🏥TRICARE Regulation Expands Coverage for Clinical Trials
The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs (ASD(HA)) issues this final rule regarding circumstances under which services and supplies related to emerging treatments may be covered under the TRICARE program. This rule finalizes provisions published in two interim final rules (IFRs) with request for comment, which temporarily added coverage for the treatment use of investigational drugs under U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-authorized expanded access (EA) programs when for the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and permitted coverage of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID)-sponsored clinical trials for the treatment or prevention of COVID-19. This final rule discusses the DoD's decision not to make permanent the coverage of treatment use of investigational drugs under FDA EA programs while updating language for care associated with their administration and broadens the COVID-19 clinical trial benefit to include coverage of clinical trials sponsored or approved by any National Institutes of Health (NIH) Center or Institute to treat or prevent infectious diseases associated with a pandemic or epidemic. Lastly, the final rule expands TRICARE's clinical trial benefit by covering services and supplies provided in conjunction with Phase I, II, III, and IV clinical trials that are NIH-sponsored or approved and that involve a new treatment or cure for a specific condition or the treatment of a currently uncontrolled symptom or aspect of that condition, provided that the condition is severely debilitating, life- threatening, or a rare disease.
Learn More📜VA Notice on Educational Assistance Program Policy Changes
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is informing the public of efforts to implement Section 213 of the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvements Act (Dole Act), which requires VA to make notice and justification for changes in policy and guidance available to students, educational institutions, and the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives.
Learn More🏦FDIC Proposes Rescission of Bank Merger Policy
The FDIC is requesting public comment on a proposal to rescind the Statement of Policy on Bank Merger Transactions published in 2024 and reinstate its prior Statement of Policy on Bank Merger Transactions. The FDIC expects to request comment on all aspects of the regulatory framework governing the FDIC's review of bank merger transactions in connection with a future proposal to comprehensively revise its merger policy.
Learn More💰Reinstatement of Mexico City Policy
The memorandum reinstates the Mexico City Policy, directing the Secretary of State and other agencies to ensure that U.S. taxpayer funds do not support coercive abortion practices. This significant policy change affects global health assistance and could impact funding for organizations involved in such programs. The directive emphasizes legal adherence in the implementation of this policy.
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