Coronavirus

Some Insurers Phasing Out Free COVID-19 Care

Some insurers that waived member costs for treatment for COVID-19 are beginning to reintroduce deductibles, co-payments, and other costs associated with treating the virus. Waiving such costs was always voluntary and not imposed by the federal government. As a result, insurers face no limits on the restoration of their members’ share of care costs. Vaccines and most tests remain available without cost. Learn more about how consumer costs for COVID-19 care came to be waived by insurers and how they are now on path to restoration for those covered by some insurers, and likely more insurers in the coming months, [...]

iqtsupport2021-04-27T13:00:59-04:00April 27, 2021|Coronavirus, COVID-19|

Has the White House Lost Faith in the Johnson & Johnson Vaccine?

Between the issues that resulted in a brief federal pause in the administration of Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine and production problems plaguing the company’s production contractor, the Biden administration is not necessarily counting on the vaccine in the future. According to Politico, “…privately, frustrated senior health officials have largely written off the shot, according to seven people with knowledge of the matter.” In addition, “… the chaos has disappointed the Biden team, which once argued that the company’s one-dose vaccine would be central to turning the tide of the pandemic. Instead, the administration has concluded that the company [...]

iqtsupport2021-04-27T06:00:13-04:00April 27, 2021|Coronavirus, COVID-19|

Federal Health Policy Update for Thursday, April 22

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government as of 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 22. Department of Health and Human Services COVID-19 HHS’s Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response has published a new edition of its online publication The Exchange. The issue focuses on the work of hospital allied and supportive care providers during COVID-19 and is divided into three subjects: COVID-19 and acute hospital care, home care, and hospice; the role of allied health care professionals; and engineering and environmental support during COVID-19. For each subject the issue directs readers to [...]

iqtsupport2021-04-22T17:30:26-04:00April 22, 2021|Coronavirus, COVID-19, Medicare, Medicare regulations|

Health Policy Update for Friday, April 16

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government as of 2:45 p.m. on Friday, April 16. The White House COVID-19 The White House announced $1.7 billion in new federal spending from the American Rescue Plan to help states and other jurisdictions improve their detection, monitoring, and mitigation of COVID-19 variants. This $1.7 billion includes $1 billion to expand genomic sequencing; $400 million to support innovation initiatives, including the launch of new innovative Centers of Excellence in Genomic Epidemiology; and $300 million to build and support a National Bioinformatics Infrastructure.The first pool of funding will be distributed [...]

iqtsupport2021-04-17T10:18:11-04:00April 17, 2021|Coronavirus, COVID-19|

Federal Health Policy Update for Wednesday, April 14

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government as of 2:45 p.m. on Wednesday, April 14. Temporary Halt to Use of the Johnson & Johnson Janssen Vaccine The White House held a press briefing on Tuesday, April 13 during which the White House press secretary, its COVID-19 response coordinator, and Dr. Anthony Fauci discussed the decision to halt administration of the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine until its safety can be further examined. Learn more from a transcript of that briefing. Representatives of the FDA and CDC briefed the news media on the situation involving the [...]

iqtsupport2021-04-14T17:11:09-04:00April 14, 2021|Coronavirus, COVID-19, Medicaid, Medicare|

Health Policy Update for Monday, April 12

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government as of 2:30 p.m. on Monday, April 12. The White House COVID-19 The White House has posted a transcript of the April 12 press briefing provided by its COVID-19 response team and public health officials. Health Policy and Budget News The Biden administration has released its proposed FY 2022 discretionary budget, which addresses, among other things, many aspects of health care policy. Find the news release announcing the proposed budget here and the budget document itself here. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services COVID-19 CMS has updated its [...]

iqtsupport2021-04-12T17:29:32-04:00April 12, 2021|Coronavirus, COVID-19, MACPAC|

Health Policy Update for Thursday, April 8

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government as of 2:45 p.m. on Thursday, April 8. Provider Relief Fund The Provider Relief Fund web page has been updated to announce a webinar next Tuesday, April 13 about the HRSA COVID-19 uninsured program under which participating providers are reimbursed at Medicare rates for testing, treating, and administering COVID-19 vaccines to uninsured individuals. Go here for further information (in the shaded box labeled “update”). Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services COVID-19 CMS has added 24 new audiology and speech language pathology services to its list of telehealth services [...]

iqtsupport2021-04-08T17:26:05-04:00April 8, 2021|Coronavirus, COVID-19, Medicare post-acute care, Medicare regulations, Medicare reimbursement policy|

Health Policy Update for Wednesday, April 7

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government as of 2:45 p.m. on Wednesday, April 7. The White House Health Policy News President Biden’s first budget proposal is expected to be released this Friday, April 9. It could have important policy implications for health care providers of all types. COVID-19 The White House has posted a transcript of the April 7 press briefing provided by its COVID-19 response team and public health officials. Federal Emergency Management Agency FEMA has published a notice titled “Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic: Safe Opening and Operation Work Eligible for Public Assistance;” the announcement “…defines the framework, [...]

iqtsupport2021-04-07T21:32:50-04:00April 7, 2021|Coronavirus, COVID-19|

Health Policy Update for Monday, April 5

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government as of 2:30 p.m. on Monday, April 5. The White House COVID-19 The White House has posted a transcript of the April 5 press briefing provided by its COVID-19 response team and public health officials. Provider Relief Fund HHS has removed the following question and answer from its Provider Relief Fund FAQ. Are there any restrictions on how hospitals that receive Medicaid disproportionate share hospital (DSH) payments can use Provider Relief Fund General and Targeted Distribution payments? (Added 2/24/2021) Yes. Providers may not use PRF payments to reimburse expenses or losses that [...]

iqtsupport2021-04-05T17:20:29-04:00April 5, 2021|Coronavirus, COVID-19|

Health Policy Update for Thursday, April 1

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government as of 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 1. Medicare Accelerated and Advance Payments Program In the latest edition of its online publication MLN Connects, CMS has published information about repayment of money health care providers received under its COVID-19 Accelerated and Advance Payments Program. Those repayments began on March 30. For further information, see the MLN Matters article “Repayment of COVID-19 Accelerated and Advance Payments Began on March 30, 2021.” The White House COVID-19 The White House has posted a transcript of the March 31 press briefing provided by its COVID-19 response [...]

iqtsupport2021-04-01T18:01:20-04:00April 1, 2021|Coronavirus, COVID-19, Medicare reimbursement policy|