On January 20, 2012, the Obama Administration posted its Fall 2011 Regulatory Agenda, outlining its planned regulatory initiatives in a number of policy areas. Priorities for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) include, among many others: Implementing Affordable Care Act (ACA) insurance reforms, including establishing Affordable Insurance Exchanges, establishing risk adjustment criteria for … Continue Reading
On January 10, 2012, HHS published an interim final rule with comment period that implements an ACA provision requiring the adoption of a standard for electronic funds transfers (EFTs). By streamlining standards for the format and data content of EFT transmissions, HHS estimates that health system administrative costs will be reduced by up to $4.5 … Continue Reading
According to new CMS national health spending statistics, U.S. health care spending grew 3.9% in 2010 — the lowest rate of increase in 51 years. The relatively low rate of growth is attributed to lower utilization of health care services. Notably, retail prescription drug spending grew only 1.2%, the slowest rate of growth for prescription … Continue Reading
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is seeking nominations for the ACA’s Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute Governing Board, which is charged with identifying national priorities for comparative effectiveness research. Likewise, the GAO is seeking nominations for the National Health Care Workforce Commission, also established by the ACA. Nominations for both panels are due June 30, … Continue Reading
Today the Obama Administration released an 11-page summary of its health reform proposal in preparation for a bipartisan health reform summit scheduled for February 25, 2010. Among other things, the proposal includes a relatively-detailed discussion how the Administration would promote access to affordable insurance, address health care fraud and abuse proposals, and bridge the differences between the House and Senate reform proposals in other key areas.… Continue Reading
Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chairman Edward Kennedy released the Committee’s draft health reform legislation, the “Affordable Health Choices Act,” on June 9, 2009. The legislation focuses on insurance market reforms and subsidies, along with other system changes, such as promotion of health information technology, follow-on biologicals (just placeholder-no language) and expanded participation in 340B … Continue Reading
