HRSA awards total of $66 million to support behavioral health workforce
Emily Boerger | Jun 11, 2021 | Federal
Pharmacy deserts more common in Black and Hispanic/Latino neighborhoods
Emily Boerger | May 27, 2021 | Federal
A recent Health Affairs study finds pharmacy deserts, defined as neighborhoods with low geographic access to pharmacies, in the United States are more common in Black and Hispanic/Latino neighborhoods compared to white or diverse neighborhoods. The study examined the accessibility of pharmacies across the thirty most populous US cities throughout
Murray laying the groundwork for public option legislation
Michael Goldberg | May 26, 2021 | Federal, Washington
U.S Senator Patty Murray (D – WA) and U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D – NJ) are asking for input on how to structure legislation to develop a public health insurance option. In a letter addressed to the public Wednesday, Murray and Pallone Jr. wrote that they are requesting information on the
Three reversals point to major changes in federal Medicaid policy
James C. Capretta | May 20, 2021 | Federal
The Biden administration’s reversals of three Trump-era Medicaid decisions signal a wholesale change in direction is now underway. While some legal wrangling is likely (and may be protracted), the previous administration’s imprint on the program is certain to fade with time. The new president signed an executive order on January
HHS announces $3 billion in American Rescue Plan funding for SAMHSA block grants to address addiction, mental health crisis
US Department of Health and Human Services | May 19, 2021 | Federal
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is distributing $3 billion in American Rescue Plan funding — the largest aggregate amount of funding to date for its mental health and substance use block grant programs. The Community Mental Health Services Block Grant (MHBG) Program and Substance Abuse Prevention
CDC report highlights disparities in COVID vaccination rates in urban and rural counties
Emily Boerger | May 19, 2021 | Federal
The latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows a nearly 7% difference in COVID-19 vaccination rates between rural and urban counties. Between December 2020 and April 2021, about 45.7% of individuals in urban counties received a vaccine compared to 38.9% in rural counties. The urban-rural
Uncertainty emerges in the 2021 health agenda
James C. Capretta | May 4, 2021 | Federal
President Biden’s health policy agenda got off to a quick start but may slow in the coming months. His proposals to expand Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium subsidies and increase Medicaid support for eligibility expansion are popular positions in his party (although not among Republicans), and thus were included in
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