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Commissioners Discuss CMS’ Proposed Rule on Minimum Staffing Standards for Long-Term Care Facilities; Agree to Submit Comments Reiterating Previous Transparency Recommendations

The Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) convened a session to discuss the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on nursing facility staffing and payment transparency, establishing minimum staffing standards for long-term care facilities to ensure safe and quality care (Impact Health Policy Summary). MACPAC staff presented an overview of the proposed rule… (Colocho, September 22, 2023) #Long-Term Care, #Quality, #Skilled Nursing Facilities, #Transparency, #Workforce

Commissioners Discuss Plan to Examine Hospital Supplemental Payments Over the Next Two Years

The Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) convened a session to discuss its work plan for examining supplemental payments to hospitals. MACPAC staff provided an overview of the issue and proposed three areas of work that it plans to advance over the next two years: (1) documenting payment methods and policy goals; (2) characterizing payment targeting; and (3)… (Testa, September 22, 2023) #Costs, #Hospitals, #Program Integrity, #Transparency

HELP Committee Advances Bipartisan Workforce Bill But Funding Challenges Persist

The Senate Health, Education, Labor, & Pensions (HELP) Committee convened a markup to discuss a package of legislation related to maternal and infant health, pediatric research, and the health workforce (Impact summary). The legislation would reauthorize a set of health care workforce programs, including Community Health Centers (CHCs), Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education (THCGME), and the National Health Service… (McClurg, September 22, 2023) #Budget, #Pediatrics, #Primary Care, #Women’s Health, #Workforce

States Reinstate Coverage for Nearly Half Million Children and Individuals Disenrolled Due to Auto-Renewal Issues; 29 States and DC Are Working on Reinstating More

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that nearly 500,000 children and other individuals who were improperly disenrolled from Medicaid or CHIP will regain their coverage, as a result of HHS’s call to action on August 30 to states to address issues affecting auto-renewals (also known as “ex parte” renewals).   As a result of the August 30… (Llamas, September 21, 2023) #Coverage Decisions, #COVID-19

Departments Propose IDR Administrative Fee Amount and Methodology, Certified IDR Entity Fee Ranges

The Departments of Treasury, Labor, and Health and Human Services (HHS) (the Departments) released a proposed rule to establish the independent dispute resolution (IDR) administrative fee amount and methodology, and the certified IDR entity fee ranges for single and batched determinations. The proposed fees would apply to disputes initiated on or after the later of the effective date of this… (Llamas, September 20, 2023) #Coverage Decisions, #Hospitals, #Insurance Reform, #Physicians

Biden-Harris Administration Announces $600 Million in Awards for COVID-19 Test Manufacturing and the Re-Opening of COVIDTests.gov; Free Tests Available for Households Beginning September 25

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), announced it is investing $600 million in 12 U.S. COVID-19 test manufacturers and reopening COVIDTests.gov to provide free COVID-19 tests to households nationwide. This initiative aims to strengthen the domestic supply chain for COVID-19 tests, enhance preparedness for future pandemics, and secure 200… (Colocho, September 20, 2023) #Costs, #COVID-19, #Prevention, #Public Health

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