NJHSA signed a letter to the U.S. Department of Education urging the extension of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness waiver program. Relatedly, on August 24th, the Biden Administration announced a multi-pronged plan to relieve student debt that includes changing the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program to ensure that borrowers working for non-profit organizations receive credit toward loan forgiveness. Learn more here.
NJHSA signed onto a letter urging the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to expedite its release of guidelines for youth in crisis. Since 988 launched in July, SAMHSA has released adult crisis guidelines and resources but has not yet released guidance for states and organizations to properly respond to youth in crisis.
The Inflation Reduction Act, signed into law by President Biden on August 16th, contained key health provisions extending the Affordable Care Act’s tax credits and new authority for Medicare to negotiate drug prices for the first time in the program’s history. Notably, the law did not provide the expanded investment for Medicaid Home- and Community-Based Services sought by NJHSA and the Jewish Federations of North America, but we will continue to advocate for workforce incentives and additional investment in this sector. Read an analysis of these health provisions from the Jewish Federations of North America’s Strategic Health Resource Center.
