Medicaid

Federal Health Policy Update for June 22

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for June 9-22.  Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services CMS has announced new flexibilities to help keep Americans insured as states resume Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) renewals.  The new flexibilities were announced in a letter sent by HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra to the nation’s governors urging them to adopt all available flexibilities to minimize avoidable coverage losses among children and families.  The new flexibilities include permitting managed care plans to assist people currently [...]

Health Policy Update for June 8

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for May 28 – June 8.  Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services CMS has announced a new primary care model – the Making Care Primary Model – that will be tested by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation in eight states.  The model seeks to improve care for patients by expanding and enhancing care management and care coordination, equipping primary care clinicians with tools to form partnerships with health care specialists, and leveraging community-based connections [...]

Beneficiaries Starting to Feel Effects of Medicaid Unwinding

With the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency, states are now undertaking in earnest the challenge of reconsidering Medicaid eligibility for millions of people currently on their Medicaid rolls – something federal law has prohibited them from doing since the early days of the pandemic. And while 65 percent of those currently enrolled in Medicaid, according to a recent survey, are unaware of the current process and the possibility that they may soon lose their Medicaid eligibility, states are already reconsidering beneficiaries’ eligibility. Learn more about what has become known as “Medicaid unwinding” and the impact it is starting [...]

2023-05-30T06:00:52-04:00May 30, 2023|COVID-19, Medicaid|

Federal Health Policy Update for May 25

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for May 19-25.  Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. Congress The House Energy and Commerce Committee has advanced to the full House two bills with significant implications for health care providers. H.R. 3561 calls for delaying $8 billion a year in Medicaid DSH cuts for two years – cuts scheduled to take effect in October; imposing site-neutral payments for drug infusion services provided in off-campus hospital outpatient departments; imposing stronger price transparency requirements on hospitals; and requiring hospitals to report selected ownership [...]

Federal Health Policy Update for May 18

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for May 12-18.  Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. Congress The House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee has approved and advanced five bipartisan health care bills. H.R. 3281 combined a number of proposals into a larger package and includes provisions that would: delay for two years Medicaid disproportionate share (Medicaid DSH) cuts currently scheduled to take effect on October 1; require health providers to use a unique identifier for each off-campus or remote outpatient department beginning in 2026; change how Medicare pays [...]

Federal Health Policy Update for May 11

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for May 5-11.  Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. End of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency DeBrunner & Associates has prepared a summary of the status of selected government health care waivers and flexibilities following expiration of the COVID-19 public health emergency today.  The DeBrunner summary covers telehealth, COVID-19 treatment and coverage, flexible hospital operations, long-term-care hospitals, inpatient rehabilitation facilities and units, patient cost-sharing, and state Medicaid waivers.  Find the summary here. CMS has sent a memo to state Medicaid and CHIP [...]

Federal Health Policy Update for May 4

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for April 28 – May 4.  Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. End of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency DeBrunner & Associates has prepared a summary of the status of selected government health care waivers and flexibilities upon the expiration of the COVID-19 public health emergency on May 11. The DeBrunner summary covers telehealth, COVID-19 treatment and coverage, flexible hospital operations, long-term-care hospitals, inpatient rehabilitation facilities and units, patient cost-sharing, and state Medicaid waivers.  Find the summary here. The COVID-19 public health [...]

Federal Health Policy Update for April 27

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for April 21-27.  Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. End of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency DeBrunner & Associates has prepared a summary of the status of selected government health care waivers and flexibilities upon the expiration of the COVID-19 public health emergency on May 11.  The DeBrunner summary covers telehealth, COVID-19 treatment and coverage, flexible hospital operations, long-term-care hospitals, inpatient rehabilitation facilities and units, patient cost-sharing, and state Medicaid waivers.  Find the summary here. CMS has posted a new FAQ that [...]

Federal Health Policy Update for April 20

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for April 8 – 20.  Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. The White House The Biden administration has announced a plan to expand health coverage for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) individuals.  To this end, it announced that HHS will soon propose a rule amending the definition of “lawful presence,” for purposes of Medicaid and Affordable Care Act coverage, to include DACA recipients.  If finalized, the rule would make DACA individuals eligible for these programs for the first time.  Under the proposed rule, [...]

Federal Health Policy Update for April 7

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for March 31 – April 7.  Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. The White House President Biden has signed an executive order calling for the modernization of the regulatory review process.  Among other objectives, the order seeks to improve the effectiveness of the regulatory review process and promote inclusive regulatory policy and public participation.  The order gives the Office of Management and Budget, through its Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs and in consultation with the Council of Economic Advisers and representatives [...]

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