This week in Washington: Infrastructure deal struck, but it still has a long road ahead to passage; Senate Budget Committee discussed draft resolution with health initiatives included....more
This week in Washington: Supreme Court dismisses challenge to the Affordable Care Act....more
2020 saw the courts continuing to play an important role in health policy with several notable lawsuits related to the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Several other Trump administration policies were challenged, including Medicare...more
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) survived another challenge to its constitutionality today. In a 7-2 decision, the court threw out the challenge to the law, citing lack of standing by the plaintiffs. The plaintiffs, a group of...more
Congress -
House and Senate are in recess for two weeks.
Senate -
Brooks-LaSure Confirmed as CMS Administrator -
On May 25, the Senate voted 55-44 to confirm Chiquita Brooks-LaSure as the Centers for Medicare...more
This week in Washington: Talks continue on infrastructure, Senate committees moving forward on health legislation, President’s budget due the end of the week....more
This week in Washington: HHS and CMS nominations move forward....more
This week in Washington: Biden Administration expresses support for WTO TRIPS Waiver....more
This week in Washington: President Biden Announces American Families Plan Vision in Speech to Joint Session of Congress....more
2020 saw the courts continuing to play an important role in health policy with several notable lawsuits related to the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Several other Trump administration policies were challenged, including Medicare...more
4/28/2021
/ Affordable Care Act ,
Association Health Plans ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Cost-Sharing ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) ,
GAO ,
Medicaid ,
Medicare ,
Popular ,
Section 340B
This week in Washington: Andrea Palm’s nomination for HHS Deputy Secretary Advances out of Senate Finance Committee, Chiquita Brooks-LaSure’s nomination deadlocked....more
4/27/2021
/ Affordable Care Act ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Drug Pricing ,
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ,
GAO ,
Medicare ,
Pharmaceutical Industry ,
Prescription Drugs ,
Proposed Rules ,
Skilled Nursing Facility
This week in Washington: President sends budget request to Congress. ...more
On March 22, 2021, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced it was delaying the Securing Updated and Necessary Statutory Evaluations Timely (SUNSET) rule until March 22, 2022. A one-year delay is unusual....more
This week in Washington: House and Senate return from congressional work period....more
4/13/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
COBRA ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ,
Medicare ,
Mental Health ,
Popular ,
Skilled Nursing Facility ,
Vaccinations
Congress -
House -
Representatives Propose a Permanent Extension of CHIP Funding -
The House Energy and Commerce Committee is looking at ways to strengthen the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and expand Medicaid coverage. A...more
3/30/2021
/ Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Drug Pricing ,
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ,
GAO ,
Medicare ,
OMB ,
Popular ,
Prescription Drugs ,
Telehealth ,
Vaccinations
In the nick of time, the U.S. Senate passed legislation on March 25, 2021, to delay a 2 percent across-the-board cut to Medicare through the rest of 2021. The vote was 90 to 2. Without the delay, all Medicare providers would...more
As of late March 2021, 475 million people worldwide have received a COVID-19 vaccine. Although a return to normalcy is drawing closer, it is unclear how state and federal governments will regulate and reimburse for telehealth...more
This week in Washington: Becerra confirmed 50-49 to be Secretary of Health and Human Services...more
3/23/2021
/ Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Drug Pricing ,
Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) ,
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ,
GAO ,
Medicare Part D ,
Nursing Homes ,
Pharmaceutical Industry ,
Prescription Drugs ,
Vaccinations
This week in Washington: Budget reconciliation package passes and is signed into law; Becerra’s nomination for HHS secretary advances in the Senate....more
On March 11, 2021, President Joe Biden signed into law H.R. 1319, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. The American Rescue Plan’s $1.9 trillion in spending, contains numerous provisions impacting healthcare, including...more
On March 10, 2021, the U.S. House of Representatives narrowly passed H.R. 1319, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, on a largely partisan basis by a 220-211 vote. Final passage came four days after the U.S. Senate amended...more
On March 6, 2021, the U.S. Senate narrowly passed H.R. 1319, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, by a 50-49 vote, along entirely partisan lines. Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK) missed the vote after joining with all Republicans on...more
3/9/2021
/ COBRA ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Health Care Providers ,
Hospitals ,
Medicaid ,
Medicare ,
Mental Health ,
Popular ,
Rural Health Care Providers ,
SAMHSA ,
Skilled Nursing Facility ,
Vaccinations
This week in Washington: Budget reconciliation goes back to the House with changes for vote on Tuesday....more
This week in Washington: The House votes on budget reconciliation while the Senate ponders the Byrd Rule; Senate committees hold hearings on HHS Secretary-designate Becerra’s confirmation....more
In the early morning of Feb. 27, 2021, the U.S. House of Representatives narrowly passed H.R. 1319, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, by a 219-212 vote. Two Democrats joined with a united Republican caucus to oppose the...more
3/2/2021
/ CARES Act ,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ,
Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) ,
COBRA ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
FMAP ,
Health Care Providers ,
Indian Health Service (IHS) ,
Mental Health ,
OIG ,
Personal Protective Equipment ,
Popular ,
Provider Relief Fund ,
SAMHSA ,
Skilled Nursing Facility