From the Administration on Community Living (ACL): Learn more about ACL's Business Acumen Initiative. Medicaid, Medicare, Accountable Care Organizations, private insurers, and other private pay models offer opportunities for community-based organizations to tap into...

YOUR INPUT SOUGHT NEW Pain Management Task Force Draft Report – Due April 1, 2019 The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016 (CARA), requires that the public be given at least ninety (90) days to submit comments on any proposed updates and recommendations...

Integrating Nurses into Complex Care Teams Thursday, January 17, 1:00 pm ET Better Care Playbook NEW CLC Peer Learning Exchange: Building Health Equity in Systems of Care by Engaging Diverse Families, Youth, and Community Organizations Thursday, January 17, 2:00-3:00...

As most readers probably know, a partial government “shut-down” has been caused by a stand-off between congressional Democrats and President Trump over whether to fund a “wall” on the nation’s southern border. At this point, it is not clear how or when the situation...

Maternal and Child Health Bureau Announces Phase 1 Winners of the Challenge The Maternal and Child Health Bureau has selected 7 winners from Phase 1 of the Care Coordination for Children with Special Health Care Needs Challenge. Each Phase 1 winner was awarded a share...

The New Congress For information about the new Congress, see last week’s Update. WORTH REPEATING: Connecting With New and Returning Members of Congress The beginning of a new Congress presents a great opportunity to establish contact with new Representatives and...

Medicaid’s Future Last week, the publication Politico reported that the administration is exploring how it might be able to implement some sort of “block grant” concept in Medicaid without legislation. See Trump Wants to Bypass Congress on Medicaid Plan - Block Grants...

AFFORDABLE CARE ACT The annual open-enrollment season for the federal health insurance exchange (HealthCare.gov) ended on December 15. Some state exchanges are still open for enrollment. TRICARE Government Shutdown: Some Allotment Payments Affected The partial...

Consideration of Pain in Adult and Child Disability Claims The Office of Disability Policy of the Social Security Administration (SSA) is requesting public comments about the consideration and documentation of pain in the medical evidence used in connection with...

Your Input Sought NEW Consideration of pain in adult and child disability claims – Due February 15, 2019 The Office of Disability Policy, Social Security Administration (SSA) has issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) to solicit public comments and...