ON CAPITOL HILL
Collins Raises Concerns About Federal Grant Proposal. Senate Appropriations Chairwoman Susan Collins (R-ME) is asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to delay a major proposal that would change how federal grants are managed. In a letter to OMB Director Russell Vought, Collins requested an extra 90 days for public comments and urged OMB to remove parts of the proposal that could hurt small and rural communities and biomedical research. Collins is concerned that the proposal would allow the federal government to end grants too easily, with limited options to appeal, which could disrupt important clinical trials. She also raised concerns about grant reviews being influenced by political priorities and about new paperwork requirements, such as requiring written explanations for every payment request, which could make grants harder to manage. ANA is working with nursing and healthcare organizations to oppose the proposal by submitting comments to OMB and educating policymakers on Capitol Hill about its potential impact.
Congress is in Recess. Congress is on recess this week following the July 4th holiday. ANA’s Policy & Governments Team will continue to monitor upcoming congressional activities for opportunities to engage in nursing priorities.
AT THE AGENCIES
CMS Releases Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (HOPPS) Rule. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released their HOPPS 2027 proposed rule. The HOPPS rule sets reimbursement rates for most outpatient procedures in the hospital and ambulatory surgery center (ASC) settings. ANA staff are reviewing the proposed provisions in the rule including payment for software as a medical service, policies on packaged items and services, quality measures, prior authorization, additional payments for domestically produced personal protective equipment (PPE) and essential medicines, and a request for information (RFI) on hospital price transparency. ANA will submit comments on the proposed rule which are due on August 31.
HHS Initiates Termination of COVID-19 EUA Declarations. On June 30, the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) signed determinations that will terminate Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) declarations for COVID-19 drugs, biologics, and medical devices. HHS announced that this action is based on the grounds that emergency justifications no longer exist. The terminations will go into effect in 180 days from signature for medical devices and in one year for drugs and biological products, giving manufacturers time to pursue traditional Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval pathways. If a treatment is already approved by the Food and Drug Administration, no change in availability is expected.
HRSA Announces Maternal Produce Prescription Program Funding Opportunity. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has announced a new Maternal Produce Prescription Program. The program will provide grants to organizations to implement community-based prescription produce programs for maternal populations dealing with nutrition insecurity. Applications are open until July 17.
ED Announces Student Loan Interest Rate Reduction. The Department of Education (ED) has announced that federal student loan borrowers enrolled in auto pay are eligible for a 1% interest rate reduction, beginning in July 2026 through June 30, 2028. In order to be eligible, the loans must originate after July 1, 2012, and borrowers not yet enrolled in auto pay must enroll by September 30, 2026. Those who are currently enrolled in auto pay do not have to take any action, as the servicer reduces interest rates automatically.
IN THE STATES
Illinois Tracks Workplace Violence. Illinois Senate Bill 2713 was signed by Governor JB Pritzker (D), which requires healthcare providers to track and report workplace violence by patients or visitors using a standardized form.
Rhode Island Researches Staffing Ratios. Rhode Island Senate Resolution 2258 passed, which creates a special legislative commission to study hospital staffing ratios. The commission will assess impacts on patient outcomes, workforce, and finances, review best practices, and evaluate state implementation of national standards.
Rhode Island Requires AI Notice. Rhode Island House Bill 7538 was signed by Governor Dan McKee (D), which requires healthcare providers and facilities to notify patients when AI is used to document visits, including telehealth. Providers must also review AI-generated records for accuracy to ensure patients are informed and can verify their healthcare information.
ELECTION HUB
There were no primary elections held this week.
Upcoming Primaries. Several states will hold primaries in the coming weeks (with voter registration deadlines):
- July 21: Arizona (6/22)
- July 28: Georgia special election (7/6), South Dakota runoff (7/13)