Starting in 2017, nurse practitioners and physician assistants can train to prescribe buprenorphine for the treatment of opioid use disorder.

Providers approved for a patient limit increase must report on caseload, patients referred to behavioral health care, and their diversion control plan.

Congress seems likely to pass a continuing resolution to fund the government beyond Sept. 30. Lawmakers also are expected to approve funding to combat Zika.

House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the National Trauma System. Opioid legislation cleared both chambers.

Senate appropriators pass HHS spending bill that includes 340B Drug Pricing Program user fee and instructions to HRSA to consider stakeholder input in final mega-guidance.

The legislation would incorporate risk adjustment for socioeconomic status into Medicare's Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program.

Lawmakers are expected to have a busy June that also could include agreement among House and Senate leaders on funding to combat Zika.

Lawmakers are in recess this week following failure of the House to pass a bipartisan budget resolution. Last week, House and Senate committees tackled opioids, disparities, and mental health.

Regulation provides more robust mental health, substance use care options for those in Medicaid alternative benefit plans, CHIP, and Medicaid managed care.

Conservative Freedom Caucus opposes GOP budget plan; Senate-passed bill would combat opioid abuse; health committees work on mental health, Medicare improvement.

Budget plan would improve Medicaid access and coverage and tackle drug pricing, but make damaging Medicare cuts; lawmakers examine Medicaid housing coverage, FMAP, 21st Century Cures, mental health.

Senate Judiciary examines heroin and prescription drug abuse; Winter Storm Jonas delays scheduled House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee hearing on Medicaid FMAP

America's Essential Hospitals and two members systems host congressional staff for round-table discussions about how proposed 340B Drug Pricing Program guidance threatens vulnerable patients and essential hospitals.

The House proposes a budget deal with potentially damaging changes for essential hospitals - the association is fighting these. Paul Ryan expected to be the next speaker of the House. The Senate HELP committee examines mental health.

Planned Parenthood remains an issue in government funding. Congress considers hospital bills, Medicare Part B premiums, medical innovation, health care competition, and Medicaid fraud and abuse, vows to focus on mental health.

States may apply for a Section 1115 Medicaid waiver to support innovative care delivery for substance abuse disorder. SAMHSA, HRSA to also offer funding opportunities.

The House will vote to repeal two major ACA provisions this week - medical device tax and the IPAB - and consider four Medicare Advantage bills. Health committees are reviewing mental health and HIT.

The association submitted comments to CMS supporting expansion of coverage parity to Medicaid alternative benefit plans, CHIP, and Medicare MCOs for dual eligibles. Association urged CMS to ensure equity of service across states, actuarially sound payment rates.

Beneficiaries of Medicaid alternative benefit plans, CHIP, and Medicaid managed care organizations would stand to benefit from more robust mental health and substance use care options.

Plus, senators are concerned with the CMS rating system for Medicare Advantage plans.

The House and Senate vary recesses. Finance Committee approves HHS secretary nominee Sylvia Matthews Burwell. The Senate is expected to vote on her nomination in early June. Congress continues to scrutinize the scandal around several Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals.

The yearlong investigation of the federal government's spending and resources on mental health issues. The report found that individuals with the most severe conditions are less likely to receive treatment for their illness. The investigation was led by Rep. Tim Murphy, chair of the committee's Oversight Subcommittee.

CMS released the final rule with comment period regarding the new Medicare FQHC prospective payment system. The payment system could increase Medicare payments to FQHCs by as much as 32 percent.