Redfield Named Head of CDC
HIV/AIDS researcher Robert Redfield, MD, has been named the next head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
CMS Issues Final 2019 Payment Notice Rule
The Health and Human Services Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2019 aims to increase state flexibility, improve affordability, strengthen program integrity, empower consumers, promote stability and reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens imposed by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
CMS Finalizes Medicare Advantage Rates for 2019
The finalized 2019 Medicare Advantage plan rates will rise an average of 3.4 percent, with other changes being implemented as well.
Work Requirements Can Be Used as a Basis for Medicaid Eligibility
New guidance from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services allows work requirements to be used as a basis for eligibility for certain Medicaid beneficiaries.
New Policy Guidance Issued to Improve Medicaid Beneficiary Enrollment
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is providing new policy guidance to help states design demonstration projects that promote the objectives of the Medicaid program and are consistent with federal statutory requirements.
HHS Forms Conscience and Religious Freedom Division
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has formed a new Conscience and Religious Freedom Division in the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) to restore federal enforcement of U.S. laws that protect the fundamental and unalienable rights of conscience and religious freedom.
New Secretary of Health and Human Services Confirmed
Alex Michael Azar II was confirmed the 24th Secretary of Health and Human Services.
CMS Launches Voluntary Bundled Payment Model
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation has launched a new voluntary bundled payment model called Bundled Payments for Care Improvement Advanced.
Hike Proposed for Medicare Payments in 2019
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has proposed a 1.84 percent increase in 2019 Medicare payments to health insurers that manage Medicare Advantage insurance plans for more than 20 million elderly and disabled people.
HHS Proposed Significant Cuts to Medicare Payments for 340B Drugs
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has proposed 2018 updates to the Medicare hospital outpatient prospective payment system to decrease Medicare Part B payments to hospitals for 340B drugs by almost 30 percent.