Congress Works toward Preventing a Government Shutdown
January 8, 2024
The United States Senate and House of Representatives are
scheduled to return in full on January 9, 2024, after their
holiday recess, leaving just 10 days from that point to pass
legislation and prevent a government shutdown.
On November 16, 2023, President Joe Biden...
HHS Secretary Renews Determination of Opioid Public Health Emergency
January 4, 2024
On December 21, 2023, United States Department of Health and
Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra renewed the
determination that an opioid public health emergency exists
nationwide.
The determination was reached "as a result of the continued
consequences o...
Mental Health Tips Especially Valuable as Employee Wellbeing Reaches 12-Year Low
January 3, 2024
Associated Press published an article on Dec. 28th with
statistics on declining levels of wellness, both physical and
mental, among employees and recommendations for employers. Some
of the striking research findings presented in this article are:
"50% of workers repo...
Bill Calling for Motor Vehicle Registration Fee Exemption to Be Voted on January 4, 2024
January 2, 2024
A bill that exempts certain nonprofits that offer social services
from motor vehicle registration fees is scheduled for a vote at
both the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee meeting on
January 4, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. in the State House Annex, Committee
Room 4, 1st...
Open Enrollment through Get Covered New Jersey Ends December 31st
December 28, 2023
The annual Open Enrollment Period for Get Covered New Jersey
(GetCovered.nj.gov), the state's Official Health Insurance
Marketplace, will end on December 31, 2023.
New Jersey residents who do not have health coverage through
employers or other programs, such as Med...
Holiday Blues Could Be Exacerbated by International Conflicts, Underscore Importance of Self-Care
December 27, 2023
While the holiday season is a joyful time for many people, this
is unfortunately not the case for other individuals, especially
those who have friends and relatives in Ukraine, Israel and Gaza
and, therefore, are worried about their safety or have lost loved
ones dur...
State Legislation Aims to Expedite Professional Credentialing
December 27, 2023
On Thursday, December 21, 2023, the New Jersey Senate passed
A5283, legislation that requires calculation of the
national average time needed to approve applications for initial
credentials in professions or occupations, and the use of that
average time as the sta...
FDA Approves First Test to Help Identify Elevated Risk of Developing Opioid Use Disorder
December 26, 2023
On Tuesday, December 19, 2023, the United States Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) approved the first test that uses DNA to
assess whether certain individuals may have an elevated risk of
developing opioid use disorder (OUD), the AvertD test from
AutoGenomics, Inc.
...
More than 19 Million Projected to Enrolled in Affordable Care Act Coverage in 2024
December 21, 2023
On December 20, 2023, the Biden-Harris Administration announced
that preliminary data projects that more than 19 million
individuals will enroll for coverage through the Affordable Care
Act (ACA) Marketplace for 2024. This includes 15.3 million
individuals who have a...
Open Enrollment through Get Covered New Jersey Ends December 31st
December 19, 2023
The annual Open Enrollment Period for Get Covered New
Jersey (GetCovered.nj.gov), the state's Official Health
Insurance Marketplace, ends on December 31, 2023.
New Jersey residents who do not hav...
Proposed Census Survey Changes would Reduce Number of Individuals Classified as Having Disabilities
December 12, 2023
The United States Census Bureau has proposed changes to the
American Community Survey, which would align the U.S. with
international standards, but would also increase the threshold
required for individuals to be classified as having disabilities,
in a move advocates...
SAMHSA Issues Advisory on Low-Barrier Care for Substance Use Disorders
December 11, 2023
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
(SAMHSA) has released an advisory that outlines recommendations
for implementation of low-barrier models of care to significantly
expand access to lifesaving treatment for individuals with
substance use di...
NIH, ASPR, and CDC Expand Home Test to Treat Program Nationwide
December 7, 2023
The federal government has expanded the Home Test to
Treat program, an entirely virtual community health
program that offers free COVID-19 health services -
at-home rapid tests, telehealth sessions and at-home
...
Study Identifies Link between Chronic High Blood Pressure and Dementia/Dementia-Like Symptoms
December 5, 2023
A study supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
suggests that the response of immune system cells inside the
protective covering surrounding the brain may contribute to
dementia/dementia-like symptoms and cognitive decline in those
with chronic high blood...
SAMHSA Shares New 988 Warning Signs Videos and Print Materials
December 4, 2023
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
(SAMHSA) has shared new videos about suicide warning signs and
safety plans, now available for download from the
988 Partner Toolkit.
Two new videos about warning signs focus on teaching people about
s...