Government: Page 30

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    Deep Dive

    A Cigna-Humana merger could face a long regulatory delay. But it might get approved.

    As rumors swirl that the two major health insurers are inching toward a merger, experts say antitrust agencies have grounds to block a deal — but may not be successful.

    By • Dec. 4, 2023
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    Government expects to recover more than $3B from healthcare fraud, misspent funds in fiscal year 2023

    The HHS’ Office of the Inspector General’s report tallied 707 criminal enforcement actions and 746 civil actions for fraud and misspent funds in programs like Medicare and Medicaid.

    By • Dec. 4, 2023
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    North Carolina Medicaid expansion kicks in

    About 600,000 more people in the state now have access to the safety-net insurance coverage.

    By • Dec. 1, 2023
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    Lawmakers stress data privacy in health AI oversight

    Members of Congress hammered privacy concerns in a hearing on Wednesday as interest in artificial intelligence — which relies on patient information to train models — heats up.

    By • Nov. 30, 2023
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    Majority of Medicaid enrollees satisfied with plans, despite flaws, survey finds

    Medicaid enrollees are more likely to understand and be satisfied with their plans, despite reporting poorer health outcomes, according to a new report from KFF. 

    By • Nov. 29, 2023
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    Democrat senators accuse PE-backed US Anesthesia Partners of anticompetitive business practices

    Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Richard Blumenthal sent a letter to USAP on Sunday alleging the company leverages its monopoly power to inflate prices. USAP is currently facing a federal suit over the allegations.

    By • Nov. 28, 2023
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    340B drug discount program yields mixed evidence on how hospitals use funds

    Researchers reviewed almost 300 pieces of literature on 340B and found some studies suggested hospitals were using savings from the program for purposes “seemingly unrelated” to patient care.

    By • Nov. 27, 2023
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    FTC sues to block John Muir Health’s acquisition of Tenet hospital

    Regulators allege the $142.5 million deal to buy the remaining stake in San Ramon Regional Medical Center would further reduce competition and drive up prices.

    By • Nov. 20, 2023
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    Top FDA official Woodcock to retire early next year

    The 37-year veteran helmed the agency’s pandemic response, and was a key decision-maker in controversial calls on opioids, an Alzheimer's therapy and muscular dystrophy drugs.

    By Jonathan Gardner • Nov. 16, 2023
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    FDA-ordered report tackles how to manage cybersecurity risks of legacy devices

    The report proposes multiple actions for protecting older medical devices, including research into more modular devices and collecting data on cyber risks.

    By Nick Paul Taylor • Nov. 16, 2023
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    CMS proposes stricter network adequacy standards for plans in state-run ACA exchanges

    Beginning in 2025, plans sold in state-based exchanges would be required to meet time and distance standards for provider access under a new rule proposed Wednesday.

    By • Nov. 16, 2023
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    ‘Finger-pointing and blame-shifting’: House subcommittee voices frustration over VA Oracle EHR rollout

    Witnesses at the hearing said system performance has improved, but lawmakers called the persistent outages “unacceptable.”

    By • Nov. 15, 2023
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    Biden administration finalizes rule requiring nursing homes disclose ownership

    The rule comes amid growing concerns about the role of private equity firm ownership in nursing homes.

    By • Nov. 15, 2023
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    Senate subcommittee signals support for permanent telehealth flexibilities

    But witnesses noted Congress shouldn’t wait to enshrine pandemic-era accommodations for virtual care, arguing regulatory uncertainty is a danger to telehealth’s longevity.

    By • Nov. 15, 2023
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    State Medicaid officials project enrollment nosedive next year amid unwinding

    Enrollment in the safety-net insurance program could plummet 8.6% in the 2024 fiscal year — the largest year-over-year drop since 1998, according to KFF.

    By • Nov. 14, 2023
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    Courtesy of Darren McGee/ Office of Governor Kathy Hochul
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    New York proposes ‘nation-leading’ hospital cybersecurity regulations

    The rules, which would require facilities to develop response plans and hire a chief information security officer, aim to safeguard hospitals from growing threats and keep them operating during an attack.

    By • Nov. 13, 2023
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    Senate subcommittee mulls guardrails for healthcare AI

    The technology could reduce clinicians’ administrative work or speed drug discovery, but the rapidly evolving field may need more human oversight to prevent harm, lawmakers and witnesses said.

    By • Nov. 9, 2023
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    FTC challenges patents held by nine big drugmakers, citing unfair competition

    The agency claims intellectual property for emergency allergy shot EpiPen and asthma medication Advair was “improperly listed” in a Food and Drug Administration database.

    By Jonathan Gardner • Nov. 8, 2023
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    Deep Dive

    Preparing for the future: Hospital climate resilience plans challenged by cost, uncertainty

    As extreme weather events caused by climate change ramp up in frequency, hospitals are struggling with financial and data challenges in disaster planning.

    By • Nov. 7, 2023
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    Biden administration proposes capping broker payment in MA, following pressure

    The new proposed rule is meant to stop brokers from steering beneficiaries to plans based on excessive compensation. It’s regulators’ latest move to curb Medicare Advantage marketing misconduct following a push from lawmakers.

    By • Nov. 7, 2023
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    Medicaid disenrollments pass 10M as states continue eligibility checks

    States have assessed the eligibility of 28 million Americans to date, and terminated coverage for 35% of them, according to the latest data from KFF.

    By • Nov. 6, 2023
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    Minnesota law kicks in requiring hospitals to bolster charity care checks prior to debt collections

    As of Wednesday, Minnesota hospitals must check patients' financial assistance eligibility prior to sending debts to collections, as a part of a multi-year push around charity care oversight. 

    By • Nov. 3, 2023
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    CMS finalizes 2024 Medicare hospital, doctor payments, 340B fix and price transparency requirements

    Regulators finalized a number of rules Thursday with sweeping implications for providers in the Medicare program, including rates for next year that doctors and hospitals slammed as insufficient.

    By • Nov. 3, 2023
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    Hospitals, providers file amicus briefs against HHS website tracking restrictions

    Hospital associations and individual health systems asked the court to block the Biden administration's policy for website tracking.

    By • Updated Jan. 17, 2024
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    North Carolina AG threatens lawsuit against HCA

    The massive for-profit operator has allegedly shuttered services at Mission Health, the hospital system it acquired in 2019, violating the terms of its purchase agreement.

    By • Nov. 2, 2023