U.S. Supreme Court Hearing on Race-Conscious Admissions

On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court heard five hours of oral arguments on race-conscious admissions in Students for Fair Admission v. Harvard and Students for Fair Admission v. University of North Carolina. Earlier this year, ASAHP joined the Association of American Medical Colleges and 45 health professional and educational organizations in an amicus curiae brief submitted to the U.S. Supreme Court in support of the limited consideration of an applicant’s racial or ethnic background or experiences in higher education admissions. A ruling is expected in June.

A recap by the Chronicle of Higher Education may be accessed here. More details may be accessed at https://www.supremecourt.gov/. The ASAHP supported amicus brief may be accessed here.

Department of Education Releases Final Higher Education Regulations

Last week the Department of Education released a series of regulations on issues including borrower defense to repayment, Pell Grants for prisoner education, and Public Service Loan Forgiveness. The regulations go into effect on July 1, 2023.

The regulations may be accessed here. A Department of Education press release may be accessed here. A fact sheet on improvements to targeted debt relief programs may be accessed here.

Status Of States On Medicaid Program Expansion

The Affordable Care Act allows states the option of expanding Medicaid eligibility to individuals with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level, or just under $19,000 a year for a single person. After more than a decade, however, 12 states have yet to take this step. Commonwealth Fund policy experts provide an update on state efforts to expand Medicaid. 

The update can be obtained at Where Do the States Stand on Medicaid Expansion? | Commonwealth Fund.

Oversight Of Nation’s Poorest-Performing Nursing Homes

As part of the Biden Administration’s continued commitment to improve the safety and quality of care for nursing home residents, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is increasing scrutiny and oversight over the country’s poorest-performing nursing facilities in an effort to improve the care they deliver immediately. 

More information can be obtained at FACT SHEET: Protecting Seniors by Improving Safety and Quality of Care in the Nation’s Nursing Homes - The White House.

Student Loan Debt Relief Application Launches

Today, the student loan debt relief application officially launched. The program provides eligible borrowers with full or partial discharge of loans up to $20,000 to Federal Pell Grant recipients and up to $10,000 to non-Pell Grant recipients.

The application is available here.

COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Declaration Renewed

As a result of the continued consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, Xavier Becerra, Secretary of Health and Human Services, renewed for another 90 days, effective October 13, 2022, the January 31, 2020 determination by former Secretary Alex M. Azar II that a public health emergency exists and has existed since January 27, 2020, nationwide.

Tackling Medical Mistrust Among People Of Color

For generations, racism and mistreatment at the hands of medical professionals have left many people of color distrustful of the health care system. How do clinicians rebuild trust with their patients? The Commonwealth Fund has a new interview a senior behavioral scientist at the RAND Corporation regarding this matter. 

The interview can be obtained at Understanding & Addressing Medical Mistrust Interview Laura Bogart | Commonwealth Fund.

Medicare Advantage and Part D Star Ratings Released

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the 2023 Star Ratings for Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C) and Medicare Part D prescription drug plans to help beneficiaries compare plans ahead of Medicare Open Enrollment, which begins on October 15.

Medicare enrollees can use the Plan Finder tool that is available on Welcome to Medicare | Medicare to compare plan quality through the Star Ratings, along with other information, such as cost and coverage.

Preservation Of DACA

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program was not lawful, but preserved the district court’s stay, which permits current enrollees to continue renewing their status. The ruling refers the case back to the lower court for reconsideration in light of the Biden administration’s release on August 30, 2022 of the final version of regulations designed to strengthen the DACA program.  

The regulations can be viewed at https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2022-18401.pdf.

ASAHP Announces Scholarship of Excellence and Elwood Scholar Award Recipients

Washington, D.C. – Today, the Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions (ASAHP) announced that twelve students, studying in health professions fields, will receive the Scholarship of Excellence Award. In addition, one of those recipients will also receive the 2022 Elwood Scholar Award.  The Scholarship of Excellence Award is bestowed on outstanding individuals students from member institutions who excel in their academic programs and have significant potential to assume future leadership roles in health sciences and health professions. The Elwood Scholar Award was established in 2013 by ASAHP’s Board of Directors in honor of ASAHP’s former Executive Director Thomas Elwood who retired from that position in 2012. Each recipient will receive a $1,000 check and certificate; the Elwood Scholar will receive an additional $1,000 for a total of $2,000.  A committee of ASAHP Past Presidents and Board Members selected the scholarship recipients. The Elwood Scholar Recipient will be recognized at the 2022 ASAHP Annual Conference held October 19-21 at the Westin Long Beach in Southern California.

Kacey Barahona, a student in occupational therapy at The Ohio State University is the recipient of both the Scholarship of Excellence and the Elwood Scholar Award.

