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March 2012
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3.16.12 |
Obama Administration Issues Further Details on Contraceptive Coverage Policy and a Final Rule on Student Health Plans
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On March 16, 2012 the Obama Administration issued an “advanced notice of proposed rule-making” on its proposed policy for contraceptive coverage and a final rule on student health insurance plans. Read the Campaign's statement.
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January 2012 |
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1.27.12 |
The National Campaign Comments on Essential Health Benefits Bulletin |
On January 27, 2012, The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy submitted comments, in response to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) “Essential Health Benefits Bulletin” issued December 16, 2011. The Essential Health Benefits will define what insurance plans in the state health exchanges and Medicaid benchmark plans will be required to cover. |
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1.20.12 |
Administration Announces Final Rule for Contraceptive Coverage in the Preventive Services Provision
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On January 20, 2012, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced that a final rule will require most health plans to cover contraceptive services without co-pays or deductibles, effective August 1, 2012. The Department chose to continue the relatively narrow conscience exemption for certain religious organizations but chose to give other religiously affiliated organizations an additional year, until August 1, 2013 to comply.
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September 2011 |
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9.20.11 |
Essential Health Benefits |
On September 20, 2011 The National Campaign sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and other Administration officials urging that women’s preventive services, specifically contraception and related counseling and education, be included in the essential benefits package. This will be the package of benefits that all plans participating in the health care exchanges will have to cover. |
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August 2011 |
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8.1.11 |
HHS Announces Coverage of All Contraceptives With No Out-of-Pocket Costs |
On August 1, 2011 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced that HHS will adopt the recommendations from the Institute of Medicine (IOM) Women’s Preventive Services Study Committee and require health insurers to cover “all Food and Drug Administration approved contraceptive methods, sterilization procedures, and patient education and counseling for all women with reproductive capacity” without co-pays or deductibles for patients. HHS also adopted all seven other IOM women’s preventive services recommendations including at least one well-woman preventive care visit annually for women. HHS also issued a “notice of proposed rulemaking” that allows certain religious institutions that offer insurance to their employees the choice of whether or not to cover contraception services, subject to a 60-day comment period. |
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July 2011 |
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7.19.11 |
The Campaign’s Statement on IOM Recommendations that Birth Control Be Covered for ALL Insured Women
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On July 19, 2011, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) Women's Preventive Services Study Committee recommended that health insurers cover "the full range of Food and Drug Administration approved contraceptive methods, sterilization procedures, and patient education and counseling for all women with reproductive capacity" without co-pays or deductibles for patients. The IOM also recommended including at least one well-woman preventive care visit annually for women. |
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7.14.11 |
School-Based Health Centers |
On July 14, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced awards of $95 million to 278 school-based health center programs across the country. The funds are the first in a series of $200 million awards made available by the Affordable Care Act over the next two years. Issued directly to school-based health centers or their sponsoring agencies, the newly awarded grants aim to promote the overall health and wellness of children through health screening, health promotion, and disease prevention activities and to enable children with acute and chronic diseases to attend school. Click here for more information on school-based health centers. |
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June 2011 |
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6.1.11 |
Home Visiting |
On June 1, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced up to $99 million in competitive funding under the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program as provided under the Affordable Care Act. The MIECHV competitive grants program provides two funding opportunities: (1) Expansion Grants for states and jurisdictions that have already made significant progress towards implementing a high-quality home visiting program as part of a comprehensive, high-quality early childhood system and are ready and able to take effective programs to scale. Grantees will use the funding to expand the scale or scope of evidence-based home visiting programs. Approximately $66 million of the competitive funding will be awarded in seven to ten, 4-year grants; and (2) Development Grants for states and jurisdictions that currently have modest home visiting programs and want to build on existing efforts. States awarded Development Grants will be positioned to strongly compete for future Expansion Grants. Approximately $33 million of the funding available this fiscal year will be awarded in ten to twelve, 2-year grant. |
