Rural Health Care Program Funding By The FCC

The Federal Communications Commission announced that its Rural Health Care Program will carry forward up to $379.97 million in unused funds from prior years to increase available funding for funding year 2021 and beyond if needed. The commission in 2018 established a process to carry forward past unused funds to meet growing demand for access to health care broadband services, particularly in rural areas. It also increased the program’s annual funding cap and decided to adjust it annually for inflation. The funding cap for funding year 2021 is about $612 million, a 1.2% increase from 2020. The 2021 application filing window was extended from April 1 to June 1 to reduce the burden on providers addressing the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Additional information can be obtained at https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-21-742A1.pdf.

Caps On Medicare-Funded Graduate Medical Education At Teaching Hospitals

A new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) discusses how Medicare sets caps on both of its types of physician graduate medical education (GME) payments (direct and indirect) to teaching hospitals. Caps on these payments determine the number of physician trainees known as residents that each payment type supports. Hospitals can use other sources of funds to train more residents than these caps. Medicare data show that in 2018, 70% of hospitals were over one or both caps on Medicare-funded residents, and 20% of these facilities were under one or both caps. 

The report can be obtained at https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-21-391.pdf.

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Senate Bill Would Permanently Allow Students to Vaccinate

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On Thursday, Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced the Student Assisted Vaccination Effort (SAVE) Act, which extends existing emergency provisions and makes permanent the ability of health professions students to vaccinate during federally declared public health emergencies. Specifically, the bill would allow medical, nursing, pharmacy, pharmacy intern, midwife, paramedic, advanced or intermediate emergency medical technician, physician assistant, respiratory therapy, dental, podiatry, optometry or veterinary students, with appropriate training and supervision, to administer vaccines. The SAVE Act is supported by Students Assist America (SAA), an interprofessional initiative of 12 associations, including ASAHP.

The Students Assist America press release may be accessed here and bill details may be accessed here.

MACPAC June 2021 Report Issued

The Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) released its June 2021 Report to Congress on Medicaid and CHIP, recommending that Congress take measures to address the effect of high-cost specialty drugs on state Medicaid programs and to take steps that would improve access to mental health services for adults, children, and adolescents enrolled in Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). 

The report can be obtained at https://www.macpac.gov/news/macpac-releases-june-2021-report-to-congress/.

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Preparing for the Next Pandemic: Strengthening the U.S. Public Health System

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On Tuesday, June 29, 2021, from 11am to 12:30pm Eastern, the Bipartisan Policy Center will hold a webinar on “Preparing for the Next Pandemic: Strengthening the U.S. Public Health System”. Participants include Judy Monroe, M.D., President and CEO of the CDC Foundation, Dan Crippen, Ph.D., former Director of the Congressional Budget Office, Margaret Hamburg, M.D., former Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, and others.

More information and registration may be accessed here.

Medicare Payment Advisory Commission June 2021 Report Issued

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission issued its June report to Congress. Ten chapters include topics, such as Medicare beneficiaries’ access to care in rural areas, Medicare’s indirect medical education payment policy, and coverage of and payment policies for preventive vaccines. 

The report can be obtained at jun21_medpac_report_to_congress_sec.pdf.

Report On Physician Shortages

The Association of American Medical Colleges has released its annual report containing physician workforce shortage projections. The 2021 update of The Complexities of Physician Supply and Demand: Projections from 2019 to 2034 projects a shortfall of 37,800 to 124,000 physicians by 2034. That shortage includes shortfalls of 17,800 to 48,000 primary care physicians and 21,000 to 77,100 specialists. The report’s data were gathered before the COVID-19 pandemic, which exacerbated challenges to the nation’s health care system.

The report can be obtained at The Complexities of Physician Supply and Demand: Projections From 2019 to 2034 (aamc.org).

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Senate Hearing on Supporting Higher Education Students and Returning to Campus

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On Thursday, June 17, at 10am Eastern, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee will hold a hearing entitled, “COVID-19 Response and Recovery: Supporting the Needs of Students in Higher Education & Lessons on Safely Returning to Campus on Safely Returning to Campus”.

The hearing will be available to watch live here.

HRSA Awards Funds To Strengthen The Behavioral Health Workforce

This week the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announced $22 million in awards to 56 recipients. Thanks to the American Rescue Plan, it brings the total funding to $66 million for 168 organizations. Recipients will train graduate-level students in social work, psychology, and other behavioral and mental health disciplines to work with vulnerable populations, particularly children, adolescents, and transitional-aged youth at risk for behavioral health disorders through placements at health centers and other community-based settings. 

More information can be obtained at https://www.hrsa.gov/about/news/press-releases/arp-behavioral-health-workforce-education-training-underserved-communities.

Retail Prices Of Prescription Drugs Widely Used By Older Americans

A new report from AARP shows that average annual increases in the retail prices of widely used brand name prescription drugs have consistently exceeded the general inflation rate since at least 2006. 

The report can be obtained at https://www.aarp.org/content/dam/aarp/ppi/2021/06/trends-in-retail-prices-of-brand-name-prescription-drugs-widely-used-by-older-americans.10.26419-2Fppi.00143.001.pdf.

House Ways and Means Committee Hearing on FY22 HHS Budget

The House Ways and Means Committee held a hearing on “the President's Proposed Fiscal Year 2022 Budget with the Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra.” Telehealth was a hailed as an area to continue post-pandemic as it improved accessibility to healthcare.  

