May 28-June 1: Senate to Focus on Opioid Impacts in Medicare, Medicaid
May 24—The primary Senate committee overseeing Medicare and Medicaid will begin its look at the opioid crisis next week amid a quickly advancing body of bills targeting the issue.
Hospitals Worry Rule Could Lead to Medicaid Rate Cuts
May 23—Proposed changes to federal Medicaid rules could hit hospitals’ bottom lines, advocates warned.
Healthcare Workforce Shortage Worsening: Senators
May 22—Senators said this week that they are convinced a healthcare workforce shortage is worsening and federal action is needed to address it.
How MA Plans Are Changing VBID Approaches
May 18—Medicare Advantage (MA) plans are evolving their approaches in the expanding Medicare pilot for value-based insurance design (VBID).
May 21-25: Healthcare Employment Challenges Get Congressional Focus
May 17—Congress is set to examine hiring challenges in the healthcare industry next week, as the sector hits an all-time high share of total U.S. employment.
A Look at Two Blues’ Distinct Approaches to Changing the Healthcare Model
May 16—Two dominant not-for-profit health plans—both Blue Cross insurers—are moving aggressively in very different directions.
340B Targeted in Trump Administration Drug Push
May 15—Hospital advocates and others raised concerns about impacts of the Trump administration’s recently announced initiative to address rapidly rising drug prices in part through policy changes to an existing drug discount program.
Former CMS Leaders: ACO Changes Are Coming
May 11—Medicare accountable care organizations (ACOs) are likely to face an imminent overhaul, according to former leaders of the program.
May 14-18: Senate Holds 340B Hearing Amid Surge in Activity
May 10—Congress will once again examine the 340B discount drug program next week amid several judicial and regulatory developments related to the program.
Azar: Actions Coming on Drug Prices, Transparency, Interoperability
May 9—Coming Trump administration healthcare initiatives will include a push to curtail pharmaceutical prices, a price and quality-data transparency effort, and incentives for greater sharing of patient data, the administration’s senior healthcare official said.