WASHINGTON, July 26 -- AHIP submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. AHIP urged the agency to align its proposed rule on preserving Medicaid funding with a recently signed law, emphasizing the importance of a three-year transition period for states to implement changes and minimize disruptions. AHIP's comments focused on the proposed rule titled "Medicaid Program; Preserving Medicaid Funding for Vulnerable  more ST

WASHINGTON, July 26 -- Sarah Bucic, a policy analyst at the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. She strongly urged the agency to retain the updated 2024 Mercury and Air Toxics Standards for coal and oil-fired power plants, asserting that repealing them would harm public health. Bucic stated that reversing these standards sends the wrong message when the U.S. should be leading on clean energy. She highlighted more ST

WASHINGTON, July 26 -- America's Essential Hospitals submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The organization expressed concerns that a proposed rule related to provider taxes is too vague and could have unintended consequences for hospitals serving a disproportionate share of Medicaid patients. America's Essential Hospitals, representing over 350 members, highlighted its mission to advance policies that p more ST

WASHINGTON, July 26 -- The American Network of Community Options and Resources, Alexandria, Virginia, issued a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services expressing concern that a proposed rule regarding health care-related taxes could jeopardize critical services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. ANCOR, a national nonprofit representing over 2,500 private community providers of long-term servic more ST

WASHINGTON, July 26 -- The California Energy Commission has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy asserting that the proposed withdrawal of a determination of compressors as covered equipment is unlawful and will negatively impact consumers, manufacturers and the national electric grid. The CEC expressed its strong opposition to the proposed action. The CEC stated that the department's broader moves to roll back appli more ST

WASHINGTON, July 26 -- The California Orthopaedic Association submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The association requested that the agency postpone a proposed rule titled "Medicaid Program; Preserving Medicaid Funding for Vulnerable Populations - Closing a Health Care-Related Tax Loophole." The organization stated its belief that there is overlap between the proposed CMS regulations and H.R. 1, partic more ST

WASHINGTON, July 26 -- The Center for Elder Law and Justice has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services expressing concern over a proposed rule regarding Medicaid provider taxes. The Buffalo, New York-based organization, which provides free civil legal services to older adults, persons with disabilities and low-income families, emphasized the rule's potential impact on funding essential health care services  more ST

WASHINGTON, July 26 -- Dexcom Inc., San Diego, California, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The company responded to an agency request for information on ensuring lawful regulation and unleashing innovation, specifically advocating for changes to outdated policies that impede patient access to care. Dexcom, founded in 1999, focuses on improving diabetes care and management through its CGM systems, w more ST

WASHINGTON, July 26 -- First Southern National Bank, Stanford, Kentucky, submitted a public comment letter to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency outlining the challenges and strategies community banks employ as they pursue digitalization. The bank's response addresses the unique hurdles faced by smaller and medium-sized banking institutions in adapting to an evolving technological landscape. First Southern National Bank identified several primary obstacles to digitalization, includin more ST

WASHINGTON, July 26 -- The International Consortium for Innovation and Quality in Pharmaceutical Development submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The organization responded to an agency request for information on ensuring lawful regulation and unleashing innovation to improve American health, offering suggestions to streamline requirements and reduce regulatory barriers for therapies. IQ stated its comm more ST

WASHINGTON, July 26 -- The Medicaid Health Plans of America submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The organization expressed concerns that a proposed rule aimed at preserving Medicaid funding could negatively impact states' ability to administer their programs, potentially jeopardizing access to care for vulnerable populations. MHPA stated its support for efforts to ensure Medicaid's sustainability. Howeve more ST

WASHINGTON, July 26 -- The National Organization of State Associations for Children submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The organization expressed concern about the potential impact of a proposed CMS rule on healthcare systems nationwide, stating it could destabilize Medicaid funding for vulnerable populations. NOSAC highlighted that families depend on Medicaid benefits for a full range of healthcare s more ST

WASHINGTON, July 26 -- Neighborhood Healthcare, Escondido, California, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The organization expressed concern that a proposed rule aimed at preserving Medicaid funding would severely limit states' ability to use provider taxes, including Managed Care Organization taxes, as a financing mechanism. This would destabilize a longstanding funding structure that supports Califor more ST

WASHINGTON, July 26 -- North East Medical Services, Daly City, California, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The organization expressed concern that a proposed rule aimed at preserving Medicaid funding would severely limit states' ability to use provider taxes, including Managed Care Organization taxes, as a financing mechanism. This would destabilize a critical and longstanding funding structure that more ST

WASHINGTON, July 26 -- The Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality offering suggestions to streamline Head Start regulations while preserving the program's strengths. NMCAA highlighted its commitment to efficient, locally responsive early childhood solutions. The agency emphasized that Head Start prioritizes local control and community-driven solutions, with each p more ST

WASHINGTON, July 26 -- OrboGraph LLC, Burlington, Massachusetts, submitted a public comment letter to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. The organization provided recommendations aimed at addressing payments fraud through enhanced collaboration, education, regulatory adjustments and advanced technological tools. OrboGraph supported the creation of interbank fraud intelligence coalitions to enable anonymized, cross-institutional data sharing for improved pattern recognition and real- more ST

WASHINGTON, July 26 -- Pomona Community Health Center dba ParkTree Community Health Center submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The organization expressed concern that a proposed rule aimed at preserving Medicaid funding could severely limit states' ability to use provider taxes, including Managed Care Organization taxes, as a financing mechanism. This would destabilize a critical and longstanding fundin more ST

WASHINGTON, July 26 -- The ROADS Foundation Inc., Compton, California, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The organization expressed apprehension that a proposed rule could severely limit states' ability to use provider taxes, including Managed Care Organization taxes, for Medicaid financing. This, the foundation stated, threatens to destabilize a critical and longstanding funding structure that suppor more ST

WASHINGTON, July 26 -- The RWE Alliance submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The organization responded to an agency request for information on ensuring lawful regulation and unleashing innovation to improve American health, focusing on harnessing real-world evidence to inform regulatory decision-making. The alliance explained that RWD, collected from sources like electronic health records, medical clai more ST

WASHINGTON, July 26 -- The Sierra Club submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy urging the withdrawal of proposed rescissions and amendments to energy and water conservation standards for appliances and equipment. The organization contends that these proposals are unlawful and would cause environmental and economic harm. The Sierra Club, an organization dedicated to protecting wild places and promoting responsible use of more ST

WASHINGTON, July 26 -- The U.S. Hispanic Business Council has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services urging the agency to rescind its policy of including oral-only phosphate-lowering therapies in the End-Stage Renal Disease Prospective Payment System bundle under Medicare Part B. The organization asserts this approach poses serious risks to patient access, threatens provider viability and could jeopardize m more ST

WASHINGTON, July 26 -- The West Virginia Coal Association submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of the Interior Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement expressing its support for proposed changes to the federal Ten-Day Notice regulations. The association urged the agency to restore the language from the 2020 rule, arguing that the 2024 TDN rule created a federal framework that overstepped state regulatory authority. The WVCA, which represents a substantial portio more ST

WASHINGTON, July 26 -- The Woodstock Institute, Chicago, Illinois, submitted a public comment letter to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The organization urged the bureau to continue utilizing its "Consumer Complaint Intake System Company Portal Boarding Form," emphasizing its crucial role in the efficient functioning of the consumer complaint database. The Woodstock Institute described the CFPB's consumer complaint database as an important tool for all stakeholders. The organization s more ST