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State Authorization, Gainful Employment, Ability To Benefit Comments Due Tuesday

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Comments on the Department of Education's proposed regulations covering state authorization, gainful employment, ability to benefit, and more are due no later than Tuesday, June 20. There is concern that, as written, there could be a significant impact on reciprocity for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA)-participating institutions and SARA member states. Also, Section §668.16(r) addresses Administrative Capability-Accessible Clinical or Externship Opportunities. The National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) has posted its comment letter here, and maintains a call-to-action page here which should be helpful to institutions when preparing their own comments.

Comments may be submitted here.

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House Committee Hearing on Postsecondary Education

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On Wednesday, the House Education and the Workforce Committee’s Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development held a hearing on “Postsecondary Innovation: Preparing Today’s Students for Tomorrow’s Opportunities”. Issues discussed included dual enrollment, competency based education, online education, and financial aid. Dr. Tim Renick, Executive Director, National Institute for Student Success, Georgia State University and a speaker at ASAHP’s 2018 conference, was one of the four witnesses.

Our memo on the hearing may be accessed here.

Factors Driving Physician Practice Acquisition

Escalating costs associated with managing their own practice coupled with burdensome insurer policies and regulatory requirements are some factors driving physicians to seek employment in other practice settings, according to a new report released by the American Hospital Association. 

The report can be obtained at https://www.aha.org/system/files/media/file/2023/06/fact-sheet-examining-the-real-factors-driving-physician-practice-acquisition.pdf.

2023 ASAHP Scholarship of Excellence Deadline Extended

Each year, ASAHP offers a scholarship program for health professions students enrolled in its member institutions. The purpose is to recognize outstanding students in the health professions who are achieving excellence in their academic programs and have significant potential to assume future leadership roles in health professions. Each student chosen for an award will receive a $1,000 scholarship. The most exemplary Scholarship of Excellence recipient will also receive the “Elwood Scholar” award, qualifying an additional $1,000 in scholarship funds. We are now accepting applications for this year’s awards. The deadline has been extended from Friday, June 16, 2023.

More information may be accessed here.

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2023 Award for Innovation and Excellence in Clinical Education Deadline Extended

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Deadline extended through June 15, 2023.

Through the award for innovation and excellence in clinical education, the Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions (ASAHP) looks to recognize an institutional member along with its clinical partner for innovation and excellence in clinical education.  As the inaugural award, all ideas are welcome.  Applicants will have the option to concurrently submit for the poster session at the upcoming ASAHP annual conference, October 17-19, 2023 in Fort Lauderdale Beach, Florida. 

Learn more here.

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NC-SARA Webinar on Department of Education Proposed Rule Covering State Authorization

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On Thursday, June 1 at 2pm Eastern, the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) will host a webinar entitled, “Department of Education Draft Regulations and SARA: What To Know”. The webinar will examine how the Department of Education’s proposed rule, issued May 19, could affect State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements. The public comment period on the proposed regulations is now open now, with comments due no later than June 20.

More details including registration may be accessed here.

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House Committee Hearing on the President’s FY 24 Education Budget Request

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On Tuesday, the House Education and Workforce Committee held a nearly five-hour hearing with testimony from Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, his first appearance before the Committee this Congress. The hearing was contentious at times, and covered issues such as oversight, student loans, parental rights, transgender participation in sports, community colleges, apprenticeships, and workforce Pell.

Our memo on the hearing may be accessed here. 

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Department of Education Releases Proposed Gainful Employment Regulations

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On Wednesday, the Department of Education released its proposed gainful employment and ability to benefit regulations. The proposed regulations, which also includes rules on financial responsibility, administrative capability, and certification procedures, will be published in the Federal Register today, and comments may be submitted over a period of 30 days. The Department expects to finalize the rules later this year. Rules finalized by November 1, 2023, will go into effect on July 1, 2024.

The Department of Education’s press release may be accessed here.

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Department of Education Update on Third Party Servicers

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On Tuesday, the Department of Education issued a Dear Colleague Letter on Third-Party Servicers. Like the Department’s April 11 blog post, the letter states the Department plans to issue a final revised Dear Colleague Letter with an effective date at least six months after its publication.

The Dear Colleague Letter may be accessed here and the April 11 blog post may be accessed here.

Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Recruitment And Retention

The U.S. House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs subcommittees on Health and Oversight and Investigations held a joint oversight hearing titled "VHA Recruitment and Retention: Is Bureaucracy Holding Back a Quality Workforce?" on Wednesday, May 17, 2023. 

Testimonies from witnesses at this event can be obtained at https://docs.house.gov/Committee/Calendar/ByEvent.aspx?EventID=115928.

 

U.S. Behavioral Health Workforce Shortage

Many Americans are unable to obtain needed care for behavioral health. A new report from the Commonwealth Fund discusses different types of behavioral health providers in the U.S., barriers faced in obtaining services, and ways in which the U.S. can bolster the workforce to meet the growing demand for care. 

The can be obtained at Understanding the U.S. Behavioral Health Workforce Shortage | Commonwealth Fund.

Lack of Men of Color Graduating From the Health Professions Declared a Crisis by Association CEOs

Washington, DC―The Federation of Associations of Schools of the Health Professions (FASHP) has declared the low number of historically underrepresented men of color (HUMOC) graduating and entering the health care professions a national crisis. Representing CEOs of national academic health professions associations, FASHP has released a consensus statement addressing this critical issue. FASHP is calling on local and national educational, health care, governmental and community leaders to raise awareness regarding this critical issue and to identify barriers and provide resources to dramatically increase the number of men of color graduating from the academic health professions.

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Brookings Institution Webinar on Affirmative Action and the Future of College Admissions

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On Tuesday, May 23, at 2pm Eastern, the Brookings Institution will hold an online-only event on “Affirmative Action and the Future of College Admissions”. The event will feature leading education experts to explore the history of affirmative action in higher education, how affirmative action fits in a broader system of admissions criteria, and the likely impact of the Supreme Court’s decisions on college enrollment.

Details and registration may be accessed here.

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Call for Proposals: 2023 ASAHP Interprofessional Collaboration Grant

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The Interprofessional Collaboration Grant, created by ASAHP’s Research, Discovery, and Innovation Committee, supports 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.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE: 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. Only one application may be submitted per ASAHP Member Institution.

AWARD AMOUNT: We expect to fund 2-3 awards up to $30,000 per award

GRANT PERIOD: September 1, 2023 - August 31, 2024

APPLICATION DEADLINE: June 15, 2023

Learn more and apply here.

FAQs For End Of COVID-19 Public Health Emergency

The Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) is planning for the federal public health emergency for COVID-19 to expire at the end of the day on May 11, 2023. CMS issued Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for all CMS programs, including Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and private insurance to help in preparing for the transition. 

The FAQs can be obtained at CMS PHE FAQs.

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ACE Panel on Preparing for the Supreme Court's Race in Admissions Ruling

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Earlier this month, the American Council on Education (ACE) held a panel discussion aimed at helping campus leaders prepare for the outcome of the race in admissions cases the U.S. Supreme Court heard on October 31, 2022.

More details including a transcript of the panel session may be accessed here.

Medicaid And Beneficiary Work Requirements

A new blog from The Commonwealth Fund discusses the potential impact of requiring adults ages 19-55 without dependents to meet work requirements as a condition of Medicaid eligibility. This provision was included in legislation passed this week in the House of Representatives to address the debt limit. 

The blog can be obtained at Congress’s Repeated Attempts to Create Medicaid Work Requirements| Commonwealth Fund.