HHS Announces $103 Million to Reduce Burnout and Promote Wellness in Healthcare Workforce
The U.S. Health and Human Services Department (HHS) this week announced it will award $103 million in
American Rescue Plan funding for evidence-informed programs, practices, and training to retain healthcare workers, reduce burnout, and promote health and wellness among the nation’s healthcare workforce.
HHS’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) will disburse the funding to 45 grantees and focus especially on healthcare providers in underserved and rural communities, according to HHS.
“I have traveled to many health centers across the country and know that the Covid-19 pandemic has intensified issues that have long been a source of stress for frontline healthcare workers — from increased patient volumes to long working hours,” HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said in an announcement. “This funding reflects the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to ensuring we have enough critical frontline workers by supporting healthcare providers now and beyond as they face burnout and mental health challenges. We will continue to promote the well-being of those who have made so many sacrifices to keep others well.”
HRSA is awarding the funds through the following three programs:
Promoting Resilience and Mental Health Among Health Professional Workforce,
Health and Public Safety Workforce Resiliency Training Program, and
Health and Public Safety Workforce Resiliency Technical Assistance Center. Click
here to see the list of award recipients.
Also this week, the National Academy of Medicine released a
Resource Compendium for Health Care Worker Well-Being, a collection that highlight tools and strategies to address healthcare worker burnout.
HHS Announces $13 Million to Improve Behavioral Healthcare Access in Rural America
HHS this week also announced it will award $13 million through HRSA to increase access to behavioral healthcare services in rural America, including through evidence-based, trauma-informed treatment for substance use disorder.
These funds, similar to the funds to address healthcare worker burnout and wellness, are available through last year’s
American Rescue Plan.
“Our response to the Covid-19 pandemic must include meeting the behavioral health needs of individuals experiencing substance use disorder,” HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson said in an announcement. “In rural areas, accessing the care and services to address these needs can be a particular challenge,” she added. “The funding we are announcing today is directly targeted to the community needs of rural areas and will help expand access to behavioral health services to meet these needs.”
HRSA’s Federal Office of Rural Health Policy will make the awards available through the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program-Behavioral Health Care Support.
Interested applicants must apply by Tuesday, April 19 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Click
here for more information.
CMS Seeks Comments on Time and Distance Standards for Network Adequacy in Marketplace Insurance Plans
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is requesting comments on proposals that the agency made regarding specific standards for outpatient, clinical behavioral health providers, psychiatrists, and inpatient or residential behavioral health facilities among other provider types in qualified health plans offered in the federally qualified health insurance exchanges.
Earlier this month, CMS released its Qualified Health Plan Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters proposed
rule for 2023. In it, CMS proposed specific time and distance standards for measuring network adequacy in qualified health plans offered in federally facilitated exchanges. Federally facilitated exchanges are offered in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
The agency proposed time and distance standards for behavioral healthcare providers in a draft
letter to issuers that clarifies specific provisions in the proposed rule. See pages 11 and 12 in the letter for proposed time and distance standards.
Please send any comments regarding these proposals to
Kirsten Beronio, NABH’s director of policy and regulatory affairs, Director of Policy and Regulatory Affairs, before next
Thursday, Jan. 27.
The Joint Commission Publishes Covid-19 Vaccination Requirement FAQs
The Joint Commission (TJC) has released a series of Covid-19 vaccination requirement
resources and frequently asked questions (FAQs) for providers.
Beginning Jan. 27, TJC will start surveying to CMS’ Covid-19 vaccination healthcare staff vaccination interim final rule in all of the Commission’s applicable program surveys. As TJC noted in its announcement about the FAQs, “the CMS Covid-19 vaccination requirements apply to organizations that elect to use Joint Commission accreditation for deemed status purposes.”
Register Today for National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week: March 21-27, 2022
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) invites organizations to participate in National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week (NDAFW), a national health observance meant to empower teens and young adults about making informed decisions about drugs, alcohol, and addiction.
NIDA has developed five
steps to hosting a NDAFW event and created lessons
plans and other materials for educators, counselors, and prevention specialists. Click
here to learn how to register your organization’s event online
Reminder: NABH Denial-of-Care Portal is Open to Members
NABH’s Denial-of-Care Portal is available for members to provide information about their experiences with managed care organizations that impose barriers to care through insurance-claim denials.
NABH’s Managed Care Committee worked for more than a year to develop the Denial-of-Care Portal as a way to collect specific data on insurers who deny care—often without regard for parity or the effects on patients.
This NABH member-only, survey-like tool allows users to add the name of a managed care organization, type of plan, level of care, type of care (mental health or substance use disorder), duration of approved treatment, duration of unapproved treatment, criteria used to deny a claim, and more.
The portal allows members to submit individual examples of claim denials or upload multiple entries via Excel. It also includes sections on appeals and physician participation. In time, the tool could be a valuable resource for the NABH team’s advocacy efforts.
Please e-mail
Emily Wilkins, NABH’s administrative coordinator, if you have questions about the portal.
Fact of the Week
During 2015-2019, an estimated 10.6 million adults in the United States, or about 4.3% of the adult population,
reported having had suicidal thoughts during the preceding year.
For questions or comments about this CEO Update, please contact Jessica Zigmond.