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May 2011 |
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5.13.11 |
HHS Announces Availability of Community Transformation Grants |
On May 13, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced the availability of over $100 million in funding for up to 75 Community Transformation Grants. Created by the Affordable Care Act, these grants are aimed at helping communities implement projects proven to reduce chronic diseases and may also address additional areas of disease prevention and health promotion that will contribute to the overall goal of reducing chronic disease rates. These areas include: adolescent health; arthritis and osteoporosis; cancer; diabetes; disabilities and secondary conditions; educational and community-based services; environmental health; HIV; injury and violence prevention; maternal, infant, and child health; mental health and mental disorders; health of older adults; oral health; and sexually transmitted diseases. Applications are due by July 15. Click here for more information about the Community Transformation Grants. For the official funding announcement click here and search for CFDA 93.531. |
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April 2011 |
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4.20.11 |
HHS and Department of Education Launch Effort to Inform Students and Graduates of Health Insurance Options |
Education Secretary Arne Duncan and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius launched a new initiative to help educate graduating college and university seniors about their new health insurance options under the Affordable Care Act. The Affordable Care Act will make many young adults eligible to remain on their parent’s health insurance plan until their 26th birthday. The Secretaries sent letters to college and university presidents as well as student body presidents encouraging them to help spread that information to college students. For more information, go to healthcare.gov. |
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4.20.11 |
New England Journal of Medicine Says Contraception Should Be Covered At No Cost |
The New England Journal of Medicine released a report recommending the inclusion of prescription birth control among the women’s preventive services that will be covered with no co-pays for patients. The report stated "Contraception is the quintessential preventive care service.” Click here to read the report. |
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4.12.11 |
The National Campaign Comments on Student Health Insurance Coverage |
The National Campaign submitted comments on a proposed rule from HHS for student health insurance plans and how the Affordable Care Act applies to them. Our comments stressed the importance of access to contraceptive supplies and services for this population.” |
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March 2011 |
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3.23.11 |
NC Statement on the Anniversary of The Affordable Care Act |
One year ago, on March 23, 2010, The Affordable Care Act (ACA) was signed into law by President Obama. The landmark health reform legislation included several provisions that will help to prevent teen and unplanned pregnancy. The National Campaign applauds the provisions of the ACA that promote evidence-based education and pregnancy planning and prevention through wider access to contraception. |
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3.14.11 |
The National Campaign Urges Inclusion of Contraception on Healthcare.gov |
On March 14 The National Campaign Sent a Letter to Dr. Howard Koh, Assistant Secretary of Health. The letter urged the inclusion of information about contraception on the government’s health care reform website, Healthcare.gov. This information has not yet been included, but the Campaign is hopeful that it will be in the future.” |
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February 2011 |
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2.28.11 |
NC Comments on Value-Based Insurance Design and Preventive Services |
In response to the solicitation from multiple agencies for information regarding value-based insurance design in connection with preventive care benefits, The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services highlighting the high value nature of contraception in this context. Click here to view comments. |
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2.7.11 |
Health Insurance Exchanges |
A group of 21 Republican governors sent a letter to HHS Secretary Sebelius requesting more flexibility in the creation and operation of insurance exchanges. The letter warns federal officials that failure to give states more authority over the exchanges will mean “HHS should begin making plans to run exchanges under its own auspices.” The letter seeks six specific changes, some of which would involve waiving requirements of the Affordable Care Act. To view the letter, click here. |
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2.7.11 |
Next Meetings Scheduled for IOM Preventive Services and Essential Benefits Study Committees |
The National Academies of Science’s Institute of Medicine (IOM) has announced the next meetings of the Women’s Preventive Services and Essential Benefits Study Committees. The third Women’s Preventive Services Meeting will be held in Washington DC on March 9. For information about that meeting, click here. The Essential Benefits Study Committee will meet in Costa Mesa, CA on March 2-3. For information about that meeting, click here. |
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2.3.11 |
Medicaid |
HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius sent a letter to governors outlining the flexibility and support available to states that are examining how to make Medicaid programs more efficient while meeting current and future demands. To view the letter, click here. |
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January 2011 |
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1.24.11 |
New Guttmacher Report Shows Cost-Savings of Medicaid Family Planning Expansion
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A new report from The Guttmacher Institute highlights the significant cost-savings states can realize by expanding Medicaid family planning services in a new and simplified way thanks to a provision in the Affordable Care Act. It includes state-specific information and estimates. |
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1.20.11
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HHS Announces New Funding Opportunity to Assist States in Establishing Exchanges |
On January 20, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced a new funding opportunity for grants to help states continue their work to implement exchanges. States can use the Exchange establishment grants for a number of different activities including conducting background research, consulting with stakeholders, making legislative and regulatory changes, governing the exchange, establishing information technology systems, conducting financial management and performing oversight and ensuring program integrity. There are multiple deadlines for states to apply for this funding. The Exchange establishment funding announcement can be found at www.Grants.gov by searching for CFDA number 93.525. Additional information can be found here. |
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1.12.11: |
IOM Holds First Essential Health Benefits Meeting |
On January 12-14, The National Academies of Science’s Institute of Medicine (IOM) held its first meeting of the Essential Health Benefits Study Committee to discuss the criteria of the essential health benefits package for plans participating in exchanges. To view the agenda from this meeting, as well as slides and audio files from the presentations, click here. |
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1.12.11: |
IOM Holds Second Women’s Preventive Services Meeting |
On January 12, The National Academies of Science’s Institute of Medicine (IOM) held its second meeting of the Preventive Services for Women Study Committee to discuss current prevention guidelines and the gaps that exist in preventive services for women. For additional information on this meeting including the agenda and presentations, click here. |
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November 2010 |
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11.18.10
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HHS Issues Initial Guidance on States Exchanges
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On November 18, HHS issued “Initial Guidance to States on Exchanges.” While Secretary Sebelius intends to issue regulations for public comment, this initial guidance is being provided earlier to assist States and Territories with their overall planning, including legislative plans for 2011. The first Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), which will address many of the basic federal requirements outlined in the initial guidance, is scheduled for publication in the spring of 2011. Additional regulations are scheduled for publication later in 2011 and in 2012. These regulations will be subject to public comment. The initial guidance covers four areas: principles and priorities, outline of statutory requirements, clarifications and policy guidance, and federal support for the establishment of state-based exchanges. To view the initial guidance, click here. |
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11.17.10 |
IOM Holds First Women’s Preventive Services Meeting |
On November 16–17, The National Academies of Science Institute of Medicine (IOM) held its first meeting of Preventive Services for Women Study Committee, which will make recommendations to HRSA on what preventive services for women should be covered at no cost-sharing, as part of implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The committee members include several experts in reproductive health medicine and policy. A full list of Study Committee members can be viewed here. Click on “view full committee roster” on the right-hand side of the page. |
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October 2010 |
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10.26.10
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HHS Funding Available to Increase Access to Primary Care
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HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced the availability of up to $335 million for existing community health centers across the country under the Expanded Services (ES) initiative. These funds are made possible by the Affordable Care Act and will increase access to preventive and primary health care. The Affordable Care Act provides $11 billion in funding over the next 5 years for the operation, expansion, and construction of health centers throughout the nation. Of the $11 billion, $9.5 billion is targeted to creating new health center sites in medically underserved areas and expanding preventive and primary health care services at existing health center sites. An additional $1.5 billion will support major construction and renovation projects at health centers nationwide. Family planning is a core service for all Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). Increasing access to preventive care at these health centers will also improve access to family planning for underserved populations. Health center grantees requesting ES funds must demonstrate how these funds will be used to expand medical capacity and services to underserved populations in their service areas. Click here for grant application information. Applications are due January 6, 2011 at 8 P.M. EST. |
