MLN Connects

Federal Health Policy Update for November 5

Don’t Miss: CMS releases final 2027 Medicare outpatient rule CMS releases final 2027 Medicare physician fee schedule rule New guidance for batching IDR claims The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for October 30-November 5. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. 2026 Midterm Elections Democrats regained control of the House and Senate in the 2026 midterm elections. As of 3:30 p.m. eastern time today, the House is 251-155 and the Senate 54-44, both in favor of Democrats, with the outcome of 29 House races and two Senate [...]

joe2026-11-05T17:13:24-05:00November 5, 2026|340b, Accountable Care Organization, ACO, Alternative payment models, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Congress, hospitals, MACPAC, Medicaid, Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission, Medicaid regulations, Medicare, Medicare post-acute care, Medicare regulations, Medicare reimbursement policy|

Federal Health Policy Update for October 29

Don’t Miss: CMS charts new path for pursuing ACA premium tax credits CMS publishes timeline for implementation of Medicaid changes Court rejects narrow “medically frail” definition for exemption from Medicaid work requirement Inspector General elaborates on new CMS “power to exclude” The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for October 23-29. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. Congress The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform announced an investigation into pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). In letters to CVS Caremark, Express Scripts, and Optum Rx, Chairman James Comer (R-KY) [...]

joe2026-10-29T17:09:21-04:00October 29, 2026|Affordable Care Act, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, CMMI, Congress, hospitals, Medicaid, Medicaid regulations, Medicare, Medicare regulations, Medicare reimbursement policy|

Federal Health Policy Update for October 22

Don’t Miss: Senate Finance Democrats release home care RFI New NIH Women’s Health Division Updated “Health Care Fraud Self-Disclosure” protocol The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for October 16-22. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. Congress Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR) released a Request for Information (RFI) titled “Delivering An Affordable Home Care Guarantee for American Families,” seeking feedback on policy proposals aimed at making home care affordable and accessible, especially for those with disabilities and seniors; improving the quality of care in nursing homes; [...]

sysadmin2026-10-25T16:53:19-04:00October 22, 2026|340b, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Congress, Medicaid, Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission, Medicare|

Federal Health Policy Update for October 15

Don’t Miss: IRS proposes changes in rules governing ACA premium tax credits Lawsuit and legislation aim to block 340B Rebate Model Program CMS updates telehealth FAQ The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for October 9-15. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. Congress Both chambers of Congress will reconvene after the mid-term elections on November 9. Upon their return, one of their priorities will be advancing a government funding package because the current continuing resolution (CR) expires on December 11. Affordable Care Act Premium Tax Credits The IRS has [...]

joe2026-10-15T16:58:25-04:00October 15, 2026|340b, Affordable Care Act, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, hospitals, Medicaid, Medicare post-acute care, Medicare regulations, Medicare reimbursement policy, MedPAC|

Federal Health Policy Update for October 8

Don’t Miss: Latest 340B developments CMS penalizes majority of hospitals for failing to meet Readmissions Reduction Program standards FTC reminds hospitals of price transparency requirements The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for October 2-8. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. The White House The White House announced that the federal government will make one-time payments of $90 per person to more than 20 million Medicare enrollees – about one-third of Medicare participants – to help them pay their Medicare Part B premiums. Most eligible seniors will receive the [...]

joe2026-10-08T16:40:19-04:00October 8, 2026|340b, Alternative payment models, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, CMMI, hospitals, Medicaid, Medicare, Medicare disproportionate share, Medicare DSH, Medicare regulations, Medicare reimbursement policy|

Federal Health Policy Update for September 24

Don’t Miss: CMS plans major cuts in Medicare clinical lab payments Administration reconsiders shifting NIH grant decisions to White House All states enroll in CMS model to reduce prices of selected Medicaid-covered drugs The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for September 18-24. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. The White House The White House has issued the executive order “Enhancing Program Integrity and Interagency Coordination in the Administration of the H-1B Nonimmigrant Visa Program.” The order increases federal oversight of the H-1B visa program because “The abuse of [...]

joe2026-09-24T15:28:11-04:00September 24, 2026|Affordable Care Act, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, hospitals, MACPAC, Medicaid, Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission, Medicaid and homelessness, Medicaid regulations, Medicare, Medicare reimbursement policy|

Federal Health Policy Update for September 17

Don’t Miss: CMS advises on “medical frailty” as qualification for Medicaid eligibility CMS unveils long-anticipated IDR Gateway Medicare ACCESS Model to expand The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for September 11-17. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. Congress The House Energy & Commerce Committee’s Health Subcommittee held a hearing to discuss bills seeking to modify certain physician payments under Medicare, to address cybersecurity in the health care system, and to expand seniors’ access to care. See the chairman’s opening statement here and find a list of witnesses [...]

joe2026-09-17T16:23:30-04:00September 17, 2026|Accountable Care Organization, ACO, Alternative payment models, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Congress, hospitals, Medicaid, Medicaid regulations, Medicare, Medicare disproportionate share, Medicare DSH, Medicare post-acute care, Medicare regulations, Medicare reimbursement policy, MedPAC|

Federal Health Policy Update for September 10

Don’t Miss: Energy and Commerce to weigh multiple health care bills HRSA shares upcoming 340B administrative changes CMS continues distributing Rural Health Transformation Program $$$ The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for September 4-10. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. The White House The White House announced that the federal government will issue refunds of $500 a person to nearly one million Americans who it says were overcharged for Affordable Care Act exchange health plans because their premiums included user fees that were charged to cover the cost [...]

joe2026-09-10T14:54:12-04:00September 10, 2026|340b, Affordable Care Act, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, CMMI, Congress, hospitals, Medicaid, Medicare, Medicare regulations, Medicare reimbursement policy, MedPAC|

Federal Health Policy Update for September 3

Don’t Miss: 340B data reporting requirements for Medicare Part D claims data – repository opens October 1 CMS permanently permits providers to deliver telehealth from home without listing home address on Medicare enrollment application The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for August 28-September 3. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) CMS is preparing to launch a new Medicare Part D Claims Data 340B Repository on October 1. The 340B data repository will be a centralized, federally managed information system that will [...]

joe2026-10-07T11:46:37-04:00September 3, 2026|340b, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Congress, COVID-19, hospitals, Medicaid, Medicare, Medicare regulations, MedPAC, Telehealth|

Federal Health Policy Update for August 27

Don’t Miss: Homeland Security proposes new six-figure H-1B visa fee CMS announces refinement of critical access hospital status evaluation HHS seeks feedback on relative of childhood vaccines The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for August 21-27. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. Congress The House will return from recess next Monday, August 31 and the Senate returns on September 14. Funding for the federal government expires after September 30. H-1B Visas The Department of Homeland Security has issued a notice of proposed rulemaking calling for a $103,265 fee [...]

joe2026-08-27T16:40:49-04:00August 27, 2026|Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Medicaid, Medicare, Medicare reimbursement policy, MedPAC|