DEA Announces Proposed Rules for Permanent Telemedicine Flexibilities
February 28, 2023
Last week, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration
(DEA) announced proposed permanent rules for the prescribing of
medications via telemedicine, expanding patient access to
critical therapies beyond the scheduled end of the COVID-19
Public Health Emergency....
DHS Highlights SNAP Benefits, Investments in the ARRIVE Program, Disabilities Services
February 27, 2023
The New Jersey Department of Human Services (DHS) has
published its February 2023 newsletter, highlighting a
number of important stories and initiatives.
Federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance...
Biden Administration Announces Expansion of MAT to All Federal Correctional Facilities
February 23, 2023
On February 22, 2023, Dr. Rahul Gupta, Director of the White
House National Office of Drug Control Policy, announced that
medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for substance use disorders
would be made available at all federal correctional facilities.
Dr. Gupta spoke...
Suicides in Yaedon Police Custody Draw Attention to Police Actions, Training, and Resources
February 22, 2023
The Borough of Yaedon in Delaware County, Pennsylvania has gained
attention after a series of individuals have died by suicide
while in police custody.
As reported in today's edition of The Philadelphia
Inquirer, the families of Shawn Morcho and Wendy Spence
call...
Duke University Research Uncovers Sale of Individuals’ Mental Health Data
February 21, 2023
"For years, data brokers have operated in a controversial
corner of the internet economy, collecting and reselling
Americans' personal information for government or
commercial use, such as targeted ads," as report...
NJ Age-Friendly Advisory Council and DHS Host Virtual Listening Sessions, Mar. 14th and 21st
February 16, 2023
The New Jersey Age-Friendly Advisory Council and the New Jersey
Department of Human Services (DHS) will be holding two virtual
listening sessions to hear from New Jersey residents about how to
make the state a better place for all ages. Governor Phil Murphy
has taske...
Legislation Proposed to Improve Nonemergency Medical Transport in NJ
February 14, 2023
A2878/S1069, the "Medicaid Transportation Brokerage
Program Oversight and Accountability Act", would establish
vehicle, staffing, and performance standards, and review and
reporting requirements for non-emergency medical transport
provided under the state's non-em...
Gov. Murphy Signs Legislation Increasing Minimum SNAP Benefits ahead of Emergency Allotments Ending
February 13, 2023
On Wednesday, February 8, 2023, Governor Phil Murphy signed
S3491/A5086
into law, increasing the minimum monthly benefit under the New
Jersey Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Minimum
Benefits Program from $50 to $95.
This comes as the extra tempor...
Pres. Biden’s State of the Union Includes Plans regarding Opioid Crisis, Mental Health Care
February 9, 2023
As two pillars of the Unity Agenda set out by the President
last year, mental health and fighting the opioid crisis both
received a significant amount of attention in both of these
aspects of the President's speech, but came late in the speech.
After noting many polic...
Governor Murphy Signs Temp Workers Bill of Rights into Law
February 7, 2023
On February 6, 2023, Governor Phil Murphy signed
S511/A1471,
the "Temp Workers Bill of Rights", into law, after the
legislation faced many rounds of debate, multiple
revisions, and a previous conditional ...
White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Speaks on Underuse of COVID-19 Treatment, Paxlovid
February 6, 2023
Dr. Ashish Jha, the White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator,
who was appointed to his position in the White House COVID-19
Response Team in March of 2022, recently participated in an
interview with Eric Topol, Editor-in-Chief of Medscape,
in which he called attentio...
Public Health Emergency and COVID-19 National Emergency Set to Expire May 11th
February 2, 2023
On Monday, the Biden Administration gave notice to Congress that
it intends to let the emergency declarations related to the
COVID-19 pandemic expire on May 11, 2023.
Currently, there are two emergencies in place, the COVID-19
National Emergency, and the Public Heal...