enhancing Maternal Health Initiative

carole maternal health even kickoffOn January 25, HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson was joined by Representative Lauren Underwood of Illinois, co-chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus, to launch a year-long Enhancing Maternal Health Initiative at a kick-off event in Washington, DC. The initiative will strengthen, expand, and accelerate HRSA's work to address maternal mortality and maternal health disparities in partnership with mothers, grantees, community organizations, and state and local health officials across the country.

 

"This initiative will maximize the impact of our investments and build and strengthen partnerships to ensure we are making the greatest impact possible on maternal health in high need communities," said Administrator Johnson.

maternal health even personal perspectives panel

 

carole and rep lauren underwoodJoining the event were HRSA maternal health grantees from 11 states and the District of Columbia, as well as key national organizations, maternal health experts, medical providers, and individuals with lived experience. Attendees discussed personal perspectives, grantees’ innovative approaches, and maternal mental health. Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) Division Director Dr. Shirley Payne served as emcee throughout the event. She thanked grantees and partners for their commitment to improving maternal health and reducing maternal morbidity and mortality.

maternal even panel

HRSA Participates in "Food is Medicine" Summit

On January 31, HRSA Deputy Administrator Jordan Grossman participated in a panel discussion at the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) “Food is Medicine” summit in Washington, DC. The Deputy Administrator discussed HRSA's current and future work to support the intersection of nutrition and health care. Programs across HRSA—including at MCHB, Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, and the Health Center Program—provide food and nutrition supports to ensure we address the social determinants that play a key role in patients' health—from food to housing to transportation. Deputy Administrator Grossman also highlighted HRSA's collaborations and engagement with a wide range of federal agencies and programs to meet the needs of the high-need communities we serve.

food is medicine cropped

HRSA Hosts Home Visiting Grantees

carole and dr michael warrenFrom January 29 – 31, HRSA's hosted the annual Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program all-grantee meeting with over 600 attendees in Arlington, Virginia. The event provided grantees an opportunity to share best practices, discuss opportunities for collaboration, and attend interactive learning sessions.

HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson and MCHB Associate Administrator Dr. Michael Warren highlighted HRSA's recent work with Congress to double the funding for the program over five years. They also recognized the commitment of those involved in home visiting services, discussed how MIECHV improves maternal health across the nation, and shared the impact of the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline.

 

Since its launch in May 2022, the 24/7, free, confidential hotline has offered support from professional counselors to more than 27,000 pregnant and postpartum individuals who struggled with mental health concerns, and their loved ones. Support is available by phone or text, and in English and Spanish at 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262).

carole and dr michael warren miechv long shot

HRSA Joins HHS Maternal Health Awareness Day Leadership Webinar

maternal health initiative graphicHRSA participated in an HHS webinar to mark Maternal Health Awareness Day on January 23. The cross-agency webinar allowed HHS leaders—including those from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, HHS's Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, the National Institutes of Health, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and others—to share updates on their efforts to improve maternal health outcomes.

Deputy Administrator Jordan Grossman highlighted several foundational safety-net programs that play a key role in women's health, including:

HRSA Participates in White House Cervical Cancer Forum

cervical cancer forum staircase full shotOn January 25, HRSA's Office of Women's Health (OWH) participated in a panel at the White House Cervical Cancer Forum. The forum was hosted by the Biden Cancer Moonshot Initiative in observance of Cervical Health Awareness Month and highlighted advancements in prevention, screening, treatment, and HPV vaccination.

 

white house cervical cancer forum panelHRSA participants discussed how the Federal Cervical Cancer Collaborative is working to improve equitable cervical cancer prevention in safety-net care settings and better facilitate innovation. HRSA also highlighted the partnership with the National Cancer Institute on Accelerating Cancer Screening program, which ensures patients receive high-quality care across the cancer continuum from screening to treatment.

 

News From the Regions

HRSA Exhibits at the WHIAANHPI Economic Summit

Region 4 WHIAANHPI Economic SummitOn January 10, HRSA Region 4 (Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee) staff hosted a resource table at the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI) Economic Summit in Duluth, Georgia. The summit aimed to connect AANHPI community leaders with federal and local resources to advance equity, justice, and opportunity.

