K&L Gates Triage: An Insider’s Perspective on the Health Care Debate in Washington, DC
Last Friday, President Trump declared the spread of COVID-19 to be a national emergency, ushering in new flexibilities for federal health care programs to address the crisis. Within hours of the announcement, the Centers for...more
On March 13, 2020, President Donald Trump issued a proclamation declaring a national emergency concerning the novel coronavirus disease (the “Emergency Declaration”). The president framed the emergency declaration as...more
With the emergency declaration under the National Emergencies Act related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) on March 13, 2020, President Trump paved the way for CMS to temporarily waive certain Medicare, Medicaid, and Children's...more
This week in Washington: The House is not in session. The Senate will resume the impeachment trial on Tuesday....more
When patients battle with the desperate extremes of a disease like a fast-spreading cancer, it isn’t just the radiation and chemo therapies that sap their spirits, there’s a demoralizing runner-up concern: The constant...more
Currently, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) defines a "public charge" as someone who is or is likely to become "primarily dependent on the government for subsistence, as demonstrated by either the receipt of...more
Americans who are poor, middle-class, chronically or mentally ill, disabled, frail, elderly and young — most of us, really — may need to keep our fingers crossed that the relentless attacks on health care access fail again....more
As the nation churns toward the midterm elections, the Trump Administration has sent stark messages to voters about how they may wish to respond to Republicans’ unceasing attacks on health care and health insurance for the...more
The Trump Administration on Feb. 12 released its Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 budget request, titled "An American Budget." Unlike last year's budget, which was released in late May, the release of this budget conforms to the typical...more
• Congress amended current law to prevent CMS from applying the “MIPS” payment adjustment to separately billed items like drugs and biologics, which will drastically reduce the total amount of payment adjustments to clinical...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
The Trump administration and Republican-led Congress spent substantial time and political capital in 2017 on efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and enact sweeping Medicaid reform. By the end of the...more
On January 20, 2017, businessman Donald J. Trump was sworn in as the 45th President of the United States following a contentious and unconventional 2016 presidential election. Republicans also successfully maintained control...more
On January 9th, the Senate Committee on Finance conducted its nomination hearing of Alex Michael Azar II, President Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services. Under President George W. Bush, Mr. Azar served...more
December is often the busiest time in Washington, and this year is no different as Congress races toward the holiday finish line. There is still a multitude of problems to solve before members can head back to their...more
As the Republican-controlled Congress rams through a national budget and a package of changes to the tax system, President Trump and his partisans are staying true to course. They’re determined to slash taxes for the rich,...more
1332 Waivers Under Review at CMS - The Trump administration has approved one 1332 waiver to date, but four more are pending, including a sweeping Iowa waiver. Here is where things stand today...more
As the late, sultry diva Peggy Lee used to croon: Is that all there is? The Republicans in Washington, after seven years of trying and dozens of faux earlier votes, have failed to repeal and replace the Affordable Care...more
CMS seeks input on potential market stabilization rulemaking; Iowa proposes a single standardized Marketplace plan and reinsurance program; and Centene will expand its Marketplace offerings for 2018, including adding new...more
On Tuesday, May 23, the White House released the President's fiscal year 2018 (FY18) budget, launching a contentious and consequential debate that is expected to last through the end of the fiscal year and possibly beyond....more
The Trump Administration released on May 23, 2017, its full Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 budget request, titled "A New Foundation for American Greatness." President Donald Trump's request builds off of the administration's March 16...more
Eric Zimmerman, along with McDermott+Consulting Vice Presidents Adaeze Enekwechi and Piper Su, wrote this +Insights publication detailing the possible effects of the Trump Administration's 2018 budget on health programs and...more
The President's budget proposes over $600 billion in Medicaid cuts on top of major reductions anticipated in repeal and replace legislation; the Trump Administration asks the Court for more time to decide on cost-sharing...more
If Congress chose to do nothing other than what it absolutely has to address, it would have three very consuming legislative policy issues on its plate in 2017: the various User Fee Acts (UFAs) reauthorization, the...more
With Congress back in session, attention in the health care policy universe is directed squarely at Washington, where Republicans in Congress and the Trump Administration are debating how to repeal and replace the Affordable...more