CMS, in collaboration with the CDC, is making it mandatory for staff at healthcare facilities participating in Medicare and Medicaid programs to get vaccinated against Covid-19. The move comes as cases rise to 150,000 and deaths to 1,500 per day.
President Joe Biden's new executive order aimed at reducing anti-competitive behavior across industries includes directing federal agencies to revise guidelines for hospital mergers, enable people to comparison shop health plans on the ACA marketplaces and work with states to import drugs from Canada.
Munck Wilson Mandala Partner Greg Howison shared his perspective on some of the legal ramifications around AI, IP, connected devices and the data they generate, in response to emailed questions.
A new CMS proposed rule aims to make significant changes to Affordable Care Act marketplaces, including increasing the annual open enrollment period by a month and restoring the duties of navigators who help consumers from underserved populations enroll in plans on the federally facilitated exchange.
After scrapping work requirements for Medicaid eligibility in four states, CMS has added Arizona and Indiana to the list. These requirements have long been controversial, facing litigation and strong opposition, but proponents say they incentivize people to find jobs.
In a move that ACOs found "disappointing," CMS has declined to extend the Next Generation ACO Model beyond 2021. Though evaluations have found that the model did not generate net savings for Medicare, proponents argue that the program was successful.
In a wide-ranging interview, the National Coordinator for Health IT Dr. Micky Tripathi discussed his career and how his varied experiences have expanded his perspective. He also spoke about ONC's plans for the future, which include "evangelizing" about the opportunities the federal interoperability rules will create for the industry.
At the Abarca Forward conference earlier this year, George Van Antwerp, managing director at Deloitte, discussed how social determinants of health and a personalized member experience can improve medication adherence and health outcomes.
CMS has increased the Medicare payment rate by $12 for administering single-dose Covid-19 vaccines and by $35 for two-dose vaccines. The payment increase aims to support providers as they ramp up vaccine administration.
President Joe Biden's pick for CMS administrator, Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, is slated to become the first Black woman to hold the post. Her policy priorities will likely center on healthcare access, including expanding insurance coverage, and health equity.
Insurer participation in the ACA individual marketplace is on the rise and the trend is driven by policy changes at the federal level and the lingering effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
At a Health Datapalooza session, former HHS head Kathleen Sebelius looked back on lessons learned in 2009 when the Affordable Care Act was moving through Congress. She cautioned the Biden administration against leaning on bipartisanship when restoring the healthcare law.
We will highlight Build My Health's revenue practice management tools, which could help physician practices add up to $250,000 to their practices.
The Biden administration established a special enrollment period to give uninsured Americans a chance to sign up for insurance on the HealthCare.gov markets. Providers and payers applauded the announcement, but it remains to be seen whether the move will encourage people to get insured.
Aetna will now cover breast augmentation for trans women, signaling hope for increased access to healthcare for the transgender community. The coverage expansion comes after transgender individuals and groups advocated for the change.
In a wide-ranging discussion at J.P. Morgan's Annual Healthcare Conference, former CMS Administrator Andy Slavitt talked about the future of the ACA, telehealth and Medicare Advantage with a Democrat-led House, Senate and presidency.