Search Results for keywords:"Department of Health and Human Services"

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), part of the Department of Health and Human Services, is awarding around $20 million to the World Health Organization (WHO), with the total expected funding to reach approximately $100 million over five years. This funding will help CDC and WHO work together to improve the world's ability to detect, respond to, and prevent infectious diseases. The focus is on building infrastructure and preparing for disease outbreaks, using WHO's global network to support these efforts. The award period is from September 2025 to September 2030.

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), a part of the Department of Health and Human Services, has issued a request for information (RFI) to explore the impact of ageism in healthcare. The agency seeks public input on how age-related stereotypes and biases affect health care quality and access. AHRQ is interested in learning about innovative strategies to address these challenges, with responses informing future research and policies to improve healthcare for older adults. The public can submit their comments until March 15, 2025, but the agency will not respond individually to submissions.

The Department of Health and Human Services has updated the name of the child support program from the Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) to the Office of Child Support Services (OCSS). This change aligns the program with its commitment to support entire families rather than just enforce child support. Additionally, the rule removes outdated terms and updates sections of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) to reflect the new name and facilitate modern Tribal processes and reporting for child support programs. These updates aim to enhance family self-sufficiency and clarity in regulations without imposing any financial impact.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), part of the Department of Health and Human Services, has awarded approximately $5 million to the Ponce Health Sciences Foundation in Puerto Rico. This funding, expected to total $25 million over five years, will support research and surveillance on diseases spread by mosquitoes, like dengue virus. The Ponce Health Sciences Foundation is uniquely positioned to carry out this work due to its existing infrastructure and community trust. The project's goals include improving disease tracking, studying special populations like children and pregnant women, and enhancing collaboration with local stakeholders.

The final rule from the Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services allows Veterans Affairs (VA) practitioners to prescribe controlled substances to VA patients via telemedicine without needing an in-person medical evaluation by the prescribing practitioner. This is permissible if another VA practitioner has conducted an in-person evaluation. This change provides greater access to care for veterans, especially those in rural or underserved areas, while still implementing safeguards against the misuse of controlled substances. The rule includes requirements for reviewing the patient's electronic health record and state prescription drug monitoring program data before prescribing.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced changes to the way it manages records about unaccompanied children in federal custody due to their immigration status. The updated system, now called the ORR Unaccompanied Children Bureau (UCB) Administrative Program Records, aims to enhance privacy protections and clarify routine uses of data, especially concerning law enforcement and child welfare investigations. The revisions prohibit using children's information for immigration enforcement purposes without consent and specify situations where information can be shared, like health care coordination or missing children investigations. These changes are part of HHS's ongoing efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of unaccompanied children.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is asking for information to help improve testing for Lyme disease. They want to know about the current technology and challenges involved in creating better tests. The HHS, through its Lyme Innovation initiative and the LymeX Innovation Accelerator, is working on partnerships to develop new diagnostic tools. The information gathered will be used to help create incentives and partnerships to develop advanced tests for Lyme disease.

The Department of Health and Human Services has announced changes to the drug testing panels used in Federal workplace testing programs. The revised panels now include fentanyl and its metabolite norfentanyl, reflecting changes in drug use patterns and safety concerns, particularly related to the opioid crisis. Although there was a proposal to remove MDMA and MDA from the tests due to their low detection rates, this has been postponed for further study. These updates aim to improve the accuracy and relevance of drug tests, balancing scientific evidence, and public input to maintain workplace safety.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has updated its Statement of Organization for the Office of the General Counsel (OGC). This update clarifies the roles, responsibilities, and structure of the OGC, including the addition of their participation in the Inter-Agency False Claims Act Working Group. Key components such as the Mission, Organization, and Functions of the OGC are detailed, emphasizing the legal services provided to the Secretary and other parts of the department. The revised document also outlines how it nullifies all previous statements of organization.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has proposed new rules to revise health insurance standards under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. These changes focus on improving the integrity of insurance marketplaces, especially concerning eligibility and enrollment systems. Key revisions include stricter policies on past-due premium payments and a proposal to exclude Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients from health coverage through marketplaces. Additionally, the proposal aims to strengthen oversight on agents and brokers to prevent improper enrollments, which are believed to have cost taxpayers billions of dollars in recent years.