Billy Wynne

House Agriculture Republicans Release Draft Farm Bill Legislation Today, Chair of the House Committee on Agriculture GT Thompson (R-PA) released a discussion draft of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024 for Farm Bill reauthorization (press release; title-by-title).  In addition to agricultural programs, the Farm Bill authorizes several important federal nutrition programs including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance…

Committee Releases White Paper Examining the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and Chronic Care Senate Finance Committee (SFC) Chair Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-ID) released a white paper that examined the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) and policy options to support clinicians while improving chronic care (press release). The white paper builds…

Agency Releases Annual Report on Duplication, Fragmentation, and Overlap in Federal Programs; Comptroller General Urges Congress to Implement Cybersecurity and Medicare Payment Recommendations The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released its 14th annual report identifying potential savings and efficiency improvements in federal government operations (press release, highlights). This comprehensive report highlights 112 new measures across 42…

Bipartisan Pay PCPs Act Proposes Hybrid Primary Care Payments Under Medicare; RFI Comments Due July 15 Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) introduced the bipartisan Pay PCPs Act of 2024 to establish hybrid primary care payments under the Medicare program (press release). Notably, Sens. Cassidy and Whitehouse called the bill “a marker for…

Department Releases Plan for Equitable AI Use in Administering Public Benefit Programs The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released its Plan for Promoting Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Automated and Algorithmic Systems by State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Governments in Public Benefit Administration (press release). This plan addresses the responsible use…

HHS Secretary Becerra Defends FY 2025 HHS Budget and Recent Rules on Discrimination, LGBTQIA+, Reproductive Health, Minimum Staffing Standards for Nursing Homes, and More The House Education & Workforce full committee convened a hearing with HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra to examine President Biden’s fiscal year (FY) 2025 Budget for the Department of Health and Human…

Agency Examines Medicaid State Agencies Compliance in Invoicing and Collecting Rebates for Physician-Administered Drugs The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) conducted an audit to assess whether Medicaid State agencies were properly invoicing for and collecting rebates for physician-administered drugs under the Medicaid drug rebate program. Enacted in…

Representatives Support Telehealth Extension But Move Rural Health Bills Along Party Lines The House Ways & Means (W&M) Committee convened a markup of legislation to support rural health providers and access to telehealth. H.R. 8261 with telehealth and Hospital at Home extensions received broad bipartisan support, but every bill and amendment other than the telehealth…

Agency Examines California’s Medicaid Eligibility Actions During the Unwinding Period The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) released a report examining California’s Medicaid eligibility procedures during the unwinding period following the end of the continuous enrollment condition due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This audit, prompted by legislative changes…

Agency Releases New Model on Increasing Organ Transplant Access (IOTA) The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Innovation Center, announced the Increasing Organ Transplant Access (IOTA) Model (press release/ fact sheet/full proposal).  The IOTA Model aims to increase access to life-saving kidney transplants for…