Government: Page 53
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Payers, researchers warn CMS proposal could cut funds to insurers enrolling high-risk consumers
Insurers are flagging concerns about changes to a CMS model aimed at encouraging more healthy consumers to sign up for coverage, while new research finds the proposal could backfire.
By Susan Kelly • Jan. 31, 2022 -
Adeline Kon/Healthcare Dive/Healthcare Dive
Staffing agencies 'exploiting' nurse shortage, hospital lobby says in letter urging White House to investigate
With nurses in high demand, hospitals and nursing homes are forced to accept "exorbitant" rates set by staffing agencies, their lobbies argue.
By Samantha Liss • Jan. 28, 2022 -
Trendline
Labor
Hospitals are navigating persistent labor shortages with the need to cut costs — a source of contention that could leave patients caught in the middle.
By Healthcare Dive staff -
ACA open enrollment period drove record number of sign-ups
Expanded tax credits through the American Rescue Plan made coverage more affordable and greater outreach efforts helped accelerate enrollment, health officials said.
By Hailey Mensik • Jan. 27, 2022 -
Sarah Silbiger via Getty Images
FDA finalizes guidance on including patient perspectives in medtech clinical trials
The documents elaborate on how to engage patients to improve trial design and use patient-reported outcomes.
By Nick Paul Taylor • Jan. 27, 2022 -
HHS to distribute $2B in COVID-19 relief funds to providers this week to ease staffing, financial challenges
The agency is sending payments to more than 7,600 healthcare providers nationwide this week to help them as staffing shortages and heightened labor expenses pose new financial challenges.
By Hailey Mensik • Jan. 26, 2022 -
Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
Hospitals request more federal help battling rising labor expenses, staffing shortages amid omicron
The hospital lobby also is renewing its push in requesting the Federal Trade Commission investigate travel-nurse staffing firms for anticompetitive behavior as facilities have seen elevated pay rates throughout the pandemic.
By Hailey Mensik • Jan. 25, 2022 -
OIG audit targets hospital compliance with surprise billing rule
The effort aims to gauge whether providers receiving federal relief funds to help survive the pandemic complied with restrictions on unexpected bills for inpatients with COVID-19.
By Susan Kelly • Jan. 25, 2022 -
Insurers falling seriously short in mental health, substance use disorder benefits, federal departments say
Though progress has been made, compliance with parity laws is still patchwork in the U.S., even as COVID-19 continues to throw disparities in health access into sharp relief.
By Rebecca Pifer • Jan. 25, 2022 -
Megan Quinn/Healthcare Dive
Medicaid redeterminationsMedicaid stakeholders warn of hurdles for redeterminations process
Resuming the process of determining whether people are still eligible for Medicaid may sound easy, but stakeholders caution it's much more nuanced than flipping a switch, and poor planning risks massive enrollment losses.
By Samantha Liss • Jan. 24, 2022 -
Joe Raedle via Getty Images
Georgia sues Biden administration over Medicaid work requirement rollback
The lawsuit claims nixing the mandate the Trump administration put in place is a "bait and switch."
By Rebecca Pifer • Jan. 24, 2022 -
Mario Tama via Getty Images
Surprise BillingAHIP backs HHS in surprise billing suit, pushes back against provider claims
Relying on the qualifying payment amount, or median in-network rate, helps center the payment dispute, creating a starting point for when payers and providers may need to turn to a third-party arbiter, the lobby argued.
By Samantha Liss • Jan. 19, 2022 -
Carol Highsmith. (2005). "Apex Bldg." [Photo]. Retrieved from Wikimedia Commons.
Antitrust regulators aim to revamp merger guidelines, signaling threat to health sector deals
The news sparked headlines about an attempt by regulators to target big tech, but it could have serious implications for healthcare for years to come.
By Samantha Liss • Jan. 19, 2022 -
Alex Wong via Getty Images
Biden administration publishes long-awaited TEFCA interoperability framework
After TEFCA's many fits and starts, ONC head Micky Tripathi called its finalization a "milestone" marking the beginning of a "new era of electronic health information exchange in the U.S."
By Rebecca Pifer • Jan. 18, 2022 -
WhiteHouse.gov
Biden administration to buy 500M more rapid COVID-19 tests to give to Americans
The announcement by President Joe Biden now brings the administration's total purchase to 1 billion test kits. Abbott Laboratories, iHealth and Roche have so far been awarded contracts for a combined 380 million tests.
By Greg Slabodkin • Jan. 14, 2022 -
Permission granted by Biogen
Medicare faces blowback over plan to limit coverage of Biogen's Alzheimer's drug
Biogen, along with allies in industry, plans to pressure Medicare to water down its policy, which limits coverage of Aduhelm and drugs like it to clinical trials.
By Jonathan Gardner , Jacob Bell • Jan. 14, 2022 -
Providers concerned about staffing shortages post-SCOTUS vaccination mandate ruling
Nursing facilities are particularly worried about the strain a vaccination mandate could have on their shrinking workforce, and are urging CMS to consider a regular testing option for unvaccinated workers.
By Rebecca Pifer • Jan. 14, 2022 -
Permission granted by BioNTech SE
SCOTUS narrowly upholds health worker vaccine mandate
The court's liberal justices agree with the government that CMS has the authority to impose the requirement, just one of many healthcare organizations must comply with to be eligible for Medicare and Medicaid funding.
By Hailey Mensik • Jan. 13, 2022 -
Sarah Silbiger via Getty Images
FDA seeks feedback on draft device shortage guidance
A new document poses a series of questions for industry on the overall design and operation of the policy, and is intended to help manufacturers provide timely information about supply disruptions during public health emergencies.
By Nick Paul Taylor • Jan. 13, 2022 -
Win McNamee via Getty Images
Biden health officials defend COVID-19 testing policies amid diagnostics shortage
Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock and others were under fire from senators during a Tuesday hearing for not doing enough to increase the availability of tests.
By Greg Slabodkin • Jan. 12, 2022 -
Permission granted by Biogen
Medicare proposes to limit coverage of Biogen Alzheimer's drug
The program will only cover Aduhelm, which the FDA controversially approved last June, for patients enrolled in clinical trials.
By Jonathan Gardner , Jacob Bell • Updated Jan. 11, 2022 -
Mark Wilson via Getty Images
Becerra orders CMS to reassess Medicare premiums after Aduhelm cost cut
It's an unusual step for HHS, given the plan year has already begun, and follows Biogen slashing the price of its controversial Alzheimer's drug in half.
By Rebecca Pifer • Jan. 10, 2022 -
Win McNamee via Getty Images
Stakeholders urge Supreme Court to act fast on OSHA mandate
"We are asking for a stay before enforcement takes effect Monday," an attorney for the National Federation of Independent Businesses said.
By Ryan Golden • Updated Jan. 10, 2022 -
SCOTUS justices leave opening for healthcare worker vaccine mandate
The key question is whether the agencies enacting federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates — OSHA and CMS — had the authority to do so, or whether that power falls to the states.
By Hailey Mensik • Jan. 7, 2022 -
Alex Wong via Getty Images
Biden admin proposes stricter network adequacy, marketing standards for MA plans
CMS is looking to hold Medicare Advantage plans to a higher standard as their rolls swell, targeting their networks, marketing practices and spending; while improving dual-eligible and Part D costs and patient input.
By Rebecca Pifer • Jan. 7, 2022 -
Supreme Court sets Jan. 7 hearing on vaccine mandate rules
The justices will hear arguments on the requirement that healthcare workers must be fully vaccinated amid a flurry of legal challenges.
By Hailey Mensik • Dec. 23, 2021
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