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10.25.10
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KFF Offers Interactive Timeline of ACA Implementation
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The Kaiser Family Foundation recently launched a new tool to help decipher what provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will be implemented when and how the process will work. “The implementation timeline is an interactive tool designed to explain how and when the provisions of the health reform law will be implemented over the next several years.” The timeline can be customized to specific issues and years, allowing users to streamline their search for specific provisions and implementation schedules. To view the timeline, click here. |
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10.1.10 |
Medicaid State Plan Amendments |
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a letter to State Medicaid Directors revising the State Plan Amendment (SPA) review process, in the hopes of expediting it. During the SPA review process other issues may arise that are not related to the SPA. CMS will no longer require that these unrelated issues be resolved before the SPA can move forward. Instead, a separate process to resolve issues arising out of the SPA process but not related to the SPA has now been instituted. To view the letter from CMS, please click here. |
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September 2010 |
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9.30.10 |
Health Insurance Exchanges |
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today awarded nearly $49 million to help 48 states and the District of Columbia plan for the establishment of health insurance exchanges. A key part of the Affordable Care Act, starting in 2014, health insurance exchanges – new, competitive, consumer-centered private health insurance marketplaces – will put greater control and greater choice in the hands of individuals and small businesses. The state-based exchanges will make purchasing health insurance easier by providing eligible consumers and businesses with “one-stop-shopping” where they can compare and purchase health insurance coverage. These grants of up to $1 million each will give states the resources they need to conduct the research and planning needed to build a better health insurance marketplace and determine how their exchanges will be operated and governed. Among many areas of support, the grants will help states to develop partnerships with community organizations to gain public input into the exchange planning process. The grants will also assist states with planning the coordination of eligibility and enrollment systems across Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and the exchanges. This assistance is particularly important as it will help to determine how widely contraception is covered across the exchanges. A fact sheet and list of grant awards to states can be found here. |
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9.28.10 |
Tribal Home Visiting Grant Program |
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) $3 million in Affordable Care Act funds 13 tribes, tribal organizations, and urban Indian organizations through the Tribal Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Grant Program. The Tribal Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Grant Program will help tribes develop and implement high-quality, culturally-relevant, evidence-based home visiting programs in at-risk tribal communities. Home visiting services provided under this grant will help to assure effective coordination and delivery of critical health, development, early learning, child abuse and neglect prevention, and family support services to these children and families in tribal communities through home visiting programs. Some home visiting programs have been shown to result in fewer subsequent unplanned pregnancies and increased intervals between births, by helping parents plan and space future pregnancies that will contribute to improved health, social, and educational outcomes for children. For a complete listing of the grant awards announced today, click here. For more information on the Tribal Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Grant Program,contact tribal.homevisiting@hhs.gov.
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9.27.10 |
Workforce |
HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has announced $320 million in grants under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), to strengthen the health care workforce. Of those grants, $253 million will go to improve and expand the primary care workforce under the Prevention and Public Health Fund. Included in these grants is $31 million for the Advanced Nursing Education Expansion (ANEE), which includes the training of nurse midwives. There is also $14.8 million for Nurse Managed Health Clinics that provide primary care or wellness services to underserved or vulnerable populations. Another $67 million in Health Profession Opportunity Grants, administered by the Administration for Children and Families’ Office of Family Assistance, will provide low-income individuals with education, training and supportive services that will help them prepare to enter and advance in careers in the healthcare sector. While family planning is not explicitly mentioned in any of these workforce grants, the increase in primary care residencies, funding for the ANEE and the nurse managed clinics offer opportunities to address family planning. To view the Prevention and Public Health Fund Workforce Grants award tables by state, click here. To view the Health Profession Opportunity Grants award tables by state, click here.