HRSA provided information on several initiatives, including the National Health Service Corps, Nurse Corps, the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline (1-833-TLC-MAMA / 1-833-852-6262), and the Find a Health Center and Find a Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Medical Provider tools. Nearly 100 individuals representing community-based organizations and state and local government were present.

HRSA Participates in the Oregon Farmworker Health, Climate Change, and Environmental Justice Event

On January 17, HRSA Region 10 (Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington) Administrator Sharon Turner participated in a virtual Oregon Farmworker Health, Climate Change, and Environmental Justice event with the Assistant Secretary for Health Admiral Rachel Levine.

Admiral Levine joined HRSA, other HHS Operating Divisions and federal agency partners, and leaders from Oregon Health and Sciences University, Beaverton School District, and local community-based organizations to learn about key challenges faced by farmworker communities and how HHS and other federal agencies can offer resources and information that support collaborative solutions.

HRSA Hosts Grants 101 Virtual Workshop in Spanish for Organizations Serving Hispanic/Latino Communities

From January 16 – 18, HRSA hosted the virtual Grant 101 Workshop: Charting Paths to Health Equity for organizations serving Hispanic/Latino communities. The three-day event, which was broadcast in Spanish, aimed to:

  • Strengthen HRSA's relationship with Hispanic communities
  • Enhance stakeholders' knowledge about HRSA programs, resources, and funding opportunities
  • Expand HRSA's reach and impact in underserved communities
  • Connect with organizations and seek feedback about the HRSA en español page

Through this effort, HRSA reached over 2,050 individuals representing community-based organizations, hospitals, health centers, health departments, social services providers, federal and state agencies, academic institutions, and coalitions.

Hispanic Grants Work Group Grants webinar

 

See News & Announcements on HRSA.gov.

USDOL Issues Comprehensive Employer Guidance on Long COVID

The United States Department of Labor (USDOL) has issued a comprehensive set of resources that can be accessed below for employers on dealing with Long COVID.

Supporting Employees with Long COVID: A Guide for Employers

The “Supporting Employees with Long COVID” guide from the USDOL-funded Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN) and Job Accommodation Network (JAN) addresses the basics of Long COVID, including its intersection with mental health, and common workplace supports for different symptoms.  It also explores employers’ responsibilities to provide reasonable accommodations and answers frequently asked questions about Long COVID and employment, including inquiries related to telework and leave.

Download the guide

Accommodation and Compliance: Long COVID

The Long COVID Accommodation and Compliance webpage from the USDOL-funded Job Accommodation Network (JAN) helps employers and employees understand strategies for supporting workers with Long COVID.  Topics include Long COVID in the context of disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), specific accommodation ideas based on limitations or work-related functions, common situations and solutions, and questions to consider when identifying effective accommodations for employees with Long COVID.  Find this and other Long COVID resources from JAN, below:

Long COVID, Disability and Underserved Communities: Recommendations for Employers

The research-to-practice brief “Long COVID, Disability and Underserved Communities” synthesizes an extensive review of documents, literature and data sources, conducted by the USDOL-funded Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN) on the impact of Long COVID on employment, with a focus on demographic differences.  It also outlines recommended actions organizations can take to create a supportive and inclusive workplace culture for people with Long COVID, especially those with disabilities who belong to other historically underserved groups.

Read the brief

Long COVID and Disability Accommodations in the Workplace

The policy brief “Long COVID and Disability Accommodations in the Workplace” explores Long COVID’s impact on the workforce and provides examples of policy actions different states are taking to help affected people remain at work or return when ready.  It was developed by the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) as part of its involvement in USDOL’s State Exchange on Employment and Disability (SEED) initiative.

