In recent elections, health care has been one of the most hot-button issues with consequences for millions of Americans, and this election is no exception. The next administration and the 119th Congress have the potential to...more
8/27/2024
/ Abortion ,
Affordable Care Act ,
Drug Pricing ,
Health Insurance ,
Healthcare ,
Healthcare Reform ,
Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) ,
Medicaid ,
Medicare ,
Presidential Elections ,
Reproductive Healthcare Issues
Welcome back. This week, the Senate Finance Committee is set to meet privately to discuss the drug pricing legislation being developed by the committee. All signs point to a deal being close with a few outstanding provisions,...more
This week, all is quiet in the Senate as stakeholders await the release of the highly anticipated cost-containment package that is being developed by the HELP and Finance committees. While the details are not yet public – a...more
As of June 2015, 24 states utilize a traumatic or acquired brain injury waiver,1 as provided under section 1915(c) of the Social Security Act, which are designed to help individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) live in...more
FDA Reform Tops Spring Work Period Agenda -
The next work period basically runs from April 4 to May 27, with a both chambers adjourning for a week long recess the week of May 2nd. Following this work period, there will...more
Senate HELP Committee Set for Second Mark Up on Cures Effort -
This week, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) will hold its second legislative mark-up on its counterpart to the...more
3/8/2016
/ Affordable Care Act ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Drug & Alcohol Abuse ,
EHR ,
Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) ,
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ,
Food Labeling ,
GMO ,
HELP ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Medicaid ,
Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization (MACRA) ,
Prescription Drugs ,
SCOTUS
What to Expect from Congress this Work Period -
The next Hill work period basically runs from February 22nd to March 23rd. As Congress returns, here’s a brief look at the pending health care issues on the radar for this...more
2/23/2016
/ Affordable Care Act ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Federal Budget ,
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ,
Hospitals ,
Justice Scalia ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Medicaid ,
Medicare Advantage ,
Physicians ,
Prescription Drug Coverage ,
Recovery Audit Contractors (RACs) ,
Substance Abuse
Major Medicaid Drug Payment Rule Under OMB Review: Last week a highly anticipated rule that could set the standards for the Medicaid Drug Rebate program arrived at the White House for final review. The Medicaid Outpatient...more
8/11/2015
/ Affordable Care Act ,
Amarin ,
Caronia ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Cybersecurity ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
FCC ,
First Amendment ,
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ,
Hackers ,
Health Care Providers ,
ICD-10 ,
Medicaid ,
Off-Label Promotion ,
OIG ,
OMB ,
Pending Legislation ,
Pharmaceutical Industry ,
Prescription Drug Coverage ,
Regulatory Agenda
CMS Releases Final Payment Rules (IPPS, IRF, LTCHs, Hospice, and Psych): At the end of last week, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a set of final 2016 payment rules affecting acute care hospitals...more
8/4/2015
/ Affordable Care Act ,
Alternative Payment Models (APM) ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Congressional Investigations & Hearings ,
DSH ,
Electronic Medical Records ,
Final Rules ,
Health Care Providers ,
Health Information Technologies ,
Healthcare ,
Healthcare Reform ,
Hospitals ,
Long Term Care Facilities ,
Medicaid ,
Medicare ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Psychiatric Hospitals ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Two-Midnight Rule ,
Value-Based Purchasing
ACA Repeal Votes Continue: As part of a rare Senate Sunday session to consider a bill to replenish the highway trust fund for six years, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) brought up an amendment to repeal the ACA—in...more
7/29/2015
/ Affordable Care Act ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Congressional Investigations & Hearings ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Health Care Providers ,
Health Insurance ,
Health Insurance Exchanges ,
Healthcare ,
Healthcare Reform ,
Medicaid ,
Medicaid Expansion ,
Medicare ,
Obama Administration ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Substance Abuse
Congress Slowly Works on Budget Reconciliation; ACA Reform Proposals Still Up in the Air -
The FY 2016 budget resolution, which was agreed to by Congress this past April, included broad reconciliation instructions...more
7/21/2015
/ Affordable Care Act ,
AHRQ ,
Budget Reconciliation ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Congressional Investigations & Hearings ,
Drug Pricing ,
Electronic Medical Records ,
Federal Budget ,
Fraud Prevention ,
GAO ,
Health Care Providers ,
Health Information Technologies ,
Healthcare ,
Healthcare.gov ,
Home Health Care ,
ICD-10 ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Long Term Care Facilities ,
