News and reports from the Department of Health and Human Services.

Today, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra issued a statement to mark the beginning of National Hispanic Heritage Month, which starts on Sunday, September 15.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra has declared a Public Health Emergency (PHE) for Louisiana to address the health impacts of Hurricane Francine. This declaration follows President Biden’s emergency declaration for Louisiana and grants the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), healthcare providers, and suppliers greater flexibility in meeting the emergency health needs of Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Office of Research Integrity (ORI), has finalized the 2024 Public Health Service (PHS) Policies on Research Misconduct. This new rule updates the 2005 regulation, aiming to enhance transparency, efficiency, and objectivity in research misconduct proceedings for PHS-funded research.

The Biden-Harris Administration has issued a proposed rule to expand access to life-saving organs for people with HIV. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH) and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), announced a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) aimed at amending regulations under the National Organ Transplant Act of 1984.

As Folic Acid Awareness Week is observed, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra has urged food manufacturers and retailers to increase the availability of fortified corn masa flour products. In a letter, Becerra highlighted the health benefits of folic acid for women of reproductive age, noting its importance in fetal development during early pregnancy. He emphasized that pregnant women with insufficient folate levels are at higher risk of giving birth to infants with neural tube defects such as spina bifida and anencephaly.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has issued a Letter of Finding and Notice of Violation against San Juan Capestrano Hospital in Puerto Rico. The hospital was found to have violated federal disability civil rights laws by failing to provide a sign language interpreter for a patient, as required under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced the launch of the KidneyX Sustainability Prize, a $7.25 million initiative aimed at enhancing the sustainability of kidney care. This challenge, part of the Kidney Innovation Accelerator (KidneyX), seeks to identify and support solutions that reduce water and power consumption in maintenance dialysis.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), has approved New Hampshire’s Medicaid State Plan Amendment to provide community-based mobile crisis intervention services for individuals experiencing mental health or substance use disorder crises. This approval allows New Hampshire to connect Medicaid-eligible individuals in crisis to behavioral health providers 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. With this approval, New Hampshire joins 20 other states and the District of Columbia in expanding access to...

The Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and the Treasury have issued final rules aimed at improving access to mental health and substance use disorder benefits for over 150 million individuals with private health coverage. This initiative is part of the Biden-Harris administration's broader effort to ensure equitable access to these services.

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to establish state-based Healthcare Extension Cooperatives. This initiative represents a significant investment aimed at accelerating the implementation and dissemination of patient-centered outcomes research (PCOR) into healthcare delivery, focusing on improvements in healthcare policy, payment, and practice, as well as reducing healthcare disparities among Medicaid recipients, the uninsured, and medically...

Today, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra released a statement in response to newly released data on youth e-tobacco use.

Today, leaders from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) joined recovery advocates to kick off the observance of the 35th National Recovery Month at the second annual SAMHSA Walk for Recovery. The National Walk for Recovery supports and celebrates recovery from substance use and/or mental health conditions while reducing stigma.

Suicide is a complex public health problem that tragically impacts everyone - our friends, family, neighbors, and communities.

Secretary Xavier Becerra issued a statement on September 1, 2024, marking Kinship Care Month. He emphasized the importance of children being with their families and acknowledged the challenges many families face due to persistent poverty and inequality, particularly those from underserved rural areas and communities of color.

Today, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra and Assistant Secretary for Health Admiral Rachel Levine, MD, released statements to mark September as National Sickle Cell Awareness Month.