Billy Wynne

Agency Releases Data on SNAP Participation Rates The Department of Agriculture (USDA) released a report on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation in fiscal year (FY) 2022. USDA says that the data show that SNAP is effectively serving individuals with the greatest need, although participation rates vary across groups. Key findings include: 88 percent of all eligible individuals…

FCC Unanimously Adopts Georouting for 9-8-8 Lifeline Calls, Boosting Local Mental Health Support The Federal Communications Council (FCC) voted unanimously to require all wireless carriers to implement georouting for calls to the 9-8-8 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. This decision has been welcomed by mental health advocates, who see it as a critical step in connecting…

OIG Unveils Unimplemented Recommendations with Potential to Save $265.9 Billion The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) released a summary of the top unimplemented recommendations, highlighting significant opportunities for savings and operational improvements within HHS programs. The OIG identified 1,328 unimplemented recommendations, which could yield potential savings of…

Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations Releases Report on Medicare Advantage Use of Prior Authorization for PAC; Recommends Increased Transparency and Oversight The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (HSGAC) Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI) released a report entitled “Refusal of Recovery: How Medicare Advantage (MA) Insurers Have Denied Patients Access to Post-Acute Care (PAC).”…

HRSA Invests $19 Million to Enhance Maternal Health The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announced $19 million to enhance maternal health across 15 states, addressing the urgent public health challenge of rising maternal mortality rates and significant disparities, particularly among marginalized communities. This funding aims to tackle immediate health concerns while fostering long-term improvements…

Commissioners Discuss MA Supplemental Benefits; Emphasize That Value is Unclear The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) convened a session on supplemental benefits in Medicare Advantage (MA). This first session on supplemental benefits focused on financing, and there will be another session in the spring ahead of a chapter in the June 2025 report to Congress. Commissioners agreed that…

Commissioners Outline Workplan for Final Report on Home Health PPS Impact The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) convened to discuss its workplan for the mandated final report to Congress regarding the impact of recent changes to the home health prospective payment system (PPS). Under the Bipartisan Budget Act (BBA) of 2018, the Commission is tasked…

2025 MA and Part D Star Ratings Released; Average Ratings Decrease from 2024 The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the 2025 Medicare Advantage (MA) and Part D Star Ratings, which measure the quality of health and prescription drug services received by beneficiaries. What is it. The Star Ratings are intended to assist…

FTC Issues Final Rule to Strengthen Premerger Notification Rules The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued a final rule to amend the Premerger Notification Rules under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvement Act (HSR Act) (press release). These changes aim to improve the effectiveness of antitrust reviews by requiring parties involved in mergers and acquisitions to provide…

Agency Releases RFI and Sample List for the $2 Drug List Model Today, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) released a request for information (RFI) and a sample list of prescription drugs that the agency intends to include in its $2 Drug List Model (press release). What is it. Under the $2 Drug…