Change Healthcare cyberattack

Federal Health Policy Update for June 20

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for June 14-20. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. No Surprises Act HHS and the departments of Labor and the Treasury have announced a policy that offers extra time to health care providers whose desire to engage in No Surprises Act adjudication of payment disagreements with payers was affected by the Change Healthcare cybersecurity attack. Under this temporary policy, providers, facilities, and providers of air ambulance services whose ability to initiate timely No Surprises Act open negotiation for any item or service [...]

joe2024-06-20T19:22:28+00:00June 20, 2024|340b, Alternative payment models, Medicaid, Medicare, Medicare post-acute care, Medicare regulations, Medicare reimbursement policy, MedPAC|

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; 340B-eligible providers may now challenge manufacturers that seek to prevent [...]

joe2024-04-25T20:25:44+00:00April 25, 2024|340b, Accountable Care Organization, ACO, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, hospitals, Medicaid, Medicaid long-term services and supports, Medicaid managed care, Medicaid regulations, Medicaid regulations for long-term care, Medicaid regulations for the disabled, Medicare, Medicare post-acute care, Medicare regulations, post-acute care|

Federal Health Policy Update for March 28

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for March 22-28. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. The Cyberattack on Change Healthcare HHS, its Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, and CMS have published a resource guide for providers seeking assistance in response to the Change Healthcare cyberattack. Find that guide here. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services CMS has issued a proposed rule to update Medicare payment policies and rates under its Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility (IRF) Prospective Payment System and the IRF Quality Reporting Program (QRP) for FY 2025. The proposed rule [...]

joe2024-03-28T19:23:45+00:00March 28, 2024|Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, COVID-19, health equity, hospitals, MACPAC, Medicaid, Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission, Medicare, Medicare post-acute care, Medicare regulations, Medicare reimbursement policy|

Federal Health Policy Update for March 21

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for March 15-21. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. The White House The White House has announced new actions to advance women’s health research and innovation and issued an executive order in support of that objective. The order directs executive branch agencies to integrate women’s health across the federal research portfolio; prioritize investments in women’s health research; pursue new research on women’s midlife health; and assess unmet needs to support women’s health research. Learn more from this White House fact sheet, which [...]

Federal Health Policy Update for March 14

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for March 8-14. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. The White House The Biden administration this week released its proposed FY 2025 federal budget. Health care highlights include: Making permanent the expanded health care premium tax credits introduced to make health insurance marketplace plans more affordable for middle-class Americans. Extension of coverage similar to Medicaid to residents of the 10 states that have not taken advantage of the Affordable Care Act opportunity to expand their Medicaid programs. Permission for states to extend [...]

joe2024-03-14T20:46:56+00:00March 14, 2024|Affordable Care Act, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Congress, hospitals, MACPAC, Medicaid, Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission, Medicare, Medicare reimbursement policy, MedPAC, Telehealth|

Federal Health Policy Update for March 7

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for March 1-7. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. Congress On Wednesday, March 16 the House passed, by a vote of 339-85, the first package of spending bills to fund some federal agencies through the remainder of the 2024 federal fiscal year. The House bills include several health care provisions extending programs that were set to expire on Friday, March 8. The bills would extend the following provisions and programs through December 31, 2024: The continued delay of cuts to Medicaid disproportionate [...]

joe2024-03-07T21:42:53+00:00March 7, 2024|Alternative payment models, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Congress, hospitals, MACPAC, Medicaid, Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission, Medicaid DSH, Medicaid DSH allotments, Medicaid regulations, Medicare, Medicare regulations, Medicare reimbursement policy, MedPAC, post-acute care|