Billy Wynne

MACPAC Introduces Work on Youth Behavioral Health  The Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) convened sessions to discuss the Commission’s work on two areas of youth behavioral health, residential services for youth with behavioral health needs and Medicaid policy around care for justice-involved youth. Details from each session can be found below. Introduction to…

Recent Behavioral Health Comment Opportunities and Updates CMS Seeks Comment on Draft Templates for Ensuring Compliance with the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act Requirements, Comments Due October 29th To support the implementation of parity in Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking comments…

Committee Advances Key Legislation on Telehealth Extension, Child Online Safety, and Pediatric Rare Disease Innovation The House Energy and Commerce Committee convened a full committee markup of 16 bills to address a wide range of issues related to energy, health, and children’s online safety. Key legislation includes efforts to extend telehealth services for seniors, support…

Committee Examines IRA Provisions Intended to Lower Health Care Costs; Senators Divided on Success of Programs To Date The Senate Finance Committee convened a hearing entitled “Lower Health Care Costs for Americans: Understanding the Benefits of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).” The Senators and witnesses spoke to the successes and potential draw backs of the…

Agency Issues RFI on AI Technologies for Improving Health Care Outcomes and Service Delivery Ahead of Upcoming Demo Days; Responses Due October 7 The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a request for information (RFI) seeking information on artificial intelligence (AI) technologies that can improve health care outcomes and service delivery, with plans…

Committee Continues Investigation of Steward Health Care’s Impact and Announces Plans to Hold Steward CEO In Contempt The Senate Health, Education, Labor, & Pensions Committee convened a hearing to investigate the ramifications of Steward Health Care’s bankruptcy on patients and workers across eight states. This hearing is part of a broader bipartisan investigation authorized on…

Lawmakers Advance Two Bipartisan Health Care Bills, Potential Offsets in Lame Duck Yesterday, the House Committee on Education and Workforce advanced three health care bills, including two bipartisan bills similar to bills advanced by the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) (press release). These bills prohibiting anticompetitive terms in contracts and banning…

E&C Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Examines Implementation of Legislation to Break Up OPTN Today, the House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations convened a hearing on implementation of the Securing the U.S. Organ Transplantation Network Act. The act was signed into law last year and gives the Health resources and Services Administration (HRSA) the authority to…

ERISA Hearing Highlights Partisan Differences The House Committee on Education & Workforce Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) convened a hearing to discuss potential ways to improve upon the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and strengthen employer-sponsored health coverage. The hearing featured policy experts and advocates representing large employers, small business owners,…

TEP Nominations to Refine the Quality Measure Index Due September 25 The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking nominations for a Technical Expert Panel (TEP) to refine the Quality Measure Index (QMI). The QMI supports the assessment and selection of quality measures by displaying strengths and limitations to facilitate CMS’ selection of the…