Medicaid ,
Medical Records ,
Medicare ,
Mental Health ,
Obama Administration ,
OMB ,
ONC ,
Pending Legislation ,
Prescription Drugs ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Telehealth ,
Telemedicine
In This Issue:
- Recent Mandatory APMs Signal Evolution in Delivery Reform Efforts
- Implementation of the Affordable Care Act
- Federal Regulatory Initiatives
- Congressional Initiatives
- Upcoming...more
7/14/2015
/ Affordable Care Act ,
Alternative Payment Models (APM) ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
CMMI ,
Congressional Investigations & Hearings ,
Contraceptive Coverage Mandate ,
Health Care Providers ,
Health Insurance ,
Healthcare ,
Healthcare Reform ,
Home Health Care ,
Medicaid ,
Medicare ,
New Regulations ,
Telehealth
On July 7th, the House introduced much anticipated bipartisan telehealth legislation. The Medicare Telehealth Parity Act of 2015, introduced by Representative Mike Thompson (D-CA) and co-sponsored by Representatives Gregg...more
7/14/2015
/ Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Health Care Providers ,
Health Insurance ,
Healthcare ,
Healthcare Reform ,
Medicaid ,
Medicare ,
Patients ,
Pending Legislation ,
Physicians ,
Telehealth ,
Telemedicine
In This Issue:
- Medicare Releases Set of Payment Rules, Physician Fee Schedule on Deck
- Implementation of the Affordable Care Act
- Federal Regulatory Initiatives
- Congressional Initiatives
- Other...more
7/8/2015
/ Affordable Care Act ,
Ambulatory Surgery Centers ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Congressional Investigations & Hearings ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Ebola ,
ESRD ,
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ,
Health Care Providers ,
Health Insurance ,
Health Insurance Exchanges ,
Home Health Agencies ,
Hospitals ,
Medicaid ,
Medical Devices ,
Medicare ,
Medicare Payment Reform ,
OIG ,
OPPS ,
Physician Fee Schedule ,
Premiums ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Reinsurance ,
SAMHSA ,
Unique Device Identifiers
In This Issue:
- Federal Regulatory Initiatives
- Congressional Initiatives
- Upcoming Congressional Hearings
- Excerpt from Federal Regulatory Initiatives:
CMS Releases Draft Rules on Medicaid...more
In This Issue:
- President Obama Releases FY2016 Budget Proposal
- Implementation of the Affordable Care Act
- Other Federal Regulatory Initiatives
- Congressional Initiatives
- Other Health...more
In This Issue:
- 21st Century Cures Remains Top Bi-Partisan Priority for 2015
- Senate Passes Critical Access Hospital Direct Supervision Bill
- Implementation of the Affordable Care Act
- Other...more
11/25/2014
/ Affordable Care Act ,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ,
Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) ,
Congressional Investigations & Hearings ,
Ebola ,
Health Insurance ,
Health Insurance Exchanges ,
Healthcare ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Medicaid ,
Medicare ,
Pending Legislation
In recent months, as the conversation about reforming the health care system has shifted to achieving greater delivery system efficiencies, cost containment, and patient satisfaction, the role of health care...more
9/5/2014
/ Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ,
FSMB ,
Health Care Providers ,
Healthcare ,
Healthcare Reform ,
Hospitals ,
ICD Codes ,
ICD-10 ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Medicaid ,
Medical Devices ,
Medicare ,
PHSA ,
Physicians ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Telemedicine
In This Issue:
- Brady Unveils Medicare/Medicaid Fraud Bill
- Possible Litigation Threat Adds to Considerations in Containing Drug Costs
- Implementation of the Affordable Care Act
- Other Federal...more
In This Issue:
- Obama Administration Ramps up Efforts to Reduce Medicaid Spending
- Senators Press Gilead on Sovaldi
- Implementation of the Affordable Care Act
- Other Federal Regulatory...more
In This Update:
- CMS Getting New Leadership Roles
- Implementation of the Affordable Care Act
- Other Federal Regulatory Initiatives
- Other Congressional and State Initiatives
- Other...more
In This Issue:
- Implementation of the Affordable Care Act
- Other Federal Regulatory Initiatives
- Other Congressional and State Initiatives
- Other Health Care News
- Upcoming Hearings and Markups
-...more
5/6/2014
/ Affordable Care Act ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Expatriates ,
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ,
Health Insurance Exchanges ,
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) ,
Medicaid ,
Medicare ,
Premiums ,
Prescription Drug Coverage ,
Telemedicine
In This Issue:
- Implementation of the Affordable Care Act
- Other Federal Regulatory Initiatives
- Other Congressional and State Initiatives
- Other Health Care News
- Upcoming Hearings and...more
In This Issue:
Implementation of the Affordable Care Act; Other Federal Regulatory Initiatives; Other Congressional and State Initiatives; Upcoming Hearings and Markups;
Excerpt from Implementation of the...more
In This Issue:
Implementation of the Affordable Care Act; Other Federal Regulatory Initiatives; Other Congressional and State Initiatives; Other Health Care News; and Upcoming Hearings and Markups.
Excerpt from...more