The White House has proposed $313 billion in new Medicare and Medicaid cuts over 10 years, in addition to the provisions included in the Administration’s proposed FY 2010 budget. Among other things, the Administration is endorsing: incorporating productivity adjustments into Medicare payment updates; reducing hospital subsidies for treating the uninsured as coverage increases; paying “better”
Health Spending
Additional Details Released on Obama Budget Proposal
On May 7, 2009, the Obama Administration released its additional details on its proposed federal budget for fiscal year (FY) 2010, the outlines of which were unveiled in February 2009. Overall, the proposed budget would provide a total of $879 billion for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in FY 2010, an estimated…
Budget Resolutions Advance with Health Reform Funding
On April 2, 2009, the House and Senate approved separate budget resolutions (H.Con.Res. 85 and S.Con.Res. 13, respectively) that establish nonbinding spending and revenue frameworks for the Congressional committees for fiscal year (FY) 2010. Both bills include deficit-neutral “reserve funds” authorizing committees to adopt health reform measures if offsetting revenues are specified. Such…
Other Congressional Hearings
A number of Congressional panels have held hearings recently on health policy issues, including the following:
- A House Ways and Means Committee hearing on reforming the health care delivery system to encourage better coordination and higher quality care, such as through bundled payments, health information technology, and value-based purchasing.
- House Energy and Commerce hearings on
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HHS Report on Need for Health Reform
On March 30, 2009, HHS released a report entitled “The Costs of Inaction,” which cites the high cost of health care, diminished access to care, and persistent gaps in health care quality as reasons to pass health reform legislation this year. Highlights of the report include the following:
- The U.S. spent approximately $2.2
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HHS Appropriations
On March 11, 2009, President Obama signed into law H.R. 1105, an omnibus spending bill that completes work on the remaining FY 2009 appropriations bills, including funding for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Among other things, the law (PL 111-008) increases funding for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) by $335 million…
HHS Appropriations
On March 11, 2009, President Obama signed into law H.R. 1105, an omnibus spending bill that completes work on the remaining FY 2009 appropriations bills, including funding for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Among other things, the law (PL 111-008) increases funding for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) by $335 million…
Congressional Hearings
A number of Congressional panels have held hearings recently on health policy issues, including the following:
- Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearings on “Improving Care Through Innovation,” “Principles of Integrative Health: A Path to Health Care Reform,” and “Addressing Underinsurance in National Health Reform.”
- A Senate Special Committee on Aging hearing on “Health
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Health Care Expenditures
On February 24, 2009, CMS announced that growth in U.S. national health expenditures is expected to significantly outpace economic growth in 2008 and 2009 due to the recession. Specifically, growth in national health expenditures in 2008 is expected to be 6.1%, totaling $2.4 trillion in 2008, while growth in the gross domestic product (GDP) is…
Part B Drug Prices
The OIG has issued its quarterly report comparing Medicare Part B drug average sales prices (ASPs) and average manufacturer prices (AMPs), this one comparing third-quarter 2008 ASPs and AMPs and reviewing the impact on Medicare reimbursement for first quarter 2009. In the report, the OIG identified 36 HCPCS codes with ASPs that exceeded AMP …
Senate Health Reform Hearings Scheduled
The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee has scheduled a hearing on February 23 on “Principles of Integrative Health: A Path to Health Care Reform,” and a second hearing February 24 on “Addressing Underinsurance in National Health Reform.” Also, on February 25, the Senate Finance Committee is holding a hearing entitled “Scoring Health Care…
Role of HHS in Promoting Medical Technologies
HHS is soliciting information on how it could better use its resources and authorities to encourage the development and use of new medical technologies, consistent with the goals of maintaining and improving the quality of care, controlling overall healthcare costs, and using timely and practical administrative procedures. Comments will be accepted until April 16, 2009.
Congressional Budget Office Reports on Health Care Budget Options, Insurance Reform
On December 18, 2008, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released a major report entitled “Budget Options, Volume 1: Health Care,” which sets forth 115 policy options for Congress to consider as it addresses health care system reform. The CBO points out that Medicare is expected to grow from 2.8 percent of gross domestic…
Medicaid Spending Increasing Rapidly
Medicaid spending is projected to total $339 billion in 2008, up 7.3% from 2007 levels, according to figures released by CMS October 17, 2008. Medicaid spending is expected to continue increasing by 7.9% on average over the next 10 years, reaching $674 billion by 2017, far exceeding the 4.8% projected growth rate for the general…
Congressional Hearings
On October 21, 2008, the Senate Finance Committee held a field hearing in Montana on “High Health Care Costs: A State Perspective.”