WASHINGTON, Aug. 23 -- A coalition of 10 aquariums and zoos has submitted a public comment letter to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management expressing strong opposition to the proposed commercial leasing of Outer Continental Shelf minerals in offshore American Samoa. This unified stance aligns with the American Samoa Government, which has actively opposed such actions. The organizations reinforce that the moratorium on seabed mining, established by Executive Order 006-24, remains intact and shoul more ST

WASHINGTON, Aug. 23 -- The Malnutrition Quality Improvement Initiative (MQii) has submitted a public comment letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding the proposed rule for the Fiscal Year 2026 Home Health Prospective Payment System (HH PPS). The letter underscores the organization's commitment to enhancing the quality of nutrition care and advocates for the inclusion of the Malnutrition Care Score (MCS) in CMS's Home Health Quality Reporting Program (HH QRP). The M more ST

WASHINGTON, Aug. 23 -- The National Emergency Planning and Training Association has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Justice addressing concerns regarding the impact of varying state laws on the national economy and interstate commerce. NEPTA, which specializes in emergency preparedness training and consulting, aims to draw attention to the challenges posed by fragmented state regulations that hinder its operations and inflate costs for clients nationwide. In the lett more ST

WASHINGTON, Aug. 23 -- The Healthcare Association of New York State (HANYS) has submitted a public comment letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) expressing concerns over the proposed rules for the Medicare Home Health Prospective Payment System for Calendar Year 2026. The organization represents various healthcare providers including nonprofit and public hospitals, nursing homes, and home health agencies, and emphasizes the need for adjustments to ensure adequate funding more ST

WASHINGTON, Aug. 23 -- The Malnutrition Quality Improvement Initiative (MQii) has submitted a public comment letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) advocating for the retention of a critical improvement activity related to nutrition care in the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. In their outreach, MQii highlights the significant role that effective nutrition interventions play in high-quality, patient-centered care. Among the key points raised in the letter is the organizati more ST