The White House has announced several policy updates aimed at reducing gun violence through upstream interventions. Notably, a new Executive Order clarifies that Medicaid programs are allowed to reimburse providers for guiding patients on firearms safety and violence reduction—a policy some states have already begun passing into law. The Order commits CMS to issuing guidance later this month on exactly how this health safety guidance should be reimbursed by states. In addition,

• The Department of Education has provided a new tool to promote safe gun storage, which will launch on an interactive website.
• The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has committed to release best practices this fall for addressing trauma from gun violence and a toolkit for faith leaders and community workers.
• The Biden Administration also announced that it plans to award an additional $85 million for violence prevention initiatives, including for cognitive behavioral therapy and hospital-based care, and $135 million to support states’ “red flag” laws.