Billy Wynne

Agency Seeks Information on the Impact of Pandemic Telehealth Flexibilities for the Initiation of Controlled Substances The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) on the impact of telehealth initiation of controlled substances. As part of the Administration’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) waived…

CMS Issues RFI to Inform Design of Future Mandatory Episode-Based Payment Model; Responses Due August 17 The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a request for information (RFI) to inform the development of an episode-based payment model focused on improving beneficiary care and lowering Medicare expenditures by reducing fragmentation and increasing care coordination…

House E&C Health Subcommittee Advances 17 Bills, Including PAHPA, SUPPORT Act, CHGME, and Rare Diseases The House Energy & Commerce (E&C) Committee Health Subcommittee convened a markup of 17 bills related to a wide array of issues. While most of the bills experienced bipartisan support, the notable exceptions were separate legislative efforts to reauthorize the…

CY 2024 MPFS Proposed Rule Updates Payment by -3.3%, Maintains Telehealth Gains, Includes Policies to Expand Behavioral Health; Comments Due September 11 The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the calendar year (CY) 2024 Medicare Fee Schedule (MPFS) proposed rule (press release; fact sheet; MSSP fact sheet; QPP fact sheet), which addresses an…

Agency Proposes 2.8 Percent Increase for CY 2024 OPPS Payments; Comments Due Sept. 11 The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the Calendar Year (CY) 2024 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Payment System proposed rule (press release, fact sheet). What it is. CMS’ wide-ranging proposed rule affects payments to approximately 3,500 hospitals…

Subcommittee Explores Strategies to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance and Enhance Public Health Preparedness The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security convened a hearing to assess the challenges posed by antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and ensure the development, availability, and responsible use of effective antimicrobials. The hearing featured an antibiotic…

Committee Members Introduce PBM Transparency Bill Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Thom Tillis (R-NC), along with Senate Finance Committee (SFC) Chair Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-ID) released a discussion draft that would establish pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) reporting requirements with respect to prescription drugs plans (PDPs) and Medicare Advantages PDPs (MA-PDs)…

Leadership Introduces Bipartisan Health Care Package Featuring PBM Transparency The House Committee on Education and Workforce (E&W) leadership Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) and Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA) introduced the following package of bills aimed in increasing transparency in health care: The Transparency in Billing Act (H.R. 4509) – The bill, authored by Chairwoman Foxx and Ranking Member…

Evaluation of Prior Models’ Impact on Health Equity Released The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) released a white paper that retroactively analyzed previous model evaluations to determine the models’ impacts on health equity. CMMI notes that models tested prior to 2021 were not explicitly designed to serve underserved populations and therefore the evaluations of such…

Agency Issues Supplemental Evidence and Data Request on Breastfeeding and Health Outcomes for Infants and Children The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Evidence-based Practice Centers (EPC) Program issued a request for supplemental evidence and data submissions (SEADs) to inform its review on Breastfeeding and Health Outcomes for Infants and Children. AHRQ commissioned the…