Melanie MacEachern, Author at The Hertel Report

Melanie MacEachern

Freelance writer with skills and knowledge in healthcare policy, reproductive justice and art history. Skilled administrative assistant. Graduated from University of Michigan.

Author's Posts

National News

MedPAC: MA Enrollment Has No Major Effect on Hospital Budgets

Earlier this month, the Medicare Payment Advisory Committee posted its presentation on the association between changes in Medicare Advantage enrollment and hospital finances. The analysis, presented at the MedPAC September meeting, found that...

News

REPORT: 2025 Milliman Retiree Health Cost Index - Costs Estimates $183K to $388K

In September, the actuaries at Milliman published their annual 2025 Retiree Health Cost Index, which calculates the amount of savings needed by age 65 to pay for a retiree's remaining lifetime healthcare costs. For 2025, a 65-year-old married couple is projected to need to save $388,000 under Original Medicare with Medigap or $183,000...

Arizona News

OBBBA Fallout: Pediatric Hospitals Warn of Strain From Medicaid Reductions

Hospitals are bracing for the incoming effects of Medicaid cuts contained in the Trump administration's signature legislation, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), signed earlier this year. Health systems are beginning to review pediatric care in preparation for Medicaid cuts driving emergency department overcrowding. In hospital...

National News

House Republicans Propose CR to Avoid Government Shutdown, Democrats Square Up for ACA Subsidies

The October 1 government shutdown deadline is approaching, meaning that Congressional Republicans must face down Democrats hoping to inject a number of healthcare spending measures into the bill in exchange for their support. House Republicans introduced a draft continuing resolution (CR) that would give Congress a few more weeks to...

Arizona News

Governor Hobbs Orders COVID-19 Vaccine Availability in Arizona as Court Strips Provider Protections

As the federal government clouds recommendations for the COVID-19 vaccine, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has attempted to clarify requirements at the state level, to limited success. Also, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled this week that providers were no longer protected from liability for claims made during the COVID-19...

News

MAHA Strategy Report Light on Policy, Big on AI

On Tuesday, the Department of Health and Human Services released the next step in its plan to "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA), the signature project of Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. This most recent report describes the strategy the administration will undertake to address the increase of certain chronic illnesses in American...

Arizona News

Arizonans Experience Difficulty Finding COVID-19 Vaccine

States and health systems across the country are reacting to updated COVID-19 vaccine guidance from the Food and Drug Administration that narrowed the recommendation to only Americans 65 and older or those with high-risk health conditions. Some Arizonans are facing practical difficulties with obtaining a prescription for the vaccine....

CMS Rules

CMS Increases Access to Catastrophic Plans in Lieu of Extending Enhanced Premium Tax Credits

In lieu of extending the Affordable Care Act (ACA) enhanced premium tax credits, the Trump administration is boosting access to catastrophic plans. Catastrophic plans cover preventative care but carry very high deductibles. Historically, they've only been available for people under 30 who don't otherwise qualify for subsidies, but the...

Top of The Day

National Health Law Program Hosts Webinar: Medicaid Work Requirements

The webinar covers the brass tacks of the program's changes, like structure, compliance, verification and expectations. It then goes on to cover implementation considerations like harm limitations and a deep dive into work requirement exemptions and medical frailty. President Donald Trump's signature legislation for his second...

White Papers, E books, Reports and more

CBO Report: 340B Spending up from $6.6B in 2010 to $43.9B in 2021

On Tuesday, the Congressional Budget Office released a report on the growth of the drug purchases made through the 340B Drug Pricing Program (340B) between 2010 and 2021, including the program's effect on the federal budget. Modern Healthcare explains that the 19% average growth rate in spending is higher than the overall 4% rise in...

White Papers, E books, Reports and more

JAMA Study: Post-COVID Hospital Stays Increased for MA Beneficiaries vs Medicare FFS

A new study on hospitalizations between 2017 and 2023 determined that Medicare Advantage beneficiaries are experiencing an increase in extended hospital stays following the COVID-19 pandemic. The study, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, analyzed data from more than 89 million hospitalizations over a six-year period, including...

Arizona News

COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations Causing Confusion; Opening Doors to Childhood Vaccine Panel Review

As school begins and winter looms, many are finding it difficult to parse the confusing new guidance from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on the COVID-19 vaccine. Last week, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) moved to rescind emergency use authorizations (EUAs) for COVID-19 vaccines and restricted full approval to...

Arizona News

ACA Premiums Set to Skyrocket for Arizonans, DIFI Discourages Autoenrollment

Health insurance premium rates for Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans are up substantially for 2026, across the country and for Arizonans. Last Friday, the Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions finally announced the submitted preliminary rate increases for 2026 ACA plans, as reported in early August by The Hertel...

White Papers, E books, Reports and more

JAMA Study: Simple Modifications to Medicare Risk Adjustments Eliminates Inequities

A new study published in the JAMA Health Forum suggests that changes to the risk adjustment formulas used in Medicare's payment system could ensure health plans are fairly compensated for taking on sicker patients from disadvantaged populations. The JAMA study looked at health and payment data from 4.4 million Medicare beneficiaries...

National News

Trump's Big Beautiful Bill's Medicaid Cuts - Republicans Go on Defense

Republicans are on the defensive against criticism of the Medicaid cuts in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, passed by Congress and signed by President Donald Trump earlier this summer. Representative David Schweikert of Arizona told the Arizona Republic in an interview that the cuts were simply the responsible thing to do and will...

National News

Nursing Home Staffing Mandate - Industry Ready for Repeal as New Payment Collection Policy Causes Concern

As America's long-term care facilities struggle to provide adequate staffing, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is readying its repeal of the minimum staffing standards for nursing homes adopted in 2024 under the Biden administration. An updated CMS policy isn't relieving the pressure, instead critics contend the policy...

Arizona News

Arizona Selected for WISeR Prior Authorization Medicare Pilot Program

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will launch a pilot program for the Wasteful and Inappropriate Service Reduction (WISeR) Model, which will implement prior authorization into the traditional Medicare program. CMS has selected six states for the pilot, including Arizona. The Hertel Report covered the model after it...

National News

Trump Administration Repeals Biden Era EO on Mergers and Acquisitions

Earlier this month, President Donald Trump withdrew a Biden-era executive order aimed at promoting competition and constructing hurdles for mergers and acquisitions. The move applies to the U.S. economy broadly, but includes relieving increased oversight of hospital consolidation and other practices. The 2021 executive order was meant...

National News

Judge Blocks New Marketplace Enrollment Rules - HHS Won't Enforce Rules on Alternative Short-Term Plans

A federal judge intervened against the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to block part of a rule that significantly alters the enrollment period and eligibility of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) healthcare exchange, and premiums are still set to substantially increase as state insurance regulators begin to finalize next year's...

National News

SCOTUS Overturns Lower Court Injunction, Allows NIH to Cancel $783 Million in DEI Grants

Last week, the Supreme Court overtuned a lower court's injunction that required the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to keep over $783 million in federal research funding for grants related to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). The 5-4 decision determined that the lower court did not have the authority to make claims based on...

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