The Medicare Trustees Report unveiled Friday (March 31) pushes the insolvency date for the trust fund to 2031 -- similar to what the actuary projected earlier this month, and two years earlier than the Congressional Budget Office’s 2033 projection -- and pointed in part to lower Part A spending due to the movement of dually eligible beneficiaries to Medicare Advantage, lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the movement of joint replacements to outpatient settings.
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CMS Finalizes 3.32% MA Pay Bump, Phase-In Of Controversial Risk Adjustment Model
CMS on Friday (March 31) released a 2024 Medicare Advantage and Part D rate notice that projects plans will see a 3.32% overall pay bump next year -- about a $13.8 billion increase from 2023 rates -- which is higher than the controversial 1.03% bump CMS laid out in its advance notice.
CMS Proposes Bump In Hospice Payments, To Extend Telehealth Flexibility
Latest Pandemic News
E&C GOP Demand More Info About FDA-Funded Gain-Of-Function Studies
Top House Energy & Commerce Committee Republicans are demanding more information from FDA on its funding and use of specific gain-of-function research methods, saying the agency provided an inadequate response to an earlier inquiry about its research on coronaviruses.
Devices Available Under EUA Can Stay On Market Pending FDA Review
FDA Will Loosen COVID LDT Regs When EUA Declaration Ends
FDA Details Plan To Phase Out COVID-Related Medical Device Policies
Latest News
Five states are scheduled to begin dropping Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program enrollees Saturday (April 1), which is the first day after nearly three years states can begin normal redeterminations and drop beneficiaries from coverage when they’re found ineligible for various reasons, like their income is too high or they did not respond to a renewal form.
HHS on Transgender Day of Visibility (March 31) released a new report and policy recommendations on access to health care for LGBTQIA+ young people and providers who care for them -- marking the department’s latest step to curb a raging mental health crisis among queer youths.
With a deadline for reauthorization of the Pandemics and All Hazards Prevention Act (PAHPA) approaching this fall, HHS’ assistant secretary for preparedness and response and other public health experts urged Congress to put aside partisanship and work together on renewing legislation they said is crucial for future U.S. responses to health emergencies.
A group representing large U.S. employers says legislative proposals to increase oversight of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) fall short and are advocating for the prescription drug middlemen to be required to share more information and pass along discounts to employer health plans.
The Biden administration and Congress still have several mental health care reforms in store this legislative session with Senate Finance Chair Ron Wyden (OR) pushing for better mental health parity compliance and the president calling for lawmakers to make the certified community behavioral health clinics program permanent, along with several other investments.
Congress’ Medicaid advisers this week lauded CMS’ recent proposal to require transparency in nursing home ownership data but recommended the agency take additional steps, noting inadequate information about base payment rates and costs of care is preventing the advisers from making accurate assessments of the sector's finances.
Rep. Ann Kuster (D-NH) reintroduced a bill aimed at boosting price transparency for generic drugs as lawmakers make a broader push to improve the enforcement and oversight of price transparency across the health care system to rein in rising costs.
A whole-of-government approach to tobacco oversight and enforcement will be critical as FDA works to regulate e-cigarette and synthetic nicotine products while also duking it out in court with “big players” in the tobacco industry that are pushing back against the agency’s regulations, FDA chief Robert Califf asserted during a congressional hearing Wednesday (March 29).
ACA Preventive Benefits Shot Down
DOJ Appeals TX District Court Ruling Against ACA Preventive Benefits
One day after a federal district judge in Texas blocked HHS from enforcing the Affordable Care Act’s preventive services mandate, the Department of Justice filed a notice of appeal to the 5th Circuit, prompting praise from stakeholders who had pushed the administration to quickly fight the decision.
Texas Judge Vacates ACA’s Preventive Services Mandate, PrEP Coverage
MA Debate Intensifies
MA Stakeholders: Advance Notice Will Hinder Health Equity Efforts
Several insurers and provider groups on Monday (March 27) said CMS should delay proposals to revamp the Medicare Advantage risk model’s Hierarchical Condition Codes, and alleged the advance notice’s proposals run counter to the agency’s sweeping efforts to improve health equity for underserved populations because they could spur supplemental benefit cuts and decrease access to medically necessary care.
Data Challenges Hinder Evaluation, Design Of MA Supplemental Benefits
Latest Abortion Policy Roundup
Democrats Reintroduce Federal Abortion Protections, Push DOD To Follow Through On Abortion Access Proposals; Reproductive Health Providers Flee, Quit Practice As Restrictions Escalate Pressure
House Democrats led by Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY) will introduce an updated version of the Women’s Health Protection Act on Thursday (March 30) that protects interstate travel for abortion care as well as people who assist others in finding abortion care.
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