COVID-19

Federal Health Policy Update for Monday, May 3

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government as of 3:15 p.m. on Monday, May 3. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. The White House COVID-19 The White House has posted a transcript of the April 30 press briefing provided by its COVID-19 response team and public health officials. Department of Health and Human Services COVID-19 HHS and its Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) have announced a new program to cover the costs of administering COVID-19 vaccines for patients enrolled in health plans that either do not cover vaccination [...]

iqtsupport2021-05-03T17:28:49-04:00May 3, 2021|Coronavirus, COVID-19|

Federal Health Policy Update for Thursday, April 29

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government as of 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 29. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. The White House COVID-19 The White House has posted a transcript of the April 27 press briefing provided by its COVID-19 response team and public health officials. Health Policy News Speaking before a joint session of Congress, President Biden on Wednesday night formally presented his proposed American Families Plan. In general, the plan defers action on most health care matters to other, separate legislation, but it does call for [...]

iqtsupport2021-04-29T17:06:18-04:00April 29, 2021|Coronavirus, COVID-19, Medicare disproportionate share, Medicare DSH, Medicare post-acute care, Medicare reimbursement policy|

Federal Health Policy Update for Tuesday, April 27

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government as of 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 27. The White House COVID-19 The White House has posted a transcript of the April 23 press briefing provided by its COVID-19 response team and public health officials. Health Policy News The White House has nominated Miriam Delphin-Rittmon to serve as Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use in the Department of Health and Human Services. The nomination is subject to Senate confirmation. Congress The New Democrat Coalition is a group of 94 mostly centrist Democrats working to bridge the gap [...]

iqtsupport2021-04-27T22:25:58-04:00April 27, 2021|Congress, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Medicaid, Medicare|

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|

Federal Health Policy Update for Tuesday, April 20

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government as of 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 20. Congress This afternoon Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) put a hold on the president’s nomination of Chiquita Brooks-LaSure to be CMS administrator in response to the administration’s decision to revoke a Medicaid waiver the previous administration granted to his state. The White House COVID-19 The White House has posted a transcript of the April 19 press briefing provided by its COVID-19 response team and public health officials. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services COVID-19 CMS has issued section 1135 waivers to Colorado, Maine, [...]

iqtsupport2021-04-20T17:08:52-04:00April 20, 2021|Congress, COVID-19, MACPAC, Medicare|

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|