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...
NJDOL Hosts Sessions for Input on a Comprehensive Workforce Development Plan
November 30, 2023
Every four years, the State of New Jersey is required to develop
a Comprehensive State Plan for Workforce Development. The
document includes strategic, operational and compliance
components related to federally and state-funded efforts. A
significant part of the disc...
DCF Shares Update on Efforts to Support NJ’s Social Services Workforce
November 28, 2023
As workforce challenges continue to impact the New Jersey
Department of Children and Families' (DCF's) provider network,
DCF has share an update on its related work to address the issue.
Since June 2023:
The state's Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) budget allocated $5 mil...
President Biden Delivers Remarks on Progress to Counter the Flow of Fentanyl into the U.S.
November 27, 2023
On November 21, 2023, President Joe Biden held a meeting on the
progress made to counter the flow of fentanyl into the United
States. As shared by the White House Office of Political Strategy
and Outreach, "President Biden has made beating the overdose
epidemic a key...
Senate Finance Committee Advances the Better Mental Health Care, Lower-Cost Drugs, and Extenders Act
November 21, 2023
On November 8, 2023, the United States Senate Finance Committee
convened to deliberate on the Better Mental Health Care,
Lower-Cost Drugs, and Extenders Act.
The bipartisan legislation package, as reported in a
Hearing Summary by Thorn Run Partners, aims to
expa...
House Passes Stopgap Bill to Avert Government Shutdown; Senate Hopes to Pass Measure Quickly
November 17, 2023
On November 14, 2023, the U.S. House of Representatives, led by
recently elected Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA),
overwhelmingly passed a two-tiered Continuing Resolution (CR)
that would extend temporary funding at current levels for some
agencies until Janu...
Spending Plans Needed to Prevent Government Shutdown Beginning Nov. 18th
November 14, 2023
The United States Congress has until this Friday, November 17,
2023, to pass funding resolutions that would prevent a partial
government shutdown, which would go into effect beginning
Saturday, November 18, 2023.
As reported on Reuters.com, recently elected Speaker...
NJ DOH and DHS Host Budget Listening Sessions, Nov. 13th, 14th and 29th
November 9, 2023
The New Jersey Department of Health (DOH) and the New
Jersey Department of Human Services (DHS) will host
public budget listening sessions on November 13 and 14,
and 29, 2023, respectively.
...
