Bulletin Board
Bulletin Board
Federal Health Policy Update for April 3
The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for March 28 through April 3. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. Congress - Reconciliation Yesterday, Senate Republicans released their new budget resolution as they try to create a single budget resolution that can pass the House and Senate – a necessary step before the chambers can pass a reconciliation bill. The new resolution includes the following instructions: The Senate Finance Committee can increase the deficit no more than $1.5 trillion over [...]
New Task Force Targets Anti-Competitive Regs, Sets Sights on Health Care
The Justice Department has established an Anticompetitive Regulations Task Force “… to advocate for the elimination of anticompetitive state and federal laws and regulations that undermine free market competition and harm consumers, workers, and businesses.” The task force will seek information from the public “… about laws and regulations that make it more difficult for businesses to compete effectively, especially in markets that have the greatest impact on American households…” Among those markets is health care, which in its news release announcing the task force the Justice Department writes that [...]
Keeping Track of HHS Reorganization
Late last week, the Department of Health and Human Services announced a major reorganization and downsizing of its agencies and operations. Those efforts have already begun, and the following is a selection of news reports describing the changes that have taken place so far: Washington Post – “Major cuts are set to hit HHS. Here’s what’s affected” (March 27) (subscription required) Healthcare Dive – “Trump administration to shut down CMS, HHS minority health offices amid restructuring” (March 31) Fierce Healthcare – “Sweeping health agency cuts at FDA, CDC, CMS and [...]
Non-Profit Hospitals See Improved 2024 Financial Performance
Non-profit hospitals performed better financially in 2024 than they did in 2023, according to a new analysis by Fitch Ratings. Attributing the improved performance to improved volume and revenue and reduced upward pressure on labor costs, Fitch found that the median operating margin among non-profit hospitals rose from -0.5 percent in 2023 to 1.2 percent in 2024. Although improved, non-profit hospital financial performance has not returned to its pre-pandemic levels. Even so, they appear to have survived the unwinding of increased pandemic-era Medicaid enrollment, with Medicaid’s median share of their [...]
HHS to Reorganize
The federal Department of Health and Human Services has announced a major restructuring of its operations. The changes include: Terminating an additional 10,000 of the agency’s employees, over and above 10,000 employee reduction that already has taken place, thereby reducing its staff from 82,000 to 62,000 full-time employees. The terminations include: 300 full-time employees at CMS, with HHS noting that this “…will not impact Medicare and Medicaid.” 3500 at the FDA, with HHS explaining that this reduction “…will not affect drug, medical device, or food reviewers, nor will it impact [...]