Washington State's Limited SHOP Plan Spurs Small Business Tax Credit Questions
Washington state's decision this week to initially have its SHOP exchange operate in only a few counties instead of statewide has led to questions about whether the federal government will let the health law's small business tax credits be available outside the small business exchanges next year, an official with the Washington Health Benefit Exchange says.
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FDA References Park Doctrine In Warning Letter, Stirring Enforcement Debate
DaVita Optimistic CMS Will Make Changes To Kidney Care ACO
A top policy official at DaVita, who was “bummed” in February about CMS' terms for participation in the kidney care ACO demonstration, told investors the dialysis chain is now optimistic the agency will change the demo enough for the company to participate, although company officials say CMS has not indicated it will make the changes sought by DaVita.
CMS Applies MLR To Drug Plans Despite Strong Opposition From Insurers, PBMs
In a loss for drug plans, CMS is applying to Part D a health law provision dictating what portion of income from premiums plans must spend on clinical services.
CMS To Lower Provider Pay Rates In Federally-Run PCIP, Prohibit Balance Billing
In an effort to further contain costs so the program lasts through the end of the year, CMS says provider payment rates in federally-run Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plans starting June 15 will be set at Medicare rates for most covered medical services.
MACPAC Sees Potential Concerns In DSH Cut Targeting Methodology
CMS' proposed formula for calculating cuts to Medicaid disproportionate share payments is designed to incentivize states to target DSH payments to the most needy hospitals, Congress' Medicaid payment and access advisers said, but commission members expressed concerns that lag time between CMS' calculations and any changes to state policy may take away from those incentives.
MACPAC Meeting Spurs Talk Of Revamping 1115 Waivers To Push Innovation
Revamping the Medicaid 1115 waiver process to focus less on budget-neutrality and more on permanent payment and delivery reform was floated by some congressional Medicaid payment advisers this week, drawing interest from Medicaid officials, as a top CMS official acknowledged the agency already exercises some flexibility in enforcing the budget-neutrality rule.
FDA References Park Doctrine In Warning Letter, Stirring Enforcement Debate
FDA's recent invocation of the Park doctrine in a warning letter to a dietary supplement firm is likely the first time the agency has cited the responsible corporate officer doctrine in a warning letter, according to several food and drug attorneys, who disagreed about whether the move marks a change in the way FDA will enforce supply chain security.
Pioneers Briefed On Study Implying Hospitals Should Discharge To Lower-Cost Settings
Pioneer ACOs looking to direct patients to lower-cost post-acute care settings recently received a primer on a study funded by the home-health industry that shows patients often could be discharged to lower-cost settings, according to Allen Dobson, president of the health economics firm Dobson | DaVanzo & Associates, which conducted the research.
GOP's ACA Repeal Vote Spurs White House Bid To Build ACA Network
Hours before the House GOP voted 229-195 in favor of repealing the health reform law, the White House sent out an email plugging key pieces of the law that are viewed as appealing to the Middle Class and urged recipients to sign into a White House website to become part of a network for future ACA messaging.
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The Vitals
Labor/HHS Gets Cut, FDA-Ag Maintains Funding In House GOP Proposal
GOP Senators Introduce Bill To Stop ICD-10 Implementation
Energy & Commerce Plans Third Drug Compounding Hearing
CMS Lets More Hospitals Apply To Participate In Bundled Pay Initiative
As Expected, House GOP Votes To Repeal Health Care Law
GOP Seeks GAO Audit Of Sebelius' ACA Outreach
Documents
CBO Analysis Of Health Proposals In President's FY2014 Budget
CMS Issues Interim Final Rule On Payment Rates For PCIP Patients
CMS Finalizes Policies On MLR For Medicare Advantage, Part D
House Budget Committee's Fiscal 2014 Allocations
CMS Issues Exchanges FAQ On Oversight, Reporting Requirements
Health Reform Insider
New Twist In Exchange Policy; SGR Hits Finance; Rx Tracking Debate Continues
At least five additional states are considering running their own small business exchanges while letting the federal government run individual exchanges in the wake of HHS' precedent-setting decision on Friday (May 10) allowing Utah to pursue this approach, sources say. Read The Insider
