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Office of Civil Rights extends comment period on changes to HIPAA privacy rule
The Office for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has announced a 45-day extension of the public comment period for the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to modify the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA…
CDC relaxes COVID-19 restrictions as more Americans get vaccinated
As more Americans get vaccinated, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has loosened social distancing restrictions for those fully vaccinated.
The CDC is allowing for indoor gatherings without mask wearing for fully vaccinated people.
$250 million in COVID-19 grants aim to vaccinate underserved populations
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Minority Health is offering $250 million in grants to get COVID-19 vaccinations and safety information to underserved populations.
The health literacy grants will go to localities, which will …
Senate passes $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill, without additional hospital funding
The Senate passed the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief plan on Saturday, with amendments, the biggest being no plan to increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour.
The American Rescue Plan also doesn’t include relief funding for hospitals or loan forgiveness…
HHS asks Supreme Court for more time in filing response to site neutral payment review
The Department of Health and Human Services has asked the Supreme Court for an extension to file a response to the American Hospital Association’s request for a judicial review regarding site neutral payments.
More than 200,000 take advantage of ACA special enrollment period
During the first two weeks of the special enrollment period for the Affordable Care Act, more than 200,000 people signed up for coverage.
The special enrollment began on February 15 and will end on May 15.
Merck to open facilities to Johnson & Johnson for speedier COVID-19 vaccine production
Johnson & Johnson, whose vaccine just received emergency use authorization, and Merck are partnering with the federal government to ramp up manufacturing of the COVID-19 vaccine.
President Joe Biden reportedly said that there will be enough of the vacc…
CMS gives $2.3 million in additional Navigator funding for ACA special enrollment period
In contrast to cuts made during the Trump Administration, the Biden Administration is increasing funding for the Navigator program to help consumers enroll in the Affordable Care Act during the special enrollment period.
FDA issues emergency use authorization for Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine
On Saturday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine for the prevention of COVID-19.
Health plans banned from denying coverage of COVID-19 tests for asymptomatic individuals
New guidance issued by the Biden Administration today makes it clear that private group health plans cannot use medical screening criteria to deny coverage for COVID-19 diagnostic tests for members who are asymptomatic or who have no known or suspected…
