Billy Wynne

Administration Wraps Up IRA Catalytic Program Webinars and Highlights Future Work The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Climate Change and Health Equity (OCCHE) held a presentation to discuss the Office’s Catalytic Program on Utilizing the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The catalytic program is intended to support health care providers in taking advantage of the…

Colorado submits 1115 waiver proposal to expand access to mental health services, strengthen Medicaid coverage for formerly incarcerated individuals, and adopt continuous coverage for children ages 0-3. Comments are due by May 18, 2024 Today, CMS announced that Colorado is seeking to amend its Medicaid Section 1115 Colorado Expanding the Substance Use Disorder Continuum of Care demonstration…

Agency Releases Report on Factors Influencing Budgetary Savings for Medicare ACOs The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released a comprehensive report detailing the performance and future directions of Medicare Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). Medicare Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) have been in operation for over a decade, aiming to improve the quality and cost-effectiveness of care provided…

Department Issues Proposed Rule to Reduce HUD-Assisted Housing Barriers for Applicants with Criminal Records; Comments Due June 10 The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released a proposed rule entitled, “Reducing Barriers to HUD-Assisted Housing” on April 10th.  The overarching goal of the proposed rule is to revise existing regulations to remove barriers…

Health Subcommittee Grapples with Health Care Cybersecurity Challenges in the Wake of Change Healthcare Cyberattack The House Energy and Commerce (E&C) Health Subcommittee convened a hearing to address health care cybersecurity in the aftermath of the Change Healthcare ransomware attack, which severely disrupted the health care industry. Committee members heard from industry experts on the…

Ranking Members Question Biden Administration on Dietary Guidelines Development The Ranking Members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP) Committee Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee John Boozman (R-AR) sent a letter to the Biden Administration requesting information on how it is developing federal nutrition guidelines in the Dietary Guidelines for…

Commissioners Explore Available Data on Medicaid Unwinding, Contemplate Next Steps The Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) convened a session on Medicaid Unwinding. Principal Analysis and Research Advisor Martha Heberlein led panelists through a discussion exploring the lessons learned, the information available on policy successes and failures, and beneficiary experiences. Commissioners expressed an…

Nominations for the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee, Due September 30 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is seeking nominations for membership on the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC). HICPAC consists of 14 experts in fields including, but not limited to, infectious diseases, infection prevention, healthcare epidemiology, nursing, clinical and…

MACPAC Approves Recommendations to Improve Medicaid Financing Transparency and State Medicaid Agency Contracts The Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) met to vote on updated recommendations to improve transparency in Medicaid and CHIP financing as well as optimizing state Medicaid agency contracts. All recommendations were approved as drafted. Recommendations for Improving Transparency in…

Commissioners Discuss Approaches for Updating the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and to Incentivize Clinician Participation in A-APMs The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) convened a session to discuss various approaches to updating payments under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS). Under current law, starting in 2026, eligible clinicians engaged in advanced alternative payment models (A-APMs) will see their payment…