Articles and Blogs

Trump Administration Proposes Cost-Cutting Package On May 8, the Trump administration proposed an extensive packing of $15.4 billion spending cuts. The administration seeks to cut funds from 38 programs that “are just sitting in accounts” and not being used. Almost half of the proposed cuts, $6.96 billion, would come from the Children’s Health Insurance... READ MORE

CMS Releases Proposed Inpatient Prospective Payment Rule On April 24, CMS issued its annual hospital inpatient prospective payment system proposed rule for fiscal year 2019. Under the proposed rule, hospitals would get a $4 billion increase for inpatient services next year, which includes a $1.5 billion hike in uncompensated care payments. Acute care hospitals... READ MORE

Senate Continues Efforts to Tackle Substance Abuse Crisis The Senate Finance Committee held a hearing to address opioid and substance abuse disorders in Medicare, Medicaid and other HHS-related programs. The hearing addressed how the programs can adapt and be improved to address the crisis, as well as what the Trump administration and Congress can... READ MORE

Congress Back to Work Deliberating Opioid Measures Congress was jam-packed with opioid hearings this week. The House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee held a two-day hearing on more than 30 bills addressing Medicare and Medicaid coverage and payment policies relating to the opioid crisis. Bills considered by the subcommittee covered a range of patient... READ MORE

Major Spending Bill Passes Congress Congress passed a major $1.3 trillion spending bill this week, which keeps the government funded through September. The bill passed the House 256-167 and the Senate 65-32. In both bodies, the measure received the support of a majority of members from each party. In the Senate, unanimous consent was... READ MORE

Senate Committee Hearing Assesses 340B Program The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (“HELP”) Committee held a hearing this week to examine the 340B drug discount program as some stakeholders have urged lawmakers to scale back its reach. HELP Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) said the purpose of the hearing was to learn more... READ MORE

Azar Pushes Value-Based Care Approach  During the annual policy conference for the Federation of American Hospitals, Health and Human Services (“HHS”) Secretary Alex Azar laid out an agenda for a more cost-effective and transparent health care system. Azar said HHS is focused on four key priorities: giving consumers greater control over health information through... READ MORE

Focus in Washington Shifts to the Opioid Crisis The federal response to the opioid epidemic is accelerating as both the Trump administration and members of Congress announced new steps this week to tackle the issue from both a law enforcement and public health standpoint. On March 1, the White House held a summit on... READ MORE

Proposed Rule Released for Short-Term Health Insurance Plans On February 20, the Department of Health and Human Services issued a proposed rule to extend the availability of a lower cost, more narrowly tailored form of insurance called short-term limited duration health insurance plans. This would allow consumers to buy short-term health plans of up... READ MORE

Trump Budget Proposes Cuts to HHS and Entitlement Programs On February 12, the White House released President Trump’s FY 2019 budget proposal, which seeks major cuts to the Department of Health and Human Services. If enacted into law, the budget would cut the HHS discretionary budget by 21 percent and slash Medicare and Medicaid... READ MORE