K&L Gates Triage: An Insider’s Perspective on the Health Care Debate in Washington, DC
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
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
Congress moved one step closer to avoiding a government shutdown on Feb. 6, voting overwhelmingly (245-182) to pass a short-term, GOP-backed government funding bill (text; section-by-section) that would keep the federal...more
Happy New Year!?! 2017 was an eventful year for health care, and now we can all sit back and relax with very little concern that major health policy will be on the table in 2018. Right? Why must Speaker Ryan ruin our...more
As the calendar turns to November, pressure continues to grow in Congress to pass a CHIP package. The relevant House and Senate committees each passed different versions of CHIP, and finding payfors continue to be the main...more
As a part of our ongoing blog series we have provided details on the structure, funding, and outlook of several expiring health care provisions, that we’ve referred to as the health care minibus. The minibus includes all of...more
In this memorandum, Holland & Knight's Healthcare & Life Sciences Team summarizes recent legislative action on funding for the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The Senate Finance Committee and the House Energy...more
With the FY2017 reconciliation instructions behind us, we look ahead to what is left in store for health care between now and the end of the calendar year. While Secretary Price’s departure was expected, what he leaves behind...more
Over the past month, we provided additional details on the structure, funding, and evaluation of the Maternal, Infant, Early Childhood, Home Visiting (MIECHV) program and Medicare Therapy Caps. In this post we will go into...more
Welcome back, friends. While the next stretch likely won’t have the drama of the American Health Care Act (AHCA), there will be plenty happening. There are deadlines that require decisive action on behalf of stakeholders and...more
Welcome to Spring Break! That time of the year where college kids head to a beach somewhere, families pack up for some tourist trap to spend lots of money, and Congress gets out of DC and goes back home. This is also a time...more
The total U.S. health care expenditure was $3.2 trillion in 2015, and is projected to grow to nearly $5.6 trillion by 2025. As our nation’s cost of care rises, both Democrats and Republicans recognize the overwhelming need to...more
ALERT: "No Contract" Disclaimer in Employee Handbook Upheld by Illinois CourtAuthor: Employee handbooks have long been a trap for the unwary employer that desires merely to establish a set of rules and policies without...more
The Children’s Health Insurance Program (“CHIP”), created in 1997, helps states provide health care coverage to low-income children up to age 19 whose families fall above the Medicaid eligibility threshold but are unable to...more
Republicans’ biggest issue will be what to do with the 20 million Americans who have gained coverage under the ACA. Congress reconvened this week for the first time since Donald Trump’s stunning victory, and just as his...more
The ancient Chinese curse – “May you live in interesting times” – certainly springs to mind these days. What does the election of Donald Trump mean for the healthcare industry, the Affordable Care Act and current healthcare...more
Since the Affordable Care Act was enacted, many providers have been shifting away from traditional fee-for-service, volume-based reimbursement models to payment mechanisms that take a data-driven approach to managing patients...more
This Week: Medicaid program takes financial hits as the House looks for “savers” and acts on a budget... while the Senate sees no reason to do a budget... The Senate focuses on ACA oversight and mental health and opioid abuse...more
This Week: The House and Senate were out for Presidents’ Day recess... The Senate to vote on FDA Commissioner nominee Califf after 5:30 today... Medicare Advantage rates announced....more
While Medicare’s path toward pay for performance (P4P) has evolved over time, 2015 is proving to be a landmark year. July marked the 50th anniversary of the Medicare program. And in self-described “historic announcements”...more
This Week: CMS Releases Guidance on Fast Track Process for 1115 Waivers for Medicaid and CHIP... Healthcare.gov CEO Sends Letter to State Insurance Commissioners Concerning 2016 Premium Decisions... Medicare Board of Trustees...more