Tag archives: opioid epidemic

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services proposes policies and updates to Medicare Advantage and Part D programs for 2019

By Jeff Wurzburg (US) on February 6, 2018 Posted in Regulatory

On February 1, 2018, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed changes to the Medicare Advantage and Part D programs through the Advance Notice and Draft Call Letter (Advance Notice) for calendar year 2019. As required by section 1853(b) of the Social Security Act, CMS publishes annually the Advance Notice at least 60 … Continue reading

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services commits to supporting Medicaid work and community engagement requirements

By Jeff Wurzburg (US) on January 12, 2018 Posted in News from DC

On January 11, 2018, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a letter to State Medicaid Directors announcing a commitment to support section 1115 demonstration projects that include work or community engagement requirements. This will be the first time in the fifty year history of the Medicaid program that work requirements will be … Continue reading

Senate tax bill would effectively repeal ACA individual mandate; House legislation to reverse 340B Drug Discount Program cuts; CMS addresses prescription drug costs and the opioid crisis

By on November 20, 2017 Posted in News from DC

On November 14, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-UT) released the Chairman’s Mark to the Senate version of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Hatch’s version of the tax plan effectively repeals the Affordable Care Act (ACA) individual mandate by reducing the associated penalty to $0. The ACA individual mandate requires individuals to buy … Continue reading

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell continues work on Senate health care reform legislation; CMS delays changes to home health agency conditions of participation.

By Thomas Dowdell (US) on July 10, 2017 Posted in News from DC

The U.S. Congress was not in session last week, but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) continued to work on the Senate Republican health care reform legislation. Senator McConnell proposed: (i) adding $45 billion to the bill to combat the opioid epidemic, up from $2 billion in the original legislation; and (ii) expanding Health Savings … Continue reading