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Funding Patch Puts OMB Grant Rule on Hold
Yesterday, the House voted to send a temporary funding patch to President Donald Trump, who is expected to sign it into law — thereby punting the September 30 federal government shutdown deadline to December. 11.
The bill, or continuing resolution (CR), is necessary because Congress has not passed any of the Fiscal Year 2027 appropriations bills through both chambers.
Notably, the CR blocks the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) from implementing changes to the way agencies approve federal grant awards while the CR is in effect.
OMB’s sweeping proposed rule calls for review of grants by political appointees, allows for grant cancellations for any reason, prohibits grant funds from being used for publishing and conference attendance, and restricts international research collaboration.
NASPGHAN thanks those members who contacted their members of Congress through the NASPGHAN Action Center in opposition to the OMB rule.
Epic Launches Real-Time Prior Authorization Check
Epic has launched a tool that lets clinicians instantly check inside the EHR whether an insurer requires prior authorization for a treatment — no more phone calls, faxes, or hunting through payer portals.
The Coverage Requirements Discovery (CRD) Application Programming Interface (API) is already live at four health systems—Ochsner Health, Froedtert ThedaCare, Denver Health, and Summit Health—where it is being used to check prior authorization requirements with UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, and Network Health. Another 16 payers are currently testing the API, putting these organizations nearly five months ahead of CMS’ January 2027 deadline requiring most Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, and ACA Marketplace insurers to implement similar APIs (TechTarget).
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