President Biden’s Third State of the Union

President Biden’s Third State of the Union

In his third State of the Union address, President Biden highlighted some of his health policy proposals for the upcoming year. His speech focused on efforts to lower prescription drug costs in Medicare and private health insurance and make permanent expanded premium tax credits for Marketplace coverage. Biden also called on Congress to provide $12 billion for women’s health research,… (Llamas, March 7, 2024) #Insurance Reform, #Prescription Drugs

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Manufacturer RFA Applications Due May 1 for Cell and Gene Therapy Access Model

Manufacturer RFA Applications Due May 1 for Cell and Gene Therapy Access Model

the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) released a request for applications (RFA) for the Cell and Gene Therapy Access Model. Eligible manufacturers include those that have a gene therapy approved or licensed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for sickle cell disease and participate in the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program (MDRP). Responses are due by May 1… (Slifer, March 7, 2024) #Demonstration Programs, #Drug Pricing

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Senators Discuss How to Support Primary Care to Reduce Health Care Spending

Senators Discuss How to Support Primary Care to Reduce Health Care Spending

The Senate Budget Committee convened a hearing to discuss how primary care can make the health care system more efficient. Senators spoke about the importance of individuals having strong relationships with their primary care providers. Senators and witnesses generally agreed that physician payment should be “rebalanced” to support primary care providers and incentivize the use of preventive care. Key Takeaways Policy Outlook. Senators from… (McClurg, March 6, 2024) #Accountable Care Organizations, #Costs, #Medicare Advantage, #Prevention, #Primary Care

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Department Announces Actions to Help Providers Navigate Billing Problems Following Cyber Attack on Change Healthcare; CMS to Allow Providers Submit Accelerated Payment Requests to MACs for Individual Consideration

Department Announces Actions to Help Providers Navigate Billing Problems Following Cyber Attack on Change Healthcare; CMS to Allow Providers Submit Accelerated Payment Requests to MACs for Individual Consideration

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a statement recognizing the impact on health care operations of the cybersecurity incident affecting Change Healthcare, a unit of UnitedHealth Group (UHG), which occurred in late February. HHS stated it is prioritizing the coordination of efforts to minimize disruptions to care, and noted it has been actively engaged with UHG leadership,… (Colocho, March 5, 2024) #Health Information Technology, #Hospitals, #Privacy

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Agencies Issue RFI on Health Care Consolidation, Comments due May 6th

Agencies Issue RFI on Health Care Consolidation, Comments due May 6th

Today, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Antitrust Division, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) jointly issued a request for information (RFI) to inform the agencies’ identification of enforcement priorities and future actions, including new regulations, aimed at promoting competition in health care markets and ensuring appropriate access to quality, affordable health… (Eisen, March 5, 2024) #Costs, #Delivery Reform, #Hospitals, #Primary Care

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Department Issues Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for Limiting Data Transfers to Countries of Concern; Comments Due April 19

Department Issues Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for Limiting Data Transfers to Countries of Concern; Comments Due April 19

The National Security Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ) issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) in response to the Executive Order of February 28, 2024, titled “Preventing Access to Americans’ Bulk Sensitive Personal Data and United States Government-Related Data by Countries of Concern.” The Order mandates the Attorney General to establish regulations prohibiting or restricting U.S. persons… (Colocho, March 4, 2024) #Health Information Technology, #Privacy

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Government Accountability Office (GAO) Recommends Changes to Head Start Program Funding to Align with Community’s Child Poverty Rates

Government Accountability Office (GAO) Recommends Changes to Head Start Program Funding to Align with Community’s Child Poverty Rates

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report examining opportunities for the Head Start Program to modify its resource allocation to better meet community needs as reflected by a community’s child poverty rate. This study found that Head Start availability and funding are not currently closely aligned with child poverty rates. Rather, data from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office… (Eisen, 1/1/70) #Health Equity, #Mental and Behavioral Health, #Pediatrics, #Public Health

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House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Health Discuss Legislative Proposals to Support Patients with Rare Diseases

House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Health Discuss Legislative Proposals to Support Patients with Rare Diseases

The House Energy & Commerce (E&C) Health Subcommittee convened a legislative hearing to examine 18 bills aimed at improving patient access to treatments for rare diseases (hearing memo) – including legislation affecting the drug approval process at the Food and Drug Administration, Medicare and Medicaid coverage, and other issues. All bills are bipartisan, except for the Antimicrobial Resistance Research Assessment… (Eisen, March 1, 2024) #Costs, #Drug Pricing, #Food and Drug Administration, #Pediatrics, #Quality, #Value-Based Insurance Design, #Value-Based Purchasing

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USDA Equity Commission Releases Final Report With Recommendations

USDA Equity Commission Releases Final Report With Recommendations

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) convened its inaugural National Equity Summit to announce and publish the USDA Equity Commission’s final report. The Equity Commission has been working on the report since February 2022 to provide a set of actionable recommendations to modify programs, policies, practices, culture, systems, and structures to reduce disparities, and advance racial justice and equity for underserved communities. The… (1/1/70) #Health Equity, #Nutrition

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Agency Releases Final Part One Guidance for Medicare Prescription Payment Plan; Establishes $600 POS Threshold

Agency Releases Final Part One Guidance for Medicare Prescription Payment Plan; Establishes $600 POS Threshold

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued final part one guidance on a select set of topics for the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan (MPPP), which requires all Medicare prescription drug plans to offer their Part D enrollees the option to pay their out-of-pocket (OOP) Part D drug costs through monthly payments over the course of the plan year instead of as… (Slifer, February 29, 2024) #Drug Pricing, #Prescription Drugs

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