The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently announced updated jurisdictional thresholds and a revised filing fee schedule for reporting transactions under the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Act, effective February 10, 2025 (press release). Under the Clayton Act, the FTC is required to adjust HSR thresholds annually based on changes in the gross national product. Beginning February 10th, the minimum size of the transaction… (Eisen, January 13, 2025) #Costs, #Hospitals

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the HHS Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2026 final rule (fact sheet) – a wide-ranging rule affecting Marketplaces, qualified health plans in the individual and small group markets, as well as requirements for agents, brokers, web-brokers, direct enrollment entities, and assisters. The final rule also includes provisions that impact… (Llamas, January 13, 2025) #Affordable Care Act

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the Advance Notice of Methodological Changes for Contract Year (CY) 2026 for Medicare Advantage (MA) Capitation Rates and Part C and Part D Payment Policies (press release, fact sheet) and the Draft CY 2026 Part D Redesign Program Instructions (fact sheet) What it is. The Advance Notice addresses a wide array of MA and Part D-related policies and… (McClurg, January 10, 2025) #Medicare Advantage, #Prescription Drugs

The Senate Budget Committee released a bipartisan report detailing the findings of its investigation into the harmful effects of private equity (PE) investment on the U.S. health care system (press release). The investigation was led by Senate Budget Committee Chairman Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R-IA) during the 118th Congress. Report Highlights Focus. The Committee’s bipartisan investigation… (Llamas, Eisen, January 8, 2025) #Costs, #Hospitals, #Quality, #Rural Health

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) have released new updates and analyses on health insurance coverage ahead of the end of the Marketplace Open Enrollment Period on January 15th. While enrollment gains under the Biden-Harris administration signal progress toward broader access to affordable care, growing concerns… (Eisen, Joyce, Llamas, Marceno, January 8, 2025) #Coverage Decisions, #Delivery Reform, #Insurance Coverage

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through its Office for Civil Rights (OCR), issued a proposed rule to update the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Security Rule, marking its first update since 2013 (fact sheet). The proposed changes aim to enhance cybersecurity protections in the health care sector in response to the escalating number of cyberattacks,… (Colocho, January 7, 2025) #Health Information Technology, #Hospitals, #Prevention, #Privacy, #Transparency