Telehealth

Federal Health Policy Update for February 20

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for February 14-20.  Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. Congress The current continuing resolution funding the federal government expires on March 14 and a number of health care extenders, including preventing cuts to Medicaid disproportionate share (Medicaid DSH), an extension of telehealth flexibilities, an extension of the Acute Hospital Care at Home program, and other rural programs will expire on March 31.  It is yet unclear how Congress will meet either of those deadlines. Provisions that had been included in the bipartisan [...]

2025-02-20T16:09:51-05:00February 20, 2025|Affordable Care Act, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, hospitals, Medicaid, Medicaid disproportionate share, Medicaid DSH, Medicaid DSH allotments, Medicare, Telehealth|
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Federal Health Policy Update for February 13

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for February 7 - 13.  Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. Introduction With the pause in external communication that the new administration imposed on HHS three weeks ago, including announcements, advisories, regular publications, and web site updates, there has been very little public communication from or activity involving HHS in the past week.  While an HHS spokesperson explained that the moratorium has been eased and agencies are now permitted to engage in some public communication, subject to review, such activity remains very [...]

2025-02-13T15:23:17-05:00February 13, 2025|Accountable Care Organization, ACO, Alternative payment models, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, CMMI, hospitals, MACPAC, Medicaid, Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission, Medicaid disproportionate share, Medicaid DSH, Medicaid DSH allotments, Medicaid regulations, Medicare, Medicare reimbursement policy, MedPAC, Telehealth|
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Hospitals Chart 2025 Public Policy Objectives

The hospital industry has an ambitious public policy agenda for 2025 – most of it involving defending the status quo against proposed changes. Hospitals’ advocacy in 2025 will focus on: Fighting off Medicaid cuts, work requirements, reductions in the federal Medicaid matching rate, eliminating scheduled cuts in Medicaid disproportionate share (Medicaid DSH) allotments to the states, and protecting state-directed Medicaid payments and the ability of states to raise Medicaid funding through provider taxes. Preventing a transition to site-neutral payments for Medicare-covered outpatient services. Ensuring the continuation of current section 340B prescription drug discount program practices. Preserving and even extending current [...]

2025-02-12T11:11:23-05:00February 13, 2025|340b, hospitals, Medicaid, Medicaid disproportionate share, Medicaid DSH, Medicaid DSH allotments, Medicaid managed care, Medicaid regulations, Medicare, Medicare reimbursement policy, Telehealth|
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Federal Health Policy Update for January 16

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for January 11-17.  Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. Congress   House Budget Committee Republican members of the House Budget Committee have circulated a list of possible policy changes that would reduce federal spending by between $5.3 trillion and $5.7 trillion over a period of ten years.  Up to $3.4 trillion of those possible cuts could include reductions in federal health care spending.  The health care cuts the document lists (all figures are ten-year reductions) are: Medicare introducing Medicare site-neutral outpatient payments - [...]

2025-01-16T16:45:18-05:00January 16, 2025|Accountable Care Organization, ACO, Affordable Care Act, Alternative payment models, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, CMMI, Congress, COVID-19, Federal Update, MACPAC, Medicaid, Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission, Medicaid disproportionate share, Medicaid DSH, Medicaid DSH allotments, Medicaid regulations, Medicare, Medicare bad debt reimbursement, Medicare cuts, Medicare disproportionate share, Medicare DSH, Medicare regulations, Medicare reimbursement policy, Pennsylvania Update, Telehealth|
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Federal Health Policy Update for January 3

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for December 20 through January 3.  Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. Congress The 119th Congress convened today to swear in new members and members of the House of Representatives have re-elected Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) as Speaker. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services CMS has published a solicitation for up to 10 additional hospitals from eligible low population density states to participate in its Rural Community Hospital Demonstration program.  The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 directed the agency [...]

2025-01-03T15:27:26-05:00January 3, 2025|Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, CMMI, Congress, Federal Update, hospitals, Medicaid, Medicare, Medicare regulations, Pennsylvania Update, Telehealth|
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Federal Health Policy Update for December 19

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for December 13-19.  Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. Congress Funding for the operation of the federal government will expire tomorrow, December 20, unless Congress passes a funding bill.  Earlier this week, congressional leaders agreed on a continuing resolution that included a number of health care priorities, including relief from scheduled Medicaid DSH cuts, relief for Medicare physician payment cuts, extension of telehealth flexibilities, extension of the Acute Hospital Care at Home program, a number of changes in the practices of pharmacy [...]

2024-12-19T16:06:57-05:00December 19, 2024|340b, Accountable Care Organization, ACO, Alternative payment models, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, CMMI, Congress, hospitals, MACPAC, Medicaid, Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission, Medicaid disproportionate share, Medicaid DSH, Medicaid DSH allotments, Medicare reimbursement policy, MedPAC, Telehealth|
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Federal Health Policy Update for November 21

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for November 15-21.  Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. The Incoming Administration President Trump has nominated Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. for Secretary of Health and Human Services and Dr. Mehmet Oz for Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).  Both positions require confirmation by the Senate.  Senators will start the process of confirming the President-elect’s cabinet nominees when the new Congress convenes in January. Congress Funding for the federal government will expire on December 20 and it is still [...]

2024-11-21T15:14:52-05:00November 21, 2024|Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, hospitals, Medicaid, Medicaid managed care, Medicaid regulations, Medicare, Medicare regulations, Medicare reimbursement policy, Telehealth|
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Federal Health Policy Update for November 14

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for November 8-14.  Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. Election Update House of Representatives Though the outcome of nine races for seats in the House remains undecided, Republicans have won enough seats to control the House in the new Congress.  Yesterday, Republicans voted to nominate the current Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson (LA), for Speaker in the new Congress and will hold the vote for that position when the 119th Congress convenes in Washington, D.C. on January 3.  It is expected, after [...]

2024-11-14T15:18:02-05:00November 14, 2024|ACO, Alternative payment models, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, CMMI, COVID-19, health equity, hospitals, Medicaid, Medicaid DSH, Medicaid DSH allotments, Medicare reimbursement policy, MedPAC, Telehealth|
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Federal Health Policy Update for November 7

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for November 1-7.  Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. Medicare Payment Regulations Late last week CMS published four regulations describing how Medicare will pay certain providers in 2025.  The following is a brief overview of those regulations. Medicare Outpatient Prospective Payment System Rate increase of 2.9 percent for outpatient and ambulatory surgical center services. New Conditions of Participation for obstetrical services. Additional payments for selected non-opioid treatments for pain relief. Minor modifications of the inpatient-only list. A change in the review time [...]

2024-11-07T16:26:47-05:00November 7, 2024|Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, health equity, hospitals, MACPAC, Medicaid, Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission, Medicare, Medicare post-acute care, Medicare regulations, Medicare reimbursement policy, Telehealth|
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Federal Health Policy Update for October 31

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for October 25-31.  Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. The White House The White House has announced a new private sector pilot program to maintain uninterrupted access to seven pre-selected pediatric cancer medications.  Pilot participants in this program, which is part of the Biden Cancer Moonshot, will develop stewardship standards focused on identifying shortage risks, promoting transparent inventory awareness, and fostering an effective approach to preventing patient care disruptions and maintaining consistent drug distribution to children and families facing cancer.  The pilot [...]

2024-10-31T15:10:55-04:00October 31, 2024|Accountable Care Organization, ACO, Alternative payment models, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, hospitals, MACPAC, Medicaid, Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission, Medicaid managed care, Medicaid regulations, Medicare regulations, Medicare reimbursement policy, Telehealth|
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