States Advancing All-Payer Health Equity Approaches and Development Model

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 [...]

joe2024-10-31T15:10:55-04:00October 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|

Federal Health Policy Update for July 5

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for June 29-July 5. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. Department of Health and Human Services Because it has found that Medicare Advantage organizations sometimes deny prior authorization requests for post-acute care after a qualifying hospital stay even though the requests met Medicare coverage rules, HHS’s Office of the Inspector General will examine selected Medicare Advantage plans’ processes for reviewing prior authorization requests for post-acute care in long-term acute-care hospitals, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, and skilled nursing facilities. It also will review the [...]

joe2024-07-05T17:44:35-04:00July 5, 2024|Alternative payment models, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, CMMI, hospitals, Medicaid, Medicare, Medicare post-acute care, Medicare reimbursement policy, post-acute care|

Federal Health Policy Update for February 22

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for February 16-22. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. CMS and Medicaid DSH Payments CMS has published a final rule governing how third-party payers are factored into the calculation of hospitals’ Medicaid disproportionate share hospital-specific payment limit. This change requires that the calculation be based solely on Medicaid costs and payments and that costs and payments associated with dually eligible (Medicare and Medicaid) patients be excluded from the calculation of that limit. The effect of this change is that hospitals that are [...]

joe2024-02-22T22:00:03-05:00February 22, 2024|Alternative payment models, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, COVID-19, health equity, hospitals, Medicaid, Medicaid disproportionate share, Medicaid DSH, Medicaid regulations, Medicaid upper-payment limit, Medicare, Medicare regulations, Medicare reimbursement policy, Telehealth|

Federal Health Policy Update for November 16

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for November 10-16. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. Congress This week Congress passed another continuing resolution (CR) to fund the federal government beyond Friday, when the current CR expires. This bill establishes two separate deadlines for lawmakers to pass certain spending bills so they can avoid an omnibus bill that includes all 12 appropriations bills. Congress must pass four of the spending bills by January 19 and the other bills by February 2. The Labor, HHS, and Education bill, one of [...]