Rep. Dwight Evans (D-PA) also discussed his “Mentoring and Supporting Families Act,” which would amend the Health Profession Opportunity Grants program to require career coaching services, mentoring/peer support, and give priority to grant applications that offer a cash stipend. A majority of the hearing focused on Medicare, COVID response, health insurance, surprise medical billing, drug pricing, unaccompanied minors, nursing homes, and mental health.

Read the full memo here.

AHCAS June Sessions

ASAHP and Liaison are inviting you to register for an AHCAS Education Session. As was offered in March, Liaison will hold another round of Education Sessions on June 22, 23, 24 from 9:00 am–4:00 pm ET. During these 1:1 Education Sessions, Liaison will demo these FREE tools and services, all of which advance and enhance the application process for applicants and the admissions management and selection of them. Select the 60-minute session that works best for you. Whether you have certificate, undergraduate, or graduate programs, AHCAS can provide your applicants with a simple, yet meaningful experience—setting the right tone for the relationship between them and the institution of their choice. Once you are registered for a session, Mark Chalmers of Liaison will connect with you personally to confirm the session and provide details. If you have any interest in joining the service, please also feel free to fill out the attached form and return to me.

Sign up for a session here.

IPEC Summer Member Meeting Report

The 2021 Summer Member Meeting of the Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) Council took place virtually on-line on Tuesday, June 1, 2021.  The Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions (ASAHP) was represented at the meeting by President Dr. Phyllis King, Interprofessional Task Force Chair Dr. Anthony Breitbach and Director of Public Affairs Kristen Truong.

View full meeting report written by Dr. Anthony Breitbach here.

President's FY 2022 Budget Proposal Released

Today, the Biden-Harris Administration released their FY 2022 Budget Proposal. The $6 trillion budget request calls for $845.384 million for the Title VII and Title VIII HRSA health workforce programs, a  $91.384 million (12.1%) increase from FY 2021 enacted levels. This includes an increase of $3.8 million (9%) for geriatric programs and a $75 million (50%) increase for mental and behavioral health and the BHWET program.

The President’s budget proposal may be accessed here. A fact sheet may be accessed here. A funding table on Title VII and Title VIII HRSA proposed funding may be accessed here. ASAHP’s coverage of the President’s FY 22 Budget Outline issued last month may be accessed here.

ASAHP Launches Interprofessional Collaboration Research Grant Program

ASAHP’s Research Committee is now accepting applications for the Interprofessional Collaboration Research Grant Program. The grant’s goal is to support innovative research projects with the highest potential to produce new knowledge and paradigms towards success in interprofessional collaboration. Projects should involve at least two and preferably more health professions. The most competitive applications will be designed as scalable projects with potential outcomes which can be broadly applied and implemented by ASAHP member institutions.

Eligibility: The Principal Investigator (PI) must be a full-time faculty in an ASAHP member institution. Applicants may serve as PI on only one grant application.

Award: Grants may be awarded in the range of $5,000-$25,000. Awards will be provided for one year of support. The number of grants and grant amount awarded will ultimately depend on the quality, potential outcome(s) and total cost. Funds cannot be used for indirect costs or F&A.

Deadline: Applications must be received via electronic submission to the Association of School Advancing Health Professions by 8:00pm ET on July 10, 2021. Proposals received by the deadline will be reviewed by a committee of educational researchers.

Learn more about the program here.

Congressional Committees Announce Plans for a Public Option Proposal

Today, the Senate HELP Committee and House Energy and Commerce Committee announced plans to develop legislation establishing a public health insurance option. The Committees have issued a Request for Information letter to all interested parties, with responses to eight questions due by July 31, 2021.

The press release may be accessed here and the letter may be accessed here.

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Health Equity Tracker Launches

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A new project from Morehouse college, backed by Google, Gilead, and others, aims to advance health equity by identifying, understanding, and responding to health inequities in a way that will allow every person to live well and long from generation to generation. The Health Equity Tracker project currently provides COVID-19 data by race, ethnicity, age, and sex.

The Health Equity Tracker may be accessed here.

Department of Education Announces Public Hearings on Higher Education Regulations

On Monday the U.S. Department of Education announced that it will hold virtual public hearings on June 21, 23, and 24 to receive stakeholder feedback on potential issues for future rulemaking sessions. The announcement is the first step in the process of issuing new regulations. Following the public hearings, the Department will solicit nominations for negotiators who can serve on the negotiated rulemaking committees which will convene in late summer 2021. The Department said it invites comment on any regulatory issue that that can improve outcomes for students, especially borrowers. The Department listed the following potential topics:

  • Ability to benefit

  • Borrower defense to repayment

  • Certification procedures for participation in federal financial aid programs

  • Change of ownership and change in control of institutions of higher education

  • Closed school discharges

  • Discharges for borrowers with a total and permanent disability

  • Discharges for false certification of student eligibility

  • Financial responsibility for participating institutions of higher education, such as events that indicate heightened financial risk

  • Gainful employment

  • Income-contingent loan repayment plans

  • Mandatory pre-dispute arbitration and prohibition of class action lawsuits provisions in institutions’ enrollment agreements

  • Pell Grant eligibility for prison education programs

  • Public service loan forgiveness

  • Standards of administrative capability

The press release may be accessed here. More information, including registration links for the negotiated rulemaking public hearings, may be accessed here.

Priorities And Barriers To Mental Health And Addiction Treatment

A new national poll conducted by the Bipartisan Policy Center and Morning Consult on patients’ experiences receiving mental health and substance use treatment services during the pandemic reaffirms the challenges Americans face in accessing affordable and available treatment.

Survey results can be obtained at https://bipartisanpolicy.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/BPC-MC-FINAL-Slide-deck-on-Mental-Health-Analysis-Poll.pdf.