The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) convened a session to discuss a presentation on the Commission’s context chapter on Medicare payment policy and financing. Senior Analyst Rachel Burton detailed that the chapter serves as the backdrop for MedPAC’s discussion and recommendations over the coming year and features information on Medicare spending trends, factors influencing Medicare’s future spending, the financial status… (Colocho, September 8, 2023) #Delivery Reform, #Hospitals, #Medicare Advantage, #Physicians, #Quality, #Workforce

House leadership from the Energy and Commerce (E&C), Ways and Means (W&M) and Education and Workforce Committees introduced the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act – bipartisan legislation that largely includes previously marked up and advanced bills from the three Committees (press release; text; section-by-section). The legislation features the following provisions: Increasing transparency of hospital prices, clinical diagnostic laboratory test prices,… (Llamas, September 8, 2023) #Pharmacy Benefit Managers, #Transparency

The Medicare Payment and Access Commission (MedPAC) convened to discuss their analytic workplan on Medicare Advantage (MA) for the 2023-2024 cycle. Commissioners expressed strong support for the workplan, which will culminate in five chapters. The March 2024 report will include chapters on: (1) annual MA status report, including updates on coding intensity and favorable selection; (2) congressionally mandated report on… (Llamas, September 7, 2023) #Medicare Advantage

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released (press release; fact sheet) a proposed rule to amend the regulations at section 504 which protect against discrimination based on disability by recipients of financial assistance through HHS programs or activities. This rule clarifies the application of section 504 and expands its application to federally funded child welfare programs and activities…. (McClurg, September 7, 2023) #Health Equity, #Hospitals

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently opened a public comment opportunity related to Medicaid home and community based services (HCBS) quality measure development, reliability, and usability. Details about the opportunity follow. Measure: Hospitalization for Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions among Home and Community Based Service (HCBS) Participants Overview: CMS requests stakeholders review several documents (Hospitalizations for ACSCs among… (Colocho, September 6, 2023) #Costs, #Physicians, #Program Integrity, #Quality

Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA), the ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released a white paper on artificial intelligence (AI) discussing AI’s potential benefits and risks to society. Sen. Cassidy is requesting feedback from stakeholders on the government’s role in regulating the AI industry to help craft potential legislation that ensures responsible AI development that… (Colocho, September 6, 2023) #Food and Drug Administration, #Health Information Technology, #Privacy, #Transparency

Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) announced (model website) it is planning to test a new voluntary, state total cost of care (TCOC) model to address unsustainable health care cost growth, poor population health, and disparities in health outcomes. The States Advancing All-Payer Health Equity Approaches and Development Model (“States Advancing AHEAD” or “AHEAD Model”) builds off of… (Testa, September 5, 2023) #Delivery Reform, #Demonstration Programs, #Grants, #Health Equity, #Hospitals, #Primary Care, #Quality, #Social Determinants of Health

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, key mental health indicators across the country have been declining, particularly among youth. Policymakers are also concerned with the ability of the healthcare system to meet the demand of increasing substance use and mental health challenges. Addressing the mental health crisis is a rare bipartisan issue in Congress, and a recent Politico update reinforced that expanding… (Marceno, Joyce, August 31, 2023) #Health Equity, #Mental and Behavioral Health, #Public Health

This week the Biden-Harris Administration announced additional funding and resources to help address the opioid overdose epidemic and support substance use disorder recovery. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) states that through the HHS Overdose Prevention Strategy the agency is implementing multiple strategies to address addiction, including long-term recovery supports and harm reduction strategies. Newly Announced Funding Awards:… (Marceno, September 1, 2023) #Mental and Behavioral Health, #Opioids, #Prevention

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued an extension of the comment period for the proposed remedy for 340B drug payments for calendar years (CY) 2018 through 2022. The original comment deadline was September 5, but comments are now due September 11. The agency notes that is extension is in response to public confusion over the end date… (Slifer, August 31, 2023) #340B