World AIDS Day

December 1st:  HRSA commemorated World AIDS Day, the theme of which was “World AIDS Day 35: Remember and Commit”.  During HRSA’s Today with McCrae webcast, Dr. Laura Cheever from the HIV AIDS Bureau shared key accomplishments from the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program:

• The program served nearly 560,000 people with HIV in 2022, over half of all people with diagnosed HIV in the U.S.
• Of RWHAP clients receiving HIV medical care, 89.6% were virally suppressed, which means they can live longer and healthier lives without fear of sexually transmitting HIV to their partners.
• The percentage of Black/African American clients, Hispanic/Latino clients, and youth and young adult clients receiving care through the program and achieving viral suppression all far exceed overall national viral suppression rates.

On World AIDS Day, HHS through HRSA released the latest Ryan White/AIDS Program data, including the accomplishments noted above.  Read the full press release here.

Source:  HRSA, HHS

OIG Updated General Compliance Program Guidance

In November, the OIG published their updated General Compliance Program Guidance (“GCPG”), the first major update to their guidance materials in 15 years. This resource is the first-ever comprehensive compliance program guidance that would apply across all healthcare stakeholders, including traditional healthcare providers and facilities, as well as managed care plans, pharmaceutical manufacturers and contracted service providers.  The GCPG is the first of a series of compliance guidances anticipated to be issued by the OIG. This first issuance contains 91 pages of general compliance guidance, tools and references addressed to all varieties of federal health care program providers and suppliers. Its issuance will be followed by compliance guidance addressed to multiple health care industry subsectors

Access the General Compliance Program Guidance here.

Source: OIG

Inflation Reduction Act Catalytic Program

The HHS Office of Climate Change and Health Equity (OCCHE) will launch a “catalytic program” early next year to support health care organizations, including health centers, in taking advantage of the tax credits, grants, and other supports made available by the historic Inflation Reduction Act.

Details on this initiative were provided during a November 30th information session, the recording of which can be found via this link.

You can sign up for all or some of the community health center breakout sessions, which will consider content from the preceding national session through the lens of community health centers, at this link. These sessions will occur on the following schedule:

Session 1 (February 1, 2024, 1-2pm eastern)

Session 2 (February 15, 2024, 1-2pm eastern)

Session 3 (February 29, 2024, 1-2pm eastern)

Session 4 (March 14, 2024, 1-2pm eastern)

Session 5 (March 28, 2024, 1-2pm eastern)

Session 6 (April 11, 2024, 1-2pm eastern)

You can sign up for all or some of the rural provider breakout sessions, which will consider content from the preceding national session through the lens of rural providers, at this link. These sessions will occur on the following schedule:

Session 1 (February 1, 2024, 2-3pm eastern)

Session 2 (February 15, 2024, 2-3pm eastern)

Session 3 (February 29, 2024, 2-3pm eastern)

Session 4 (March 14, 2024, 2-3pm eastern)

Session 5 (March 28, 2024, 2-3pm eastern)

Session 6 (April 11, 2024, 2-3pm eastern)

Source: HHS

New Medicare Opportunities in 2024

Health centers should take note of upcoming changes with Medicare starting Monday, January 1, 2024:

• Marriage and family therapists and mental health counselors may bill Medicare directly and be paid as FQHC practitioners and receive the FQHC prospective payment rate.
• CMS approved new services to address the health-related social needs of Medicare beneficiaries.
• They closed a behavioral health coverage gap when patients require more intense services than traditional outpatient therapy.
• FQHCs may receive payment for intensive outpatient program services under Medicare.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently released the Calendar Year (CY) 2024 Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule. Many of the telehealth flexibilities that practitioners had during the COVID-19 public health emergency will continue until the end of 2024. For more information on telehealth policies, visit Telehealth.HHS.gov.  For more information on the CY2024 MPFS Final Rule, click here.

Source: Telehealth.HHS.gov