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

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has announced an agreement with the State of Iowa to enforce federal disability rights laws. This action follows a complaint filed by Garret Frey, who alleged that Iowa failed to provide him with the necessary 24-hour home-based support and services, thereby violating his rights.

Starting Tuesday, June 18, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra will travel the country to highlight the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to protect access to reproductive care amid efforts to restrict access to care including abortion care, in vitro fertilization procedures, and contraception. On the tour, Secretary Becerra will join medical professionals, advocates, patients, and elected officials across six states and the District of Columbia.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), has announced $31.4 million in funding opportunities aimed at improving behavioral health for racial and ethnic minorities, other underserved populations, substance use treatment and recovery, and the integration of primary and behavioral health care.

The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), has announced up to $500 million in Project NextGen funding. This funding aims to plan and execute multiple Phase 2b clinical trials evaluating novel vaccines administered as a nasal spray or pill to protect against symptomatic COVID-19.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra issued a statement today in response to the Supreme Court’s unanimous decision in Food and Drug Administration v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), has awarded over $11 million to 15 organizations to establish new residency programs in rural communities. HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra and White House Domestic Policy Advisor Neera Tanden announced these awards during a visit to a rural health clinic in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin.

At a meeting of the Elder Justice Coordinating Council on Wednesday, June 12, 17 federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Justice Department, reviewed a decade of expanded efforts to combat elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation. These efforts span enforcement, public education, training, interagency collaboration, research, and support for older adults.

Over the past decade, syphilis rates and case numbers in the U.S. have increased across all populations. In response to this surge, HHS formed the National Syphilis and Congenital Syphilis Syndemic Federal Task Force led by HHS Assistant Secretary for Health Admiral Rachel Levine.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released five reports today showing significant gains in health care coverage among minority communities since the implementation of the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) coverage provisions. The Biden-Harris Administration attributes these improvements to efforts aimed at increasing access to affordable, quality health care, particularly in underserved areas. Additionally, HHS announced a $500 million investment in Navigators, who assist individuals in enrolling for health care.

On June 6, 2024, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra issued a statement regarding the Supreme Court decision in the case of Becerra, Secretary of Health and Human Services, et al. v. San Carlos Apache Tribe.

On Monday, June 3rd, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra hosted a roundtable with reproductive health leaders from across the country to discuss the current landscape of access to reproductive health care. Secretary Becerra highlighted recent efforts by the Biden-Harris Administration to protect access to reproductive health care and thanked participants for their efforts to support those seeking care, as well as those providing that care.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in partnership with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), has welcomed 10 new states into the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) Medicaid Demonstration Program. The newly added states—Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Rhode Island, and Vermont—successfully developed state-level infrastructure and collaborated with providers to meet CCBHC standards.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced a settlement with Englewood Ear Nose and Throat (Englewood) to ensure effective communication and access to services for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. Englewood provides otolaryngology services, including the medical and surgical management of problems related to the ear, nose, and throat, for adults and adolescents in New Jersey.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announced a combined investment of $15 million over four years to address maternal health needs in rural communities. This initiative includes nearly $8 million in Rural Maternity and Obstetrics Management Strategies (Rural MOMS) awards and approximately $7 million for a new program targeting the Delta region.

Today, after raising the progress Pride Flag outside the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) headquarters, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra and other HHS leaders released statements to celebrate Pride Month.