ICYMI: Sirona Strategies has put together memos on political nominees for notable health care positions, which can be found in our 2024 Post Election Resources. The password to access these client-only resources is Sirona2024Resources.
- Dr. Dave Weldon – Nominee for CDC Director
- Dr. Marty Makary – Nominee for FDA Commissioner
- Dr. Janette Nesheiwat – Nominee for Surgeon General
- Dr. Mehmet Oz – Nominee for CMS Administrator
- Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. – Nominee for HHS Secretary
When is Congress in session? House 2024 Calendar Senate 2024 Calendar
What’s Ahead: This Week
Hearings and Markups –
- Thursday, December 5th
- Senate HELP Committee, “What Is the FDA Doing to Reduce the Diabetes and Obesity Epidemics in America and Take on the Greed of the Food and Beverage Industry?” Additional Information
Notable Policy Events –
- Monday, December 2 to Wednesday, December 4
- Aligning for Health and Rise, “Third Annual Social Determinants of Health Policy Forum,” featuring Krista Drobac, Sirona Strategies. Paid, In-Person. Additional Information
- Tuesday, December 3
- National Institute for Health Care Management (NIHCM) Foundation, “Helping Children Thrive: Strategies to Support Children’s Mental Health.” Free, Virtual. Additional Information
- Tuesday, December 3 to Friday, December 6
- Global Health Care, LLC, “Virtual Third National Primary Care Transformation Summit,” featuring Sarah Sugar, Sirona Strategies. Paid, Virtual. Additional Information
- Wednesday, December 4 to Thursday, December 5
- HHS Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy (ASTP), “ASTP Annual Meeting.” Free, Hybrid. Additional Information
- Wednesday, December 4
- Duke Margolis Institute for Health Policy, “Scaling Primary Care for High-Need Older Adults: Building a Home-Based Medical Care Ecosystem.” Free, Virtual. Additional Information
- FDA, “Meeting of the Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee.” Free, Virtual. Additional Information
- Health Affairs, “Briefing: Uses of Health Care Price Transparency Data: Status, Innovations, Opportunities.” Free, Virtual. Additional Information
- Thursday, December 5
- National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM), “Effective Models to Address Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders: Strategies for Successful and Equitable Abatement Using Opioid Settlement Dollars.” Free, Virtual. Additional Information
- Friday, December 6
- Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics (LDI), “Integrating Care for Dually Eligible Beneficiaries.” Free, Virtual. Additional Information
Weekly Wrap-Up: Notable Health Care Developments from Last Week
Medicare & Medicaid –
- On November 25, CMS announced that Maryland requested to amend its Maryland HealthChoice section 1115 demonstration, which would support an expansion of housing and case management services to individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness; expand Express Lane Eligibility (ELE) for non-Modified Adjusted Gross Income adults; and cover fertility preservation services for individuals with or at risk for iatrogenic infertility. Comments are due December 25, 2024. Application Submit Comments
- On November 26, CMS released the Contract Year 2026 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage, Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit, Medicare Cost Plan Programs, and PACE proposed rule. The rule proposes changes to Medicare Advantage, Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit (Part D), Medicaid, Medicare cost plan, and Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) regulations. Comments are due January 27, 2025. CMS Fact Sheet Press Release White House Fact Sheet Proposed Rule
- Also on November 26, HHS released an issue brief examining the potential impact of Medicare’s proposed reinterpretation of Medicare coverage for anti-obesity medications. Issue Brief
- Also on November 26, CMS released an informational bulletin on basic requirements for conducting ex parte renewals of Medicaid and CHIP eligibility. Informational Bulletin Press Release
- Also on November 26, Senate HELP Committee Ranking Member Cassidy (R-LA) issued a statement on the Biden Administration’s decision to continue its contract with Maximus to run Medicare call centers. Statement
- On November 27, CMS released the latest enrollment figures for Medicare and Medicaid. As of August 2024, 33,585,273 people are enrolled in Medicare fee-for-service; 34,216,650 are enrolled in Medicare Advantage or other health plans; and 79,440,518 are enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP. Medicare Enrollment Data Medicaid Enrollment Data
- Also on November 27, HHS published an issue brief on the use of supported employment in the Medicaid and CHIP working-age population in 2019. Issue Brief Press Release
- Also on November 27, the HHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued a report finding that Puerto Rico did not designate a Medicaid contracts oversight lead in a timely manner and certified contracts that were noncompliant. Full Report Highlights
Marketplaces – On November 27, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report comparing employer-sponsored health insurance plans to Healthcare.gov marketplace plans. Full Report Highlights
Payment & Delivery System Models – On November 26, CMS released a rule finalizing the Increasing Organ Transplant Access (IOTA) Model. CMS selected 103 kidney transplant hospitals to participate in the model and delayed the start date of the model to July 1, 2025. IOTA Model Fact Sheet Press Release Rule
Health IT, Privacy, & Digital Health –
- On November 25, HHS OIG released an audit on the Office of Civil Rights’ Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) compliance. Report Report in Brief Press Release
- On November 26, the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy/Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ASTP/ONC) released a notice of publication of the Common Agreement for Nationwide Health Information Interoperability (Common Agreement) Version 2.1. Notice
Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Policy –
- On November 25, HHS released resources intended to help communities address the trauma and mental health impacts of gun violence. Press Release
- On November 26, HHS OIG issued a report on the CDC’s and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) processes for and challenges with compiling data for the National Drug Control Assessment. Press Release Report
- On November 27, SAMHSA released an issue brief on co-occurring mental health and substance use services. Issue Brief Press Release
- Also on November 27, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced the launch of a working group composed of people with lived or living experience (PWLLE) with drug use. Announcement
Prescription Drugs & Health Innovation – On November 18, HHS published a report detailing the steps FDA has taken to strengthen coordination of activities supporting drug development. Full Report Highlights