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9.23.10 |
Important Provisions of New Health Reform Law Go into Effect |
On September 23, a number of new provisions in the Affordable Care Act went into effect, including preventive health services at no cost to the consumer and coverage of young adults until age 26 on parents’ insurance plans. Under the preventive services provision, new health plans beginning on or after September 23, 2010, must cover preventive services that have strong scientific evidence of their health benefits, and these plans may no longer charge a patient a copayment, coinsurance, or deductible for these services when they are delivered by a network provider. Health plans will cover preventive care provided to women under both the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendations and under new comprehensive guidelines currently being developed for evidence-informed women’s preventive care and screening by HHS’ Health Resources and Services Administration and the Institute of Medicine. These new guidelines, which could include family planning services, are expected to be issued by August 1, 2011. For more information on this provision, click here. The dependent coverage provision applies to young adults up to age 26 whether or not they are married, living with their parents, in school, financially dependent on their parents or are eligible to enroll in an employer based plan of their own (grandfathered plans do not have to provide coverage to young adults who are eligible for employer-based coverage until 2014). For more information on this provision, click here. |
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9.7.10 |
Preventive Services |
The National Campaign submitted comments on the Interim Final Regulations (IFR) relating to coverage of preventive services under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), P.L. 111-148. The Interim Final Regulations (IFR) implementing the rules for group health plans and health insurance coverage in the group and individual markets under provisions of the ACA regarding preventive health services were published in the Federal Register on July 14, 2010.
This presents an important opportunity to ensure that family planning services—including contraceptive counseling and the full range of FDA-approved contraceptives and related outpatient services—are put on par with other preventive services and made available to consumers at limited or no-cost.
Public comments on the IFR are due September 14, 2010. Click here to submit comments electronically. |
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August 2010 |
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8.20.10 |
Home Visiting |
On August 20, 2010, HRSA published a supplemental information request for the submission of the statewide needs assessment as required of all states seeking funding under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program. The process for fulfilling requirements necessary to receive FY 2010 Affordable Care Act Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program funding includes three steps. This guidance is the second step in the submission of the required statewide needs assessment and provides instructions for completing the statewide needs assessment required by ACA of all states irrespective of their intention to apply for home visiting grants as a condition for receiving FY 2011 Title V Block Grant allocations. The statewide needs assessments are due September 20, 2010. For a copy of the guidance, click here. |
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8.11.10 |
Medicaid |
Check out the issue brief on Benefits and Cost-Sharing for Adult Medicaid Beneficiaries courtesy of the Kaiser Family Foundation. Learn more about coverage for newly-eligible adults. |
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8.9.10 |
Workforce Training |
HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has announced $159.1 million in grants to health care workforce training programs. These grants build on the multimillion dollar investments made under the Affordable Care Act and Recovery Act to strengthen and grow our primary care workforce. The grants will target three types of programs: Nursing Workforce Development programs; interdisciplinary geriatric education and training programs; and Centers of Excellence programs for underrepresented minority students. For more information about this funding opportunity, click here. |
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July 2010 |
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7.23.10 |
Home Visiting
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On July 23, 2010, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration and the Administration for Children and Families published in the Federal Register a request for public comment on criteria for evidence of effectiveness of home visiting program models for pregnant women, expectant fathers, and caregivers of children birth through kindergarten entry. Final criteria for evidence of effectiveness will be included in the program announcement inviting eligible entities to apply for funding under the Affordable Care Act Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program. Comments may be submitted until August 17, 2010 by email to: HVEE@mathematica-mpr.com. For more details about the request, click here. |
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7.21.10 |
Home Visiting
