FDA announces that children aged 6 months through 4 years old who completed primary monovalent COVID-19 vaccination are now eligible to receive a bivalent booster dose, while agency advisers vote in favor of full Paxlovid approval.

To exclude 340B drugs from Medicare Part B inflation rebates required by the Inflation Reduction Act, providers must identify 340B drugs on Medicare claims. 

The decision comes after HHS halted payment determinations following a February court ruling vacating certain provisions of the No Surprises Act.

The guide tailors the 2018 National Institute of Standards and Technology Framework for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity to the health sector.

The report reviews how COVID-19 public health emergency policies affected hospital finances and includes state-specific projections for the Medicaid disproportionate share hospital funding cuts scheduled to take effect Oct. 1.

Per the Inflation Reduction Act, drug manufacturers that increase prices faster than the inflation rate will be required to pay rebates to Medicare.

FDA announced March 10 that it will withdraw and revise several COVID-19 guidance documents, including emergency use authorization of surgical masks, as circumstances surrounding the virus evolve.

The updated guidance highlights the importance of sustaining a QAPI program over time and increasing engagement by the hospital’s governing body.

The voluntary pledge asks institutions to commit to reducing emissions, taking inventory of scope 3 emissions, and developing climate resilience plans.

A bivalent vaccine that protects against SARS-CoV-2 and influenza will not be available this year, while a CDC advisory committee says there is not enough evidence to recommend more than one annual COVID-19 booster for immunocompromised people.

Two proposed rules would extend many flexible provisions enacted during the COVID-19 public health emergency for prescribing controlled substances.

States may start initiating Medicaid renewals between February and April and terminating enrollment for individuals who no longer qualify as early as April 1.

Applications close May 31 for the two-year extension of the Bundled Payments for Care Improvement Advanced voluntary payment model.

CMS proposes to limit the types of Medicaid Section 1115 waiver days that can be included when calculating a hospital’s disproportionate patient percentage.

FDA authorizes the first at-home nasal test that detects influenza A and B as well as COVID-19; Moderna reaches a $400 million agreement with the National Institutes of Health.

The proposed rule implements Section 203, which alters the process for calculating the Medicaid disproportionate share hospital uncompensated care limit.

The order instructs agencies to produce an annual public equity action plan, build agency equity teams, and improve community engagement.

The bulletin advises that arrangements among providers to redistribute Medicaid payments violate the hold harmless provisions of the law.

National Institutes of Health research finds that Black and Hispanic Americans face greater long COVID-19 risks, the CDC says that primary series vaccination protects children ages 3–5 for four months, and Novavax will deliver an additional 1.5 million doses.

The association asked that CMS swiftly make 340B hospitals whole for reduced Medicare Part B reimbursement from 2018 to fall 2022, plus applicable interest.

HHS instructed federal independent dispute resolution entities not to issue new payment determinations in out-of-network billing payment disputes.

The CDC updated the 2023 immunization schedule for children and adolescents to include the COVID-19 primary vaccine series, and the FDA cleared for commercial distribution a device that detects 15 respiratory viral and bacterial infections.

The roadmap outlines which policies implemented under the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) will be affected when the PHE ends May 11.

Drug manufacturers that increase prices faster than the inflation rate must pay rebates to Medicare; comments on this policy are due to CMS March 11.

Following the agenda's release, HHS on Feb. 10 requested information on promising practices for advancing health equity for intersex individuals.

FDA no longer requires a positive COVID-19 test to receive a Paxlovid or Lagevrio prescription; CDC reports that bivalent boosters protect against XBB and XBB.1.5 SARS-Co-V-2 subvariants.