Policy | Health Exec

CMS asks for public comment on regulatory burden of Stark Law

CMS is requesting input in hopes of “reducing the regulatory burdens” of the Stark Law, which prohibits physicians from referring Medicare or Medicaid beneficiaries to entities from which the physician or an immediate family member would financially benefit.

2 state attorneys general file suit over Trump move on association health plans

Jun 21, 2018 | Policy

New York and Massachusetts will sue the Trump administration following the announced expansion of association health plans, arguing the move will invite “fraud, mismanagement and deception.”

Golden State legislators move to block sugary beverages as default option for kids' meals

Jun 21, 2018 | Policy

A bill advancing through the California legislature seeks to remove soda, juice and chocolate milk as default options for kids’ meals and prevent them from being advertised alongside food marketed toward children.

Industry groups nearly united in opposition of association health plans

Jun 21, 2018 | Policy

On Tuesday, June 19, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) released its final regulation to expand use of association health plans, allowing small business and individuals to join together to purchase coverage. In reaction, 26 patients and consumer groups—headlined by the American Heart Association, American Lung Association and American Cancer Society—issued a joint statement attacking the final rule.

Trump to announce expansion of non-ACA-complaint 'association health plans'

Jun 19, 2018 | Policy

The Trump administration appears close to announcing a new health insurance option for small businesses and self-employed individuals that would offer fewer benefits and cost less.

MD Anderson fined $4.3M for HIPAA violations related to 3 data breaches

Jun 19, 2018 | Policy

In a June 18 release, HHS announced a ruling against the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston requiring $4.3 million in civil penalties due to three data breaches from 2012 and 2013.

Millions of Americans could be affected by "work-for-Medicaid" ruling

Jun 14, 2018 | Policy

A federal court hearing has been scheduled regarding the Trump administration’s decision to give states the power to enforce work requirements on Medicaid enrollees.

AMA opposes non-ACA-compliant insurance plans without protections for preexisting conditions

Jun 12, 2018 | Policy

Despite claims otherwise from President Donald Trump, the Affordable Care Act remains the law of the land—though federal actions have increased instability in the ACA’s marketplaces. Following last year’s repeal of the individual mandate, insurers are now offering short-term, non-ACA-compliant policies, which could leave a sicker, older population shopping on ACA marketplaces.

Attack of single-payer could be winning strategy for California GOP

Jun 11, 2018 | Policy

Five months before the 2018 midterm elections, California Republicans see their opponents’ embrace of exploring single-payer healthcare as an opportunity.

CMS focuses on infants, IT solutions in guidance for battling opioid crisis

Jun 11, 2018 | Policy

On Monday, June 11, CMS released guidance for states to leverage Medicaid in fighting opioid abuse and misuse—with the document making specific mention of efforts to reduce negative impact in infants and outlining potential benefits of health information technology.

House Dem leader: ‘Medicare-for-all’ should be ‘evaluated’ if party takes House

Jun 08, 2018 | Policy

Nancy Pelosi didn’t endorse any single-payer proposals as other Democrats have in the Senate, though she did reiterate her support for a government-run insurance option.

DOJ argues parts of ACA unconstitutional after mandate eliminated

Jun 08, 2018 | Policy

Attorney General Sessions doesn’t go as far as arguing the entire law would be invalid, but the provisions he deemed “inseverable” from the mandate include some of the ACA’s key protections, like not allowing insurers to charge more or deny coverage based on a consumer’s pre-existing conditions.

HHS will allow ‘silver loading’ for 2019 ACA plans

Jun 07, 2018 | Leadership

When President Donald Trump stopped payment of the Affordable Care Act (ACA)’s cost-sharing reduction subsidies, or CSRs, insurers found a way to limit the impact of the resulting premium hikes by putting the entire increase on the ACA exchanges’ silver-level plans. This “silver loading” technique will be allowed to continue in 2019, HHS Secretary Alex Azar told a House committee.

HHS could be renamed under Trump reorganization plan

Jun 07, 2018 | Policy

A rumored White House Office of Management and Budget plan would move more of the federal government’s safety net programs, like food stamps, into HHS.

ED visits in California jump 9.9% after implementation of ACA

Jun 05, 2018 | Policy

Proponents of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) argued—and continue to argue—that it will reduce frequent use of the emergency department (ED) by the same people with expanded coverage, especially for those most likely to make repeated visits to the ED.

State Medicaid directors criticize new CMS scorecard

Jun 05, 2018 | Quality

CMS has released a new a “scorecard” tracking quality measures of states within Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), but the National Association of Medicaid Directors (NAMD) said it failed to offer a true apples-to-apples comparison of state performance.

Quality, Policy

Maine ordered by judge to expand Medicaid

Jun 05, 2018 | Policy

Fifty-nine percent of Maine voters approved a ballot referendum last year to expand Medicaid eligibility in the state. After Republican Gov. Paul LePage repeatedly refused to implement it, a judge ruled Monday LePage's administration has to obey voters’ wishes and submit its expansion plan to CMS.

Policy

ASCO 2018: FDA’s Gottlieb wants to streamline cancer patients’ access to treatments

Jun 04, 2018 | Policy

FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, MD, delivered the opening remarks at the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s 2018 annual meeting at McCormick Place in Chicago, emphasizing his organization’s goal of reducing the time needed to connect cancer patients with treatment.

Policy

‘Right-to-try’ sponsor: Law is meant to diminish the FDA’s power

Jun 01, 2018 | Policy

Johnson said if FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb intends to limit the reach of the law through new FDA rules, that would go against his intent in writing the legislation.

Policy

Senator promotes price transparency, short-term insurance in healthcare plan

May 31, 2018 | Policy

Sen. Bill Cassidy, MD, R-Louisiana, released a series of new healthcare proposals that would expand insurance which doesn’t comply with the Affordable Care Act, along with new ideas on requiring price transparency and incentivizing care settings that are less expensive than hospitals.

Policy

AMA touts leadership combating opioid epidemic as story labels group a barrier to reforms

May 31, 2018 | Policy

The American Medical Association (AMA) released a report on May 31 detailing how “physician leadership” has led to progress fighting the epidemic of opioid abuse and addiction. Just two days earlier, however, a story published by the Daily Beast labeled the AMA as a main roadblock to Congress addressing the prescription of opioids.

Policy, Care Delivery

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