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The U.S. Department of Human Services (HHS) announced today the award of $88 million in grants, provided under the Affordable Care Act’s Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program to support evidence-based home visiting programs focused on improving the wellbeing of families with young children. Forty-nine states, the District of Columbia, and five territories applied for and were awarded funding under this program to conduct statewide assessments to identify existing home visiting programs and areas of high need. These assessments will then inform how to use these funds to assure effective coordination and implementation of evidence-based high-quality home visiting programs that are designed to improve maternal and child health, foster healthy child development, and prevent child maltreatment. Each state’s portion of these funds is allocated by formula based on the number of young children in families at or below 100% of the federal poverty level in the state as compared to the number of such children nationally. Of the federal funds provided, $500,000 is immediately available to support their needs and resources assessments and to begin planning their programs. For more information, click here. |
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7.14.10 |
Preventive Services |
The U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor, and Treasury issued interim regulations under the Affordable Care Act (P.L. 111-148) today. Under these regulations, new health plans beginning on or after September 23, 2010, must cover preventive services that have strong scientific evidence of their health benefits, and these plans may no longer charge a patient a copayment, coinsurance, or deductible for these services when they are delivered by a network provider. Health plans will cover preventive care provided to women under both the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendations and under new comprehensive guidelines being developed for evidence-informed preventive care and screening by HHS’ Health Resources and Services Administration and an independent group of experts, including doctors, nurses, and scientists. These new guidelines are expected to be issued by August 1, 2011. These interim final regulations are effective 60 days after publication in the Federal Register (Sept. 15, 2010). Public comments are due on or before 60 days after publication in the Federal Register (Sept. 15, 2010). The regulations can be found here. More information on the Affordable Care Act's new rules on preventive care can be found here. |
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7.2.10 |
Medicaid |
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published official guidance on the Medicaid family planning state option provision included in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ("Affordable Care Act"). CMS published the guidance in the form of a State Health Officials (SHO) letter dated July 2, 2010. In its letter, CMS details how states have the option to offer eligibility for family planning to individuals who are otherwise ineligible, including parents with incomes above state-set eligibility levels and non-disabled adults not caring for children. To do so, states may amend their state Medicaid plans without having to seek a waiver under Sec. 1115 of the Medicaid statute. States may claim federal reimbursement for “family planning services” at the 90% matching rate. The letter also clarifies that states may use presumptive eligibility in their programs and that citizenship documentation is not required for presumptive eligibility. Click here for a copy of the CMS Guidance to State Medicaid Directors. |
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7.2.10
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Support for Pregnant and Parenting Teens and Women |
The Office of Adolescent Health (OAH) within the Office of Public Health and Science, is accepting applications from States, which includes the District of Columbia, any commonwealth, possession, or other territory of the United States, and any Indian Tribe or reservation (hereafter referred to as the State), for competitive grants for the development and implementation of programs to assist pregnant and parenting teens and women, as authorized by Sections 10211- 10214 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148). The Act appropriates $25 million for each of fiscal years 2010 through 2019 and authorizes the Secretary of HHS, in collaboration and coordination with the Secretary of Education (as appropriate) to establish and administer a Pregnancy Assistance Fund for the purpose of awarding competitive grants to States to assist pregnant and parenting teens and women. To receive consideration, applications must be received no later than 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time for electronic applications and 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time for mailed-in applications on August 2, 2010. For more information, click here. |
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7.2.10 |
Online Tool for Consumers |
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services today unveiled an innovative new on-line tool that will help consumers take control of their health care by connecting them to new information and resources that will help them access quality, affordable health care coverage. Called for by the Patient Protection Affordable Care Act, HealthCare.gov is the first website to provide consumers with both public and private health coverage options tailored specifically for their needs in a single, easy-to-use tool. |
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June 2010 |
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6.25.10 |
Home Visiting |
