• District of Columbia: The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has finalized a consent order as part of Ascension's $3.9 billion acquisition of Amsurg. Under the order, Ascension is required to divest seven Amsurg ambulatory surgery centers, including six to SC Affiliates in several states and one to Florida Gastroenterology Center. Ascension is also required to provide transition assistance for up to a year and must notify FTC if wants to acquire centers in the metropolitan areas where the divested facilities are for the next 10 years. "The FTC's final consent order settles allegations that Ascension's acquisition of Amsurg would limit competition for certain outpatient surgical services," the agency said. "Limited competition for these surgical services likely would lead to higher surgery prices for patients, while also threatening to lower the quality of care and limit surgical services innovation." (Hudson, Modern Healthcare, 8/25)
• Florida: Florida's Department of Health recently proposed a rule that would roll back four vaccine requirements for children attending public schools. Under the rule, children in Florida would be able to attend school without receiving vaccines for chickenpox, hepatitis b, Haemophilus influenzae type B, and pneumococcal disease. According to the Department of Health, the proposed rule eliminates vaccine mandates for shots that aren't required under state law. Currently, Florida law requires children to be vaccinated against seven diseases (polio, diphtheria, tetanus, measles, rubella, pertussis, and mumps) while vaccines requirements for other diseases are determined by the state's health department. The proposed rule is part of efforts from Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo to eliminate all childhood vaccine mandates. Last September, Ladapo said current vaccine requirements in schools and other organizations were "wrong" and "immoral" and that they limited parents' ability to make health decisions for their children. Public comment on the proposed rule will be open for 21 days. (Monnin, NOTUS, 8/24)
• Maryland: HHS has awarded $96.7 million in grants and cooperative agreements for behavioral health services and initiatives across the United States. The grants were funded by HHS' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), which provides support for homeless individuals with serious mental illness, suicide prevention and early intervention, and more. In a statement, SAMHSA Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Christopher Carroll said that the new investments reflect the agency's "commitment to making sure people can get the right support at the right time" and that "by expanding access to treatment, strengthening the behavioral health workforce, and supporting communities on the front lines, we are helping more Americans move from crisis to stability and toward lasting recovery." (Gleeson, Fierce Healthcare, 8/19)

Host Rae Woods gives an update on what’s happening with federal vaccine policy and what leaders must do to prepare for a turbulent respiratory illness season (and beyond).