After two years, a multitude of factors are pointing toward the end of the formal public health emergency declaration, related emergency declarations, and associated waivers in connection with COVID-19, including declining...more
On Friday, June 11, 2021, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the deadlines by when health care providers must use COVID-19 Provider Relief Fund (PRF) payments and submit reports to HHS on use of...more
On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed into law the American Rescue Plan Act, a $1.9 trillion package to provide relief related to the COVID-19 public health emergency. The final legislation, which passed with support from...more
3/22/2021
/ American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 ,
Biden Administration ,
CARES Act ,
Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) ,
COBRA ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Grants ,
Health Care Providers ,
Health Insurance ,
Medicaid ,
Medicare ,
Mental Health ,
Public Health ,
Relief Measures ,
Rural Health Care Providers ,
Skilled Nursing Facility ,
Vaccinations
On December 21, 2020, the House and Senate passed fiscal year (FY) 2021 federal omnibus appropriations legislation that included the fifth measure passed by Congress to address the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to providing...more
12/28/2020
/ CARES Act ,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Drug Pricing ,
Federal Funding ,
Financial Stimulus ,
Health Care Providers ,
Healthcare Facilities ,
Medicaid ,
Medicare ,
Popular ,
Relief Measures
Remaining Congressional Session - There is very little time left in this Congressional session, and both the House and Senate are expected to depart in October to go home to campaign. The exact timing is unclear and the plans...more
On June 9, 2020, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced additional payments under the COVID-19 Provider Relief Fund to reimburse providers for health care related expenses and revenue losses attributable...more
On May 1, 2020, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced additional payments under the COVID-19 Provider Relief Fund to reimburse providers for health care related expenses and revenue losses attributable...more
5/15/2020
/ Attestation Requirements ,
CARES Act ,
Compliance ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Eligibility ,
Funding Portal ,
Guidance Update ,
Health Care Providers ,
Hospitals ,
Long Term Care Facilities ,
MACPAC ,
Overpayment ,
Provider Relief Fund ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Rural Health Care Providers
On April 23, 2020, the House of Representatives passed the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, which previously passed the Senate on April 21, 2020, and is expected to be signed into law by the...more
4/26/2020
/ Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) ,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ,
Community Health Systems ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Dentists ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Federal Funding ,
Health Care Providers ,
Indian Health Service (IHS) ,
Manufacturers ,
Medical Research ,
National Institute of Health (NIH) ,
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) ,
Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act ,
Popular ,
Relief Measures ,
Rural Health Care Providers ,
Skilled Nursing Facility ,
Small Business Loans ,
Uninsured Patients ,
Virus Testing
Health care providers are beginning to receive payments from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to address expenses and revenue losses related to coronavirus (COVID-19). On April 10, 2020, HHS announced the...more
The Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act was signed by the President on March 6 and provides $8.3 billion in multi-year funds to combat the growing public health threat. ...more
President Trump's fiscal year 2020 (FY20) budget proposal for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) reflects the Trump Administration's priorities to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA), implement...more
3/18/2019
/ Affordable Care Act ,
Cost-Sharing ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Drug Pricing ,
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ,
Health Care Providers ,
Medicaid ,
Medicare ,
Opioid ,
Popular ,
Prescription Drugs ,
Section 340B ,
Trump Administration
Health care issues will remain a central focus in Washington throughout 2019. Having gained control of the House following the 2018 mid-term elections, Democrats now have the ability to block President Trump's legislative...more
2/12/2019
/ Affordable Care Act ,
Block Grants ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
CMMI ,
Congressional Oversight ,
Constitutional Challenges ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Drug Pricing ,
Healthcare Reform ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Medicaid Expansion ,
Medicare ,
Medicare for All ,
Political Parties ,
Popular ,
Prescription Drugs ,
Repeal ,
Stark Law ,
State Medicaid Programs ,
Trump Administration ,
Waivers
On September 28, 2018, the House voted 361-61 to send President Trump a Fiscal Year 2019 (FY19) spending bill including $674.4 billion for Defense and $178.1 billion for Labor-HHS-Education. The Senate voted 93-7 to adopt the...more
On August 1, 2018, the Departments of Treasury, Labor, and Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a final rule to expand the availability of short-term, limited duration insurance (STLDI or short-term plans). ...more
On Tuesday, July 24, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule intended to clarify the program methodology and reinstate payments under the Affordable Care Act's (ACA) permanent risk adjustment...more
Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar has continued to promote and expand on the Trump Administration's new Drug Pricing Blueprint through media appearances and congressional testimonies over the past several...more
On Friday, May 11, President Donald Trump and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar presented the Administration's long-awaited plan to address drug pricing. The proposed framework, entitled,...more
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is soliciting comments from the public on the Administration's proposals to reduce drug prices and is targeting the 340B drug pricing program as an area of focus. ...more
On April 9, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released the long-anticipated final Notice of Benefits and Payment Parameters (NBPP) for plan year 2019, providing standards for health insurers and the health...more
The wide-reaching Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (BBA), passed by Congress and signed by the President on February 9, 2018, extends and modifies dozens of health care programs, including extending funding for two years for...more
2/22/2018
/ ACOs ,
Affordable Care Act ,
Bipartisan Budget Act ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Health Care Providers ,
Medicare ,
Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization (MACRA) ,
Medicare Part B ,
Medicare Part D
On February 20, 2018, the Departments of Treasury, Labor, and Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a proposed rule to expand the availability of Short-Term, Limited Duration Insurance (STLDI). Building on President Trump's...more
Note: All fiscal estimates cited over a ten-year budget window refer to the Fiscal Year 2019-2028 budget window.
The President's fiscal year 2019 (FY19) budget proposal for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)...more
2/20/2018
/ Affordable Care Act ,
Cost-Sharing ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Drug Pricing ,
Federal Budget ,
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ,
Health Care Providers ,
HRSA ,
Medicaid ,
Medicare ,
Medicare Part D ,
Opioid ,
Trump Administration
After a brief federal government shutdown overnight, Congress passed and the President signed into law the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 on February 9, 2018. The Senate voted 71-28 and the House voted 240-186 to approve the...more
2/12/2018
/ Affordable Care Act ,
Bipartisan Budget Act ,
Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Health Care Providers ,
Health Insurance ,
Medicare ,
Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization (MACRA) ,
Medicare Part B ,
Medicare Part D ,
Opioid
Health care stakeholders, the Administration, and Congress are likely to continue responding to the worsening nationwide opioid abuse epidemic. Last October, President Trump declared a Nationwide Public Health Emergency to...more
Health care stakeholders are increasing pressure on Congress to continue funding for a series of Medicare "extenders" – Medicare program and payment policies that expired at the end of 2017. Some examples of the extenders...more