The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published an interim final rule Oct. 2 to fully adopt the Uniform Guidance at Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 200, relating to federal assistance awards. The updates include codification of 12 previously adopted HHS-specific differences and a two-phase implementation. Applicants and recipients who have been navigating separate regulations for HHS and non-HHS assistance awards will likely welcome this development, which increases the uniformity of regulations applicable to awards across federal departments and agencies.
For Phase 1, effective Oct. 1, 2024, HHS has adopted several changes in 2 CFR 200, including revisions to various thresholds, with codification at 2 CFR 300.1. These revisions provide recipients of new HHS awards issued on or after Oct. 1, 2024 with additional flexibility and burden reduction.