Bulletin Board
Bulletin Board
Federal Health Policy Update for April 25
The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for April 9-25. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. Updated 340B Arbitration Process Last week HHS’s Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) published a regulation modifying the administrative dispute resolution (ADR) process it uses to adjudicate payment disputes between 340B-eligible providers and pharmaceutical companies. The major changes in the ADR process include the use of HRSA experts to serve on ADR panels; elimination of the $25,000 damage threshold for filing a claim; [...]
Racial, Ethnic Health Care Disparities Remain Widespread
Racial and ethnic health disparities are pervasive across all states, according to a new report from the Commonwealth Fund. According to “The Commonwealth Fund 2024 State Health Disparities Report,” Racial and ethnic disparities are pervasive across all states. Death rates and prevalence of health problems vary significantly by race and ethnicity in every state. Racial and ethnic health disparities are perpetuated by less insurance coverage and unequal access to high-quality care. Lack of comprehensive insurance coverage is a key contributor to disparities in access. Being uninsured or underinsured has consequences. [...]
Self-Employed Docs Increasingly Uncommon
The number of self-employed and independent practice physicians has fallen from three out of every four in 2012 to just one out of four today, according to a new study. The drastic change in just a dozen years is the result of hospitals and corporate entities purchasing physician practices. Hospital and corporate ownership are now greatest in the south and currently growing fastest in the northeast. For the first time, moreover, corporate ownership has surpassed hospitals as the largest owners of physician practices. Learn more about the changing nature of [...]
Federal Health Policy Update for April 18
The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for April 12-18. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. The White House The administration has launched a new global health security strategy that seeks to drive action across federal departments and agencies and rally support from other countries, the private sector, and civil society to better prevent, detect, respond to, and recover from infectious disease threats. The strategy seeks to build on the lessons learned from the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. [...]
A Look at Medicaid Home- and Community-Based Services
The National Association of Medicaid Directors has published a blog post offering background information about the role of state Medicaid programs in the delivery of home- and community-based services. The brief addresses such questions as: What are home- and community-based services? How do home- and community-based services vary across states and territories? What are the federal pathways for Medicaid coverage of home- and community-based services? How do states deliver home- and community-based services? How does this affect how a person receives HCBS services? What factors will affect the future of [...]