The additional Scholarship of Excellence Recipients include:

Caitlyn Swopes – University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (Physician Assistant Studies)

Thanelie Bien-Aime – Seton Hall University (Physical Therapy)

Gabrielle Griffith -- University of Texas Southwestern School of Health Professions (Prosthetics-Orthotics)

Mackenzie Martin – University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (Speech-Language Pathology)

Juan Amieva -- University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (Biomedical Science)

Seth Hagan – University of Kentucky (Physical Therapy)

Rebecca Cole -- East Carolina University (Communication Sciences & Disorders)

Yael Bar-Peled – The University of Alabama at Birmingham (Genetic Counseling)

Leslie Duran – University of Texas Medical Branch (Respiratory Care)

Haley Sweeney - Nova Southeastern University (Physical Therapy)

Gabriella Ware – Western Carolina University (Physical Therapy) 

“I believe these scholarship awards are a testament to the unparalleled quality of health sciences and health professions instruction provided by ASAHP’s member institutions,” said ASAHP President Deb Larsen PhD, FASAHP.  “I offer a hearty congratulations to each of these dedicated recipients who will become our future healthcare leaders.”

Seven of the twelves awards are provided by ASAHP with the remaining five provided in partnership with  the firm of CertifiedBackground.com, a company that offers criminal background check and immunization status check services to member institutions.  

About ASAHP
The Association of School Advancing Health Professions (ASAHP) is a national professional organization of 130 universities and employers focused on critical issues affecting health professions education. ASAHP’s mission is to  advance health professions education and discovery through interprofessional collaboration, leadership, excellence, and innovation.

Contact:
Kristen Truong 
kristen@asahp.org
Director of Public Affairs
ASAHP

The State Of U.S. Health Insurance In 2022

A data brief presents findings from the Commonwealth Fund Biennial Health Insurance Survey to describe the state of Americans’ health insurance coverage in 2022. 

The data brief can be obtained at State of U.S. Health Insurance in 2022: Biennial Survey | Commonwealth Fund.

Senate Finance Committee Releases Text on Expanding the Mental Health Workforce

On Thursday, Members of the Senate Finance Committee released a discussion draft of legislation aimed at expanding the mental health workforce. This discussion draft is the third legislative draft the Finance Committee has released since kicking off its bipartisan mental health initiative.

The press release, with links to the discussion draft text and a two-page summary, may be accessed here.

Unfair Treatment Of Patients Based On Type Of Coverage

A report from the Urban Institute provides a national picture of the extent to which adults with full-year private coverage, full-year public coverage, and who were uninsured all year perceive they are being treated unfairly because of their type of health insurance coverage and other reasons when seeking care. 

The report can be obtained at https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/2022-09/Publicly%20Insured%20and%20Uninsured%20Patients%20Are%20More%20Likely%20to%20Be%20Treated%20Unfairly%20in%20Health%20Care%20Settings%20Because%20of%20Their%20Coverage%20Type.pdf.

State Of Black Students At Community Colleges

According to a new research brief from the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, despite the historic lure to community colleges during previous recessions, Black student enrollment steadily has declined over time and has worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the role of community colleges during economic downturns and the disproportionate enrollment of Black students, it is essential to understand how community colleges can be tools for economic recovery in the context of COVID-19 when Black adults continue to face high unemployment rates. 

The brief can be obtained at https://jointcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/The-State-of-Black-Students-at-Community-Colleges.pdf.

LOAN Act introduced in the House

On Thursday, House Education & Labor Chair Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) and Higher Education and Workforce Investment Subcommittee Chair Frederica Wilson introduced the Lowering Obstacles to Achievement Now (LOAN) Act. The LOAN Act would double the federal Pell Grant, improve the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, make loans less expensive, and lower interest rates.

The bill text is available here, a one-page fact sheet is available here, and a section-by-section is available here.

House Committee Examines U.S. Health System's role in Climate Change

The House Ways and Means Committee released a report detailing the role the U.S. health system plays in climate change. The report, “Health Care and the Climate Crisis: Preparing America’s Health Care Infrastructure”, was based on respondents to a Request For Information that includes climate innovators, providers, and trade associations. A hearing entitled, “Preparing America’s Health Care Infrastructure for the Climate Crisis ” was held on Thursday.

The report and more information may be accessed here. The hearing may be accessed here.

Hospitals Face Worst Year Financially Since Start Of COVID Pandemic

A report issued by the American Hospital Association indicates that as labor shortages and inflation drive up expenses, U.S. hospitals and health systems this year face the worst financial crisis since the COVID-19 pandemic began. 

The report can be obtained at https://www.aha.org/system/files/media/file/2022/09/The-Current-State-of-Hospital-Finances-Fall-2022-Update-KaufmanHall.pdf.

Integrating Behavioral Health With Primary Care

Although behavioral health and physical health are profoundly linked, behavioral health care in the U.S. is usually delivered separately from primary care and the two often are poorly coordinated. A report from the Commonwealth Fund indicates that integrating behavioral health care with primary care can help address this crisis and promote equitable access to behavioral health services.

The report can be obtained at Integrating Primary Care and Behavioral Health to Address Crisis | Commonwealth Fund.