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Family Assistance, Child Care Bureau, today announced the availability of Fiscal Year 2010 funds for the Affordable Care Act Tribal Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Grant Program. Funds will support 5-year demonstration grants (cooperative agreements) between ACF and Federally-recognized Indian Tribes (or a consortium of Indian Tribes), Tribal Organizations, or Urban Indian Organizations to conduct needs assessments; develop the infrastructure needed for the widespread planning, adoption, implementation, and sustainability of evidence-based maternal, infant, and early childhood home visiting programs; and provide high-quality, evidence-based home visiting services to pregnant women and families with young children aged birth to kindergarten entry. Up to $3,000,000 in funding for grants in FY 2010, $7,500,000 in FY 2011, $10,500,000 in FY 2012, and $12,000,000 in FY 2013 and FY 2014. Letter of Intent due date is 7/09/2010. Application due date is 7/26/2010. For more information, click here. |
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6.18.10 |
Prevention and Public Health Fund
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On June 18, 2010, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced the second half ($250 million) of the Prevention and Public Health fund investments to support prevention activities and develop the nation’s public health infrastructure. The funding will go to: community and clinical prevention, public health infrastructure, research and tracking, and public health funding. For more information, click here. |
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6.18.10 |
Prevention and Public Health Fund |
On June 18, 2010, HHS Secretary Katleen Sebelius announced the allocation of the first half of the Prevention and Public Health fund ($250 million) to increase the number of clinicians and strengthen the primary care workforce including primary care physicians, physician assistants, and nurses. For more information, click here. |
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6.14.10 |
"Grandfathered” Plans |
On June 14, 2010, HHS, DOL, and Treasury issued a new joint regulation on “grandfathered” plans. A fact sheet about the regulation can be found here. To view the Q&A Fact Sheet, please click here. You can view the regulation here. |
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6.10.10 |
Home Visiting |
On June 10, 2010, The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and the Administration on Children and Families (ACF) issued the first Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for the new Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program, created as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (Affordable Care Act or ACA). This FOA provides instructions for States to submit an application for 2010 funding and is the first of three that will be issued to complete the FY 2010 application process. The anticipated award date award is July 15, 2010. For more information, click here. |
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6.7.10 |
Preventative Services |
This CNN Opinion article features Adam Sonfield from the Guttmacher Institute. The article discusses contraception as a preventive service. To see the article, click here. |
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6.4.10 |
Insurance Plan Transparency |
In response to the 5/5/10 Interim Final Rule on the Web Portal, The National Campaign signed on to the following coalition letter. |
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6.4.10 |
Preventative Services |
Check out the Huffington Post article on family planning as a preventive service that was written by Cecile Richards, President of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. |
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May 2010 |
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5.21.10 |
Preventative Services |
New Fact Sheet: Contraception: An Integral Component of Preventive Care for Women (courtesy of the Guttmacher Institute). To see the fact sheet, click here. |
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5.10.10 |
Dependent Coverage |
On May 10, 2010, the Internal Revenue Service, Department of Labor, and Department of Health and Human Services jointly released interim final regulations on the dependent child coverage extension requirement included in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ("PPACA"). The regulations were published in the Federal Register May 13, 2010 and are effective for plan years beginning on or after September 23, 2010. Comments are due 90 days after Federal Register publication (August 11, 2010). To see the regulations, click here. To see the White House Q&A fact sheet on dependent coverage, click here. |
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5.5.10 |
Insurance Plan Transparency |
On May 5, 2010, HHS issued an interim final rule on the web portal through which individuals can obtain information about insurance coverage options that may be available to them. The interim final rule includes the categories of information that will be collected and displayed as Web portal content. Comments are due 30 days after Federal Register publication (June 4, 2010). For more information, click here. |
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April 2010 |
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4.30.10 |
Medicaid - General |
On April 30, 2010, the final rule was published in the Federal Register relating to State flexibility on services provided under benchmark and benchmark-equivalent plans. Within the final rule included a mandatory requirement to include family planning services coverage. To view the regulation, click here. To view an analysis by the National Women’s Law Center, click here. |
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4.27.10 |
Medicaid Family Planning State Plan Amendment |
The following coalition letter was submitted to CMS Director Cindy Mann with a “Proposed Roadmap to Implementing the Medicaid Family Planning State Option” To view the letter, click here. To view the proposed roadmap, click here. |
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