Government: Page 128
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Trump to nominate acting VA secretary Wilkie to lead agency
Acting Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie will be nominated to lead the country's second-largest agency. It comes as Congress moves toward voting on a bill to expand use of private providers.
By Tony Abraham • May 18, 2018 -
Alex Wong via Getty Images
CMS weighing National Coverage Decision for CAR-T
The agency is considering whether there is enough evidence to support national Medicare coverage of the pricey cancer therapies.
By Lisa LaMotta • May 18, 2018 -
CMS to consolidate Medicare quality reporting programs
Quality Improvement Networks and Organizations, End Stage Renal Disease Networks and Hospital Improvement Innovation Networks are all being bundled into a single $25 billion contract.
By Tony Abraham • May 18, 2018 -
Interoperability a challenge for state health departments, paper says
Governance and legal challenges, such as HIPAA, pose a major barrier.
By Meg Bryant • May 18, 2018 -
Cigna, Express Scripts SEC filings reveal roadmap, backstory of $67B deal
If either terminates the merger, it may owe the other company a $1.6 billion termination fee.
By David Lim • May 17, 2018 -
Deep Dive
US health companies not quite ready for EU GDPR privacy rule
The regulation going into effect May 25 carries stiff fines for non-compliance.
By Tony Abraham • May 17, 2018 -
Azar says admin 'does not believe in' Medicare drug price negotiations
The HHS secretary reinforced a number of changes proposed in the administration's drug pricing blueprint at the American Enterprise Institute on Wednesday.
By Tony Abraham • May 16, 2018 -
CMS' Verma says no to Medicaid lifetime limits
The administrator said the agency is still closely working with states on other types of waivers.
By David Lim • May 16, 2018 -
VA finalizes rule easing virtual care delivery
The rule allows VA providers to offer telehealth services across state lines regardless of licensing and regulation requirements.
By Meg Bryant • May 15, 2018 -
Urban Institute pitches moderate plan to achieve comprehensive coverage
The proposal would keep most of the current healthcare structure in place, including employer-sponsored insurance, and could result in 16 million fewer people without insurance.
By Les Masterson • May 15, 2018 -
Vermont all-payer ACO shows early success
Meanwhile, the federal government approved Maryland's request to expand its all-payer model. Beginning in January, across-the-board rates in the state will include hospital and non-hospital settings.
By Les Masterson • May 15, 2018 -
340B scrutinized in Senate, targeted by Trump
Lawmakers questioned the program’s vague intent, lack of transparency and what they called an "inadequate" level of oversight.
By David Lim , Tony Abraham • May 15, 2018 -
Virginia weighs provider tax to fund Medicaid expansion
If approved, the state would become the 34th to expand its Medicaid program.
By Meg Bryant • May 15, 2018 -
Up to 10% with ACA coverage could jump to association health plans
Those people are more likely to be young and healthy, so their absence will leave the marketplace plans with an unstable risk pool, according to an Actuary analysis.
By Les Masterson • May 14, 2018 -
Health sector's share of US jobs hits new high
The industry is nearing full employment, according to an analysis from Altarum.
By Les Masterson • May 14, 2018 -
Deep Dive
Pharma breathes easy as Trump's drug pricing plan fizzles
While Trump vowed to bring drug prices down, pharma and biotech stocks jumped higher after his speech delivered few immediate actions.
By David Lim • May 11, 2018 -
Report suggests standardizing Medicare Advantage bidding process
The authors estimated the changes would save the federal government $10 billion annually and reduce Part B premiums for both traditional and MA beneficiaries by about 2% per year.
By Les Masterson • May 11, 2018 -
Deep Dive
What to expect from Trump's drug pricing speech Friday
The president is expected to lay out his administration's latest slate of proposals aimed at lowering the cost of drugs.
By David Lim • May 10, 2018 -
Trump wants to cut billions from CHIP
Congress reauthorized the Children’s Health Insurance Program for 10 years as part of a large spending package in February.
By Les Masterson • May 9, 2018 -
Azar urges acceleration of care to non-hospital settings in AHA speech
The HHS secretary also said a recent proposed mandate for hospitals to post standard charges online is only a first step to combating practices such as surprise billing.
By David Lim • May 9, 2018 -
USDA
CMS unveils strategy to improve rural healthcare
Objectives for the plan include advancing telehealth, empowering patients in rural communities and leveraging partnerships to achieve rural health goals.
By Les Masterson • May 9, 2018 -
Payers propose hefty ACA exchange premium hikes
The higher rates insurers in Virginia and Maryland proposed were expected after the Trump administration zeroed out the individual mandate penalty.
By Les Masterson • May 8, 2018 -
CMS rejects Kansas plan to create lifetime Medicaid limits
Meanwhile, New Hampshire became the fourth state to get approved for work requirements and Utah moved a step closer to getting an expansion of the program on the ballot this fall.
By Les Masterson • May 8, 2018 -
Veterans Choice program could get a makeover
The program for veterans who live far from a VA clinic will run out of funding next month. Legislation introduced in the House would revamp the program to lean more heavily on private sector providers.
By Tony Abraham • May 7, 2018 -
Most ACOs would leave MSSP if forced into risk, survey finds
Accountable care organizations are leery of the amount of risk they could face in the program next year such as unpredictable changes by CMS.
By Meg Bryant • May 4, 2018
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