Billy Wynne

CMCS Releases Informational Bulletin Regarding Medicaid and CHIP H.R. 1 Provisions; Tables Outline Funding Available to States for H.R. 1 Implementation and Other Helpful Information; Agency Outlines Plans for Additional Guidance Yesterday, the Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services (CMCS) released a CMCS Informational Bulletin (CIB) summarizing the Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)…

Agency Finalizes 2.6 Percent Increase for CY 2026 OPPS Payments The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the Calendar Year (CY) 2026 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Payment System final rule (press release, fact sheet, hospital price transparency policy changes fact sheet). What it is. CMS’ wide-ranging…

Agency Issues Notice on Sharing Certain Medicaid Information With DHS The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a notice announcing that it will share specified information with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) when requested, consistent with longstanding federal information-sharing statutes. CMS explains that it collects…

Sen. Scott Introduces Legislation to Create Trump Health Freedom Accounts, Let EPTCs Expire Sen. Rick Scott (R-FLA) introduced the More Affordable Care Act as an alternative to the enhanced premium tax credits (EPTCs) in alignment with President Trump’s call to replace Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace subsidies with payments directly to consumers (text; press release). Under his…

Agency Report Examines Utilization, Marketing, and Equity Concerns with HSAs The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report examining the landscape of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), including how they are marketed, how they are used, and which populations benefit most. HSAs are available to people enrolled in HSA-eligible high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) and allow tax-free…

Agency Identifies Widespread Noncompliance in CMS Contract Closeouts and Major Missed Savings The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) released an audit of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) evaluating whether the agency closed contracts in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and HHS policies.…

U.S. Generic Manufacturers Testify Before Committee; Recommend Policies to Change Economic Incentives of Generic Drug Market The Senate Special Committee on Aging convened a hearing with generic drug manufacturers to discuss the U.S. manufacturing of generic drugs and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and policies to further support domestic manufacturers. Chair Rick Scott (R-FL) and Ranking…

House Committee Chairs Investigating New Jersey OPO and CMS Oversight of the OPTN The chairs of the Ways & Means and Energy & Commerce Committees sent letters this week to a New Jersey Organ Procurement Organization (OPO) and to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), respectively, about organ transplant policies and procedures. The…

Agency Issues Proposed Rescission of the 2022 Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility Regulations; Comments Due Dec. 19 The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to rescind the 2022 public charge ground of inadmissibility regulations. DHS argues that the 2022 rules are overly restrictive, inconsistent with congressional intent, and limit…

Agency Issues Preliminary Guidance on Implementing Changes to Medicaid Provider Taxes in H.R.1 The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued preliminary guidance to states on how the agency expects to implement changes to heath-care related (provider taxes) contained in H.R.1. CMS explains that while the agency is determining additional guidance and regulatory action, this…