Federal Health Policy Update for December 18
The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for December 12-18. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. Congress In a 216-211 vote yesterday, the House passed the Lower Health Care [...]
Controversy Over No Surprises Act Continues
Providers and payers continue to wage war over how the No Surprises Act is being implemented. The law, enacted in 2020, was intended to prevent insured consumers from receiving surprise medical bills, especially for out-of-network care. While it has achieved [...]
Hospital Bad Debt and Charity Care Rising
Hospital bad debt and charity care are rising, according to a new report. Both are up five percent from October of 2024 to October of 2025 – and 40 percent greater than in 2022. Among the causes are natural demographic [...]
Federal Health Policy Update for December 11
The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for December 5-11. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. Congress The Senate voted today on competing proposals to address health care affordability: [...]
CMS Fleshes Out Medicaid Work Requirement
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has issued additional guidance to the states on how to implement the work and community engagements established as part of the criteria for Medicaid eligibility under H.R. 1, commonly known as the One [...]
MedPAC Discusses Preliminary 2027 Rate Recommendations
The members of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission met virtually last week and reviewed and discussed preliminary proposals for 2027 Medicare rates and other Medicare payment issues. Leading the agenda for the two days of meetings was a review of [...]
Urban Safety-Net Hospitals Most Vulnerable to Looming Health Care Cuts
While a great deal of attention has been paid to the potential implications for rural hospitals of the coming $1 trillion in federal health care spending cuts over the next decade, it turns out that urban safety-net hospitals, not rural [...]
Federal Health Policy Update for December 4
The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for November 21 through December 4. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. Congress Congress is back in session to discuss the Affordable [...]
CMS Lays Groundwork for Medicaid Provider Taxes Regulations
In a message to state Medicaid programs, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has laid preliminary groundwork for how it intends to interpret new limits on Medicaid provider taxes enacted under H.R. 1, a law passed in July that [...]
Federal Health Policy Update for November 20
The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for November 14-20. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. Medicare and Telehealth In guidance issued Thursday afternoon, CMS notes that on November [...]
