Administration Tackles Access to Care, FTC Expands Breach Rule
CMS and HHS fund more access to care while the FTC adjusts the Breach Rule, and 25 medical groups file a brief in SCOTUS abortion access case.
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By - The Biden-Harris administration continues its focus on expanding healthcare access as CMS and HHS announce three new initiatives that increase access to Medicare, Medicaid, and maternal care across the nation.
Meanwhile in the private sector, the growing number of mobile health tech companies have prompted an expansion of the FTC’s Healthcare Breach Rule that now includes mobile apps and devices.
And, major medical groups across the country have presented an amicus brief to the Supreme Court in the Dobbs vs. Jackson case, set to begin December 1st.
FTC Expands Healthcare Breach Rule to Include Apps, Connected Device Companies
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) expanded its Healthcare Breach Rule to include mobile health apps and devices that were not previously covered under HIPAA. Originally, the rule ensured consumers are notified if their personal health information was nefariously accessed, but it did not account for new tech firms that collect health information from customers.
FTC officials have now put companies on notice that participate in health data collection. Beyond data breaches perpetrated by criminals, this rule will penalize companies that share covered information without user consent. Companies that fail to comply with the new scope of the rule face a maximum monetary penalty of $43,792 per violation per day. READ MORE.
CMS Extends Open Enrollment Period, Expanding Healthcare Coverage
CMS moved to enhance access to healthcare by extending open enrollment by 30 days and offering more guidance through its federally facilitated marketplace. The enrollment period for free or low-cost health plans was also expanded for lower-income groups with qualifying wages less than 150 percent of the poverty level.
Users will now have access to an expanded staff of 1,500 expert navigators who assist in educating people on their coverage options and benefits. This expansion to the navigator force is funded by an $80 million grant and a hike in user fees. READ MORE.
Biden-Harris Administration Direct $15 Million to Crisis Prevention
HHS allocated $15 million from the 2021 American Rescue Plan to 20 states for use in crisis management. The funds used by Medicaid will assist experts who handle mental health or substance abuse emergencies.
The goal of the funding is to change how authorities respond to mental health and substance abuse crises by providing support for experts to deal with situations instead of relying only on police. Some of the new programs will also incorporate mobile health tools alongside first responders, to connect experts to incidents as they happen. READ MORE.
HHS Announces $350 Million Effort to Strengthen Maternal and Child Health
HHS allocated $350 million to private and public maternal health organizations across the country. Organizations involved in the funding provide pregnant women and young mothers the resources, education, and supplies they need to support their children. The funding announcement emphasized groups that see higher rates of infant mortality like Black, American Indian, and Alaska Native populations. READ MORE.
25 Medical Groups File Amicus Brief in Dobbs vs Jackson
Prominent US medical organizations have filed an amicus brief in a case challenging the Mississippi law imposing a ban on abortions after 15 weeks. The brief, cosigned by 25 different organizations including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, asks the court to recognize Mississippi’s 2018 abortion law as a dangerous limitation to necessary women’s healthcare. The Supreme Court is set to begin hearing the case on December 1st, 2021. READ MORE.
