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The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has extended the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act Declaration related to COVID-19. This extension, effective January 1, 2025, provides liability immunity to certain individuals and organizations involved in developing, manufacturing, distributing, and using medical countermeasures against COVID-19 and related health threats until December 31, 2029. It also clarifies the roles of licensed pharmacists and other healthcare providers in administering vaccines and therapeutics, ensuring continued access to critical medical interventions even after the formal public health emergency has ended.

The National Institutes of Health announced a change to the meeting schedule of the Cancer Genetics Study Section. The meeting, originally set to start at 8:00 a.m. on February 22, 2021, will now start at 9:30 a.m., ending the next day at 5:00 p.m., but the location remains the same at Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD. This announcement was previously reported in the Federal Register on January 22, 2021, and the meeting remains closed to the public.

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences has announced that the National Advisory Environmental Health Sciences Council will hold a meeting on April 22, 2025. The meeting will be closed to the public because it involves discussions on confidential grant applications that could reveal trade secrets and personal information. It will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the NIEHS in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, with virtual attendance options. Interested individuals may submit written comments ahead of the meeting.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is setting January 1, 2028, as the compliance date for new food labeling regulations published between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2026. This decision helps reduce the economic impact on the food industry by allowing time to adjust to the new labeling requirements. The FDA has not made any environmental impact assessments, as this action is considered non-significant in that regard. The announcement is effective immediately, but public comments can be submitted until March 3, 2025.

The Indian Health Service (IHS), part of the Department of Health and Human Services, is requesting public comments on its plan to extend an information collection program. This program, identified by OMB Control Number 0917-0036, collects qualitative feedback on customer and stakeholder satisfaction to improve agency services. The notice invites feedback on various aspects, such as the necessity and burden of the information collection, and whether it enhances service quality. Comments are due by April 2, 2025, and the IHS ensures the collection is voluntary, low-cost, and does not involve sensitive questions.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced the issuance of a priority review voucher to SpringWorks Therapeutics, Inc. for their drug GOMEKLI (mirdametinib). This drug is used to treat adults and children 2 years and older who have neurofibromatosis type 1 with symptomatic plexiform neurofibromas. The priority review voucher is awarded under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to incentivize companies to develop treatments for rare pediatric diseases. The notice was officially filed on March 12, 2025.

The National Library of Medicine is holding a closed meeting on April 17, 2025, from 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. This meeting is part of a review and evaluation of grant applications and will be conducted virtually. The discussions will include confidential topics such as trade secrets and personal information, which is why the meeting will not be open to the public. Zoe E. Huang, the Chief Scientific Review Officer, will be the contact person for this event.

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) released a notice of petitions received under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. This notice is required by the Public Health Service (PHS) Act, and it lists various petitions filed for compensation due to injuries allegedly caused by vaccines. The petitions are reviewed by the United States Court of Federal Claims, which involves special masters assessing evidence and making initial decisions on compensation eligibility. Individuals can submit relevant information regarding the petitions, and this list includes details such as petitioner's name, location, and case number.

The National Institutes of Health announced in the Federal Register that several meetings will be held to review grant applications. These meetings are organized by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences. The meetings will take place in April 2025 and will be held virtually. They will involve discussions that are closed to the public to protect confidential and private information.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has issued a final rule revising the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS). This rule mandates that state Title IV-E agencies collect and report more detailed data related to the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) for children in foster care. The aim is to better understand the experiences and outcomes for American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) children and to improve culturally responsive care. States are given a three-year timeframe to implement these changes, which will take effect on October 1, 2028.