Bulletin Board
Bulletin Board
HHS Regulatory Agenda Revealed
The federal Office of Management and Budget has posted an updated version of the administration’s 2026 unified regulatory agenda and among the items posted are more than 180 for the Department of Health Services. Among the HHS items are 44 for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which administers the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Most of the items are proposed rules, and among the issues CMS is expected to address through regulation during the rest of 2026 are the Medicare inpatient and outpatient prospective payment systems, the Medicare physician [...]
What the Health Care Industry Wants From AI
Guidance on creating and implementing governance structures. Tools for evaluating and benchmarking potential AI tools. Coordination of AI strategy across government health care agencies. Last year, the Department of Health and Human Services issued a request for information in which it asked health care industry interests what they wanted from the federal government to facilitate their use of artificial intelligence in running their organizations and caring for their patients. Their answers? Guidance on creating and implementing governance structures. Tools for evaluating and benchmarking potential AI tools. Coordination of AI [...]
Federal Health Policy Update for July 9
Don’t Miss: CMS ends fast track process for Medicaid 1115 waiver renewals HHS publishes 2026 regulatory agenda HHS asks hospitals to sign healthy foods pledge The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for July 3-9. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. Congress Congress will return to session on July 13. Committees with jurisdiction over health care will continue focusing on legislation that could ultimately be incorporated into a reconciliation package, FY 2027 appropriations legislation, or other end-of-year legislation. Centers [...]
Where is ACA Enrollment Falling the Most?
While the decline in Affordable Care Act enrollment in 2026 is getting a great deal of attention – enrollment is down 13 percent or three million in 2026 – are there some places where enrollment is falling more than in others? Yes. In Oklahoma and Ohio, ACA plan enrollment has fallen by nearly a third. Enrollment also is down significantly in Arizona, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, and South Carolina. The enrollment declines are generally attributed to the loss of enhanced premium tax credits that were eliminated in H.R. 1, [...]
Administration, Congress, Press Hospitals for Reforms
Even at a time when passing major health care legislation in the near future becomes increasingly unlikely, the hospital community continues to face serious challenges from both the administration and Congress. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has proposed making more Medicare outpatient payments on a site-neutral basis and reducing Medicare payments to hospitals for prescription drugs covered by the 340B drug pricing program. It also threatens other changes in the 340B program that hospitals believe will make it more difficult – and costly – to participate in. Meanwhile, [...]