Search Results for keywords:"Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a final rule detailing changes to regulations associated with the Affordable Care Act (ACA) for the year 2026. This rule covers various elements such as payment parameters, risk adjustment programs, and changes to user fee rates for health plans offered through Exchanges. It also introduces modifications to how quality improvement and medical loss ratio reporting are managed, aiming to enhance health equity, reduce health disparities, and minimize the administrative burden on healthcare providers. These updates are part of ongoing efforts to ensure consumers have access to quality and affordable health coverage.

The Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) is inviting public comments on the continuation and extension of different information collection requests (ICRs) related to employee benefit plans. These ICRs cover various topics, including health plan enrollment notices, multiple employer welfare arrangements, and reporting procedures for top hat plans, among others. The public can submit their comments by March 7, 2025, and these comments will assist the Department in assessing the impact and effectiveness of these information requirements. The ICRs aim to help reduce the public's reporting burden and improve the understanding of the Department's data collection needs.

The National Park Service (NPS) is proposing a new rule to allow bicycles on approximately 79.8 miles of multi-use trails in the Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area. This proposal is part of a comprehensive trail management plan aimed at improving access, accommodating the needs of the growing nearby city of Redding, and reopening trails impacted by the Carr Fire in 2018. The NPS plans to designate these trails for bicycles in a way that balances recreational use with the conservation of natural and cultural resources. Public comments on the proposed rule are being accepted until February 28, 2025.

The Department of Education has announced that it is accepting applications for new awards under the Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) Program for fiscal year 2021. This program aims to support graduate fellowships for students who excel academically and demonstrate financial need in areas of high demand like computer sciences and engineering. Institutions can apply for these grants to provide fellowships for students pursuing advanced degrees. The application process, funding details, eligibility criteria, and award considerations are laid out in the announcement, with deadlines for submissions set for March 1, 2021.

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.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced new income eligibility guidelines for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), effective from July 1, 2025. These guidelines will help State agencies determine if someone can get help from WIC by comparing their family's income to federal poverty levels. The guidelines are updated every year and are linked to the standards set for reduced-price school meals. The notice includes tables with income limits for different areas, such as Alaska, Hawaii, and the 48 contiguous States.

During National School Choice Week in 2025, President Donald J. Trump proclaimed the week of January 26 to February 1 as a time to support educational freedom in the United States. The proclamation highlights the progress made in increasing school choice during his first term, emphasizing the importance of empowering parents to choose the best educational paths for their children, whether in homeschooling, charter, public, or parochial schools. It argues that school choice leads to better educational outcomes, increased safety, and financial savings, aiming to return decision-making to parents and create a more efficient education system. The intent is to inspire a focus on improving America's education for a prosperous future.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is establishing a new system of records to maintain child abuse and neglect investigation records for the Office of Refugee Resettlement's Unaccompanied Children Bureau. The rule exempts this system from certain Privacy Act requirements, like disclosure and access rights, to protect the integrity of investigations and secure sensitive information. HHS explains that these exemptions are necessary to prevent interference with investigations, safeguard the identities of children and informants, and maintain the effectiveness of investigative techniques. The rule will be effective by February 6, 2025, unless adverse comments are received by January 22, 2025.

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has issued a final rule to remove regulations related to the Federal Executive Boards (FEBs), as directed by an Executive Order from 2025 aimed at reducing federal bureaucracy. The FEBs, originally established by President Kennedy to improve government efficiency outside Washington, DC, have officially ceased operations. Property and personnel linked to the FEBs have been reallocated or notified of new procedures. The rule is effective immediately and complies with various legal requirements, although no public input was needed due to the direct presidential directive.

In Executive Order 13969, issued by the President of the United States, it is noted that many children suffered significant educational setbacks due to school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Executive Order highlights the particular challenges faced by children with special needs and those from low-income and minority backgrounds, as well as the economic impact on families. To address these issues, the Secretary of Health and Human Services is directed to use Community Services Block Grant funds to offer emergency learning scholarships to disadvantaged families. These scholarships can help pay for private schooling, homeschooling, or special education services, to ensure that more children have access to quality educational opportunities.