IHA Daily Briefing: July 24

IHA Submits Comment Letter to CMS on Medicaid Managed Care SDPs
On July 21, IHA submitted a comment letter on the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed rule on Medicaid managed care state directed payments (SDPs) and targeted Medicaid fee-for-service (FFS) practitioner payments. IHA expressed concerns over several provisions in the proposed rule that will curtail the ability of hospitals to care for vulnerable patients and communities due to the proposed reduction in SDPs, which are estimated to reach $510 billion over 10 years. IHA emphasized, "Resource reductions of this magnitude will undoubtedly lead to hospital closures, reduced access to care for all Illinois residents (not just those that are enrolled in Medicaid), and significant service line reductions," as well as significant job loss. In response, IHA provided recommendations to mitigate some of the worst consequences of the policy changes, including urging CMS to rescind or reconsider proposals that extend beyond Congress' established statutory framework.

UPDATED: Advisory on Iranian Cyber Actors
The U.S. and international partners has released an updated advisory on Iranian-affiliated cyber actors targeting computers used to manage and monitor equipment. These internet-connected programmable logic controllers, or PLCs, are found in climate control systems, access control systems and have many other healthcare applications. Agencies issued an April advisory cautioning this type of malicious activity was observed targeting Rockwell Automation PLC programs. The updated July 22 guidance expands the scope of incidents to include observed targeting of Schneider Electric, Siemens and potentially other manufacturers of PLCs. It also includes new guidance on detecting malicious changes in reusable code modules exploited within Rockwell Automation PLC programs.

HHS Joins AI Initiative on Scientific Research; OSTP Releases AI Report
The U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) yesterday announced its intent to participate in the Genesis Mission, an artificial intelligence program (AI) to support biomedical research. HHS said it will work with the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to launch a series of science and technology challenges that will apply AI to address some of the country's most pressing health concerns. The flagship challenges will focus on identifying the root cause of chronic disease, while additional challenges will focus on pediatric cancer research and drug discovery and development.

In addition, OSTP released a report, "Science: A New Golden Age," focused on scientific initiatives using AI. The report outlines recommendations founded on four pillars: revitalizing America's science and technology enterprise; securing U.S. dominance in critical and emerging technologies; ensuring science and technology betters the lives of Americans through training and career pathways; and launching a golden age of science through efforts like the Genesis Mission. An annex to the report, the "White House Fiscal Year 2028 Research and Development Budget Priorities Memorandum," includes directives for federal agencies to implement the report recommendations.

ASHP Adopts New Policies on Standard of Care, Vaccine Access and More
The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) recently adopted 16 new policies to help guide the organization's advocacy efforts and shape pharmacy practice moving forward. The ASHP House of Delegates voted to approve these new policies last month, according to a July 21 press release. The new policies address a variety of timely issues, including pharmacists' role in promoting vaccine access and rebutting health disinformation and misinformation; artificial intelligence-related concerns; regulatory, quality and safety concerns; workforce retention efforts; and other guidance impacting a broad spectrum of pharmacy policies.