Health Law
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CDC/Alissa Eckert, MS. "covid-19 coronavirus on black background". Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/media/subtopic/images.htm.
OCR suspends some HIPAA regulations in response to COVID-19
The HHS agency said it would use its discretion to not enforce the law against "the good faith uses and disclosures of protected health information." The change mostly applies to business associates and federal agencies.
By Ron Shinkman • April 03, 2020 -
DOJ sues Anthem for millions in overpayments related to MA plan members
The payer said it plans to vigorously defend its practices as the lawsuit alleges it put profits ahead of compliance.
By Samantha Liss • March 27, 2020 -
Fotolia
'What about us?': Frontline primary care practices fear for survival amid coronavirus
Independent practices have resisted selling to hospitals amid years of provider consolidation, reimbursement cuts and more, leaving them with razor-thin margins. Now, they worry COVID-19 could send them off the financial cliff.
By Rebecca Pifer • March 26, 2020 -
Getty Images
On 10th anniversary, embattled Affordable Care Act faces yet another stress test
The law now faces a significant test as the nation likely heads into a recession amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, straining the health system in an unprecedented way.
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Pandemic prompts CMS to drop some reporting requirements for value-based initiatives
Citing the COVID-19 outbreak, the agency provided either deadline extensions for reporting data connected to the projects or waived them entirely for the fourth quarter of 2019.
By Ron Shinkman • March 23, 2020 -
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CBO says Grassley-Wyden drug bill would save more than $94B in 1st decade
The bill would impose stringent price reporting controls on the pharmaceutical sector as well as continue some significant rebates from drug manufacturers.
By Ron Shinkman • March 16, 2020 -
Alpha Stock
BCBS operator sues feds over ACA risk corridor payments
HCSC argues it is owed more than $2 billion in unpaid risk corridor payments. The lawsuit is likely an indicator the company believes other insurers, which argued a similar case before the Supreme Court, will prevail.
By Samantha Liss • March 10, 2020 -
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ACA spurred 'widespread improvements' in protecting patients against financial risk
However, the courts and the Trump administration have impeded the landmark law's full potential as it nears its 10th anniversary, Health Affairs researchers wrote.
By Samantha Liss • March 03, 2020 -
Alex Hickey
Supreme Court to again decide fate of ACA
The high court said Monday it would hear the case that seeks to overturn the Affordable Care Act pushed by Texas and other red-leaning states.
By Samantha Liss • UPDATED: March 2, 2020 at 10:38 a.m. -
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Patient group pushes Trump-backed drug pricing bill
A new national TV ad campaign from Patients For Affordable Drugs urges Congress to pass a bipartisan bill from the Senate Finance Committee.
By Kristin Jensen • Feb. 27, 2020 -
Alex Hickey
Supreme Court mum on ACA case
The high court is now scheduled to decide whether to take the case during a conference set for Friday, Feb. 28.
By Samantha Liss • UPDATED: Feb. 24, 2020 at noon -
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Choice grows in ACA exchanges, report finds, as Supreme Court mulls effort to kill law
A new McKinsey & Company analysis comes as the high court convenes Friday to decide whether to review the Republican lawsuit seeking to overturn the landmark law.
By Rebecca Pifer • Feb. 21, 2020 -
Dollar Photo Club
Trump admin's Medicaid work requirements struck down by appeals court
The unanimous opinion from the D.C. federal appeals court is a blow to the administration's push to tie Medicaid coverage to employment. Legal experts say the ruling will stall the policy in other states like Indiana and Michigan.
By Samantha Liss • Feb. 14, 2020 -
Getty / edited by Healthcare Dive
Tenet to pay $1.4M to settle claims it implanted cardiac monitors unnecessarily
The allegations stemmed from a lawsuit filed by a medical center employee who will share in the settlement and is set to receive nearly $241,000.
By Samantha Liss • Feb. 12, 2020 -
Fotolia
Rival surprise billing efforts jockey for attention in election year
Two new pieces of draft legislation, one from the House Ways and Means committee and another from the Education and Labor panel, were introduced Friday as Congress struggles to make headway on the issue.
By Rebecca Pifer • UPDATED: Feb. 10, 2020 at 9:55 a.m. -
Lawmakers push for more oversight at CMS innovation center
A bipartisan group in the House introduced a bill that would require HHS to track how demonstration models impact patient access to care and potentially overhaul or eliminate those found to have adverse effects.
By Hailey Mensik • Feb. 05, 2020 -
Brian Tucker, Industry Dive
Private payers unlikely to take major hit from Medicaid block grant plan
Managed care covers a large swath of the nation's Medicaid beneficiaries, but analysts maintained a positive view on the sector after details emerged of the CMS policy.
By Samantha Liss • Feb. 03, 2020 -
Peter Ashkenaz, ONC
Backing for unique patient identifier picks up steam at ONC conference
The current ban on funding UPIs is "misguided policy," Rep. Bill Foster, D-Ill., said Monday at the gathering of IT and industry officials. But other experts warned it's "not a panacea."
By Rebecca Pifer • Jan. 28, 2020 -
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Impeachment trial, election won't dampen health investment, Fitch says
Despite the potential for regulatory changes late in the year, the outlook for healthcare products and services remains strong and the frenetic pace of M&A is unlikely to slow much, according to the ratings agency.
By Rebecca Pifer • Jan. 24, 2020 -
The Supreme Court isn't done with the ACA case yet. Here are the next steps.
The court is scheduled to review the challenge to the ACA on Feb. 21 to potentially weigh taking the case. However, legal experts cautioned it's common for the court to reschedule or relist cases for a later conference date.
By Samantha Liss • UPDATED: Feb. 6, 2020 at 8:26 a.m. -
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Supreme Court declines to quickly hear ACA case
It's now unlikely that the case will be decided before the election, which will thrust the debate over the fate of the landmark law into the spotlight during another presidential campaign.
By Samantha Liss • Jan. 21, 2020 -
After 2 years of turmoil, state exchange premiums stable for now, report finds
More robust reinsurance programs and commercial offerings from insurers such as Bright Health and upstart Oscar are playing a role, according to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Urban Institute.
By Ron Shinkman • Jan. 17, 2020 -
CMS rejects Wyoming's bid to expand Medicaid to regulate air ambulances
The agency said the proposal was in conflict with existing federal law and failed to advance the core objective for the program.
By Samantha Liss • Jan. 16, 2020 -
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Racial and ethnic disparities in care narrowed under ACA, Commonwealth Fund says
Previous progress in lowering the uninsured rate stalled after 2016.
By Linda Wilson • Jan. 16, 2020 -
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Hospitals, insurers urge Supreme Court to hear ACA case to avert havoc
Lobbying groups said the case could take years to play out without the high court stepping in to hear arguments now.
By Samantha Liss • Jan. 15, 2020