Download the policy brief

Understanding and Addressing the Workplace Challenges Related to Long COVID

The report “Understanding and Addressing the Workplace Challenges Related to Long COVID” summarizes key themes and takeaways from an ePolicyWorks national online dialogue through which members of the public were invited to share their experiences and insights regarding workplace challenges posed by Long COVID.  The dialogue took place during summer 2022 and was hosted by USDOL and its agencies in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Surgeon General.

Download the report

Working with Long COVID

The USDOL-published “Working with Long COVID” fact sheet shares strategies for supporting workers with Long COVID, including accommodations for common symptoms and resources for further guidance and assistance with specific situations.

Download the fact sheet

COVID-19: Long-Term Symptoms

This USDOL motion graphic informs workers with Long COVID that they may be entitled to temporary or long-term supports to help them stay on the job or return to work when ready, and shares where they can find related assistance.

Watch the motion graphic

A Personal Story of Long COVID and Disability Disclosure

In the podcast “A Personal Story of Long COVID and Disability Disclosure,” Pam Bingham, senior program manager for Intuit’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Tech team, shares her personal experience of navigating Long COVID symptoms at work.  The segment was produced by the USDOL-funded Partnership on Employment and Accessible Technology (PEAT) as part of its ongoing “Future of Work” podcast series.

Listen to the podcast

HHS OIG Issues Annual Report on State MFCUs

Per the notice below, the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) of the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued its annual report on the performance of state Medicaid Fraud Control Units (MFCUs).

Medicaid Fraud Control Units Fiscal Year 2023 Annual Report (OEI-09-24-00200) 

Medicaid Fraud Control Units (MFCUs) investigate and prosecute Medicaid provider fraud and patient abuse or neglect. OIG is the Federal agency that oversees and annually approves federal funding for MFCUs through a recertification process. This new report analyzed the statistical data on annual case outcomes—such as convictions, civil settlements and judgments, and recoveries—that the 53 MFCUs submitted for Fiscal Year 2023.  New York data is as follows:

Outcomes

  • Investigations1 - 556
  • Indicted/Charged - 9
  • Convictions - 8
  • Civil Settlements/Judgments - 28
  • Recoveries2 - $73,204,518

Resources

  • MFCU Expenditures3 - $55,964,293
  • Staff on Board4 - 257

1Investigations are defined as the total number of open investigations at the end of the fiscal year.

2Recoveries are defined as the amount of money that defendants are required to pay as a result of a settlement, judgment, or prefiling settlement in criminal and civil cases and may not reflect actual collections.  Recoveries may involve cases that include participation by other Federal and State agencies.

3MFCU and Medicaid Expenditures include both State and Federal expenditures.

4Staff on Board is defined as the total number of staff employed by the Unit at the end of the fiscal year.

Read the Full Report

View the Statistical Chart

Engage with the Interactive Map

GAO Issues Report on Medicaid Managed Care Service Denials and Appeal Outcomes

The United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued a report on federal use of state data on Medicaid managed care service denials and appeal outcomes.  GAO found that federal oversight is limited because it doesn't require states to report on Medicaid managed care service denials or appeal outcomes and there has not been much progress on plans to analyze and make the data publicly available.  To read the GAO report on federal use of state data on Medicaid managed care service denials and appeal outcomes, use the first link below.  To read GAO highlights of the report on federal use of state data on Medicaid managed care service denials and appeal outcomes, use the second link below.
https://www.gao.gov/assets/d24106627.pdf  (GAO report on federal use of state data on Medicaid managed care service denials and appeal outcomes)
https://www.gao.gov/assets/d24106627_high.pdf  (GAO highlights on federal use of state data on Medicaid managed care service denials and appeal outcomes)

CMS Issues Latest Medicare Regulatory Activities Update

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued its latest update on its regulatory activities in the Medicare program.  While dentistry is only minimally connected to the Medicare program, Medicare drives the majority of health care policies and insurance reimbursement policies throughout the country.  Therefore, it always pays to keep a close eye on what CMS is doing in Medicare.  To read the latest CMS update on its regulatory activities in Medicare, use the link below.
https://www.cms.gov/training-education/medicare-learning-network/newsletter/2024-03-14-mlnc