Billy Wynne

Commission Presents Annual Status Report of the Medicare Part D Program The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) convened a session to present an annual status report of the Medicare Part D program and discuss trends in program operations indicators. MedPAC staff highlighted Part D-related provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA), including how…

Commission Previews Findings from Mandated Report on Telehealth Use The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) convened a session to preview their findings for a mandated report on beneficiary and clinician’s use and experience of telehealth. Staff presented their findings, which will be featured in a chapter for the Commission’s forthcoming June 2023 report to Congress.…

Use of Outpatient Behavioral Health Services, Tele-Behavioral Health The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) will publish an informational chapter in the June 2023 report to Congress on the utilization and availability of behavioral health services for Medicare beneficiaries, in response to a request from then-Chairman Richard Neal (D-MA) of the House Ways and Means Committee…

Agency Announces Draft Research Plan on the Impact of Vitamin D and Calcium Supplements on Falls and Fractures The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) released a draft research plan for its review of vitamin D, calcium, or combined supplementation to prevent falls and fractures in community-dwelling adults. The proposed key questions to be reviewed…

Report Finds Gaps in Abuse and Neglect Reporting Requirements for Hospices The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report on abuse and neglect among hospitals, nursing homes, and hospices. In the report, GAO describes the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid’s (CMS’s) definitions of abuse and neglect and any differences in CMS requirements for reporting and…

Timeline for the First Year of the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program and Forthcoming Information Collection Requests Announced The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the following key dates for the first of the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program, pursuant to the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA): By September 1, 2023, CMS will publish…

FTC Proposes Rule to Ban Non-Compete Clauses for All Workers The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) released a proposed rule that would prohibit employers from imposing non-compete clauses on workers (press release; fact sheet). What it is. The proposed “Non-Compete Clause Rule” would prohibit employers from entering non-compete clauses with all workers (including contractors), whether paid…

Nominations for MedPAC Commissioners Due February 10 The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a request for nominations for appointments to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC). MedPAC is an independent congressional agency that advises Congress on issues affecting the Medicare program. MedPAC is composed of 17 Commissioners and career staff and meets publicly to…

Full Summary of FY 23 Omnibus On December 29, 2022, President Biden signed into law the $1.7 trillion fiscal year Consolidated Appropriations Act 2023, also known as the Omnibus. The culmination of months of bipartisan negotiations, the package includes all 12 of the fiscal year 2023 appropriations bills, totaling $772.5 billion for non-defense discretionary programs…

Agency Releases Highlights from Annual Survey on Mental Health and SUD The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released the results from its annual National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), which details how U.S. residents experienced mental health and substance use disorders (SUD) in 2021 (press release). Context: The survey has…