A new lawsuit brought by AARP contends a CMS policy weakened enforcement of financial penalties for nursing homes and must be reversed to restore protections for nursing home residents.
The American Association of Retired Persons engaged the law firm Constance Cannon to file the lawsuit against CMS and outgoing HHS secretary Alex...National News
HHS Secretary Alex Azar let the public know of his decision by tweet Thursday night.
ModernHealthcare summed up the most notable policies tied to the public health emergency:
20% Medicare inpatient add-on payment for COVID-19 patients
Increased federal Medicaid matching funds for states - FMAP increase 6.2%
...National News
The Trump administration is reportedly slated to introduce guidance for granting states waivers to block grant Medicaid dollars.
According to Wall Street Journal reporting, federal officials are expected to release guidance this month as many healthcare professionals continue to express concern and criticism over a block grant...Arizona News
Scrutiny on healthcare policy is intensifying following recent warnings from House Democrats against Affordable Care Act (ACA) changes, citing an internal memo sent by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Seema Verma to Health & Human Services Secretary Alex Azar in August.
The memo from Verma...Arizona News
Last week, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released four State Empowerment and Relief waiver concepts for states to utilize under the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) section 1332. CMS aims to encourage innovation and reduce burdens with the waivers, an action commended by Health and Human Services (HHS) secretary Alex...Arizona News
On Monday, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule to lower prescription drug costs for beneficiaries by making changes to Medicare Part D. The proposal could give insurers negotiating powers on drug prices by offering an expectation that plans would implement broader use of prior authorization (PA)...National News
Prescription drug rebates are typically negotiated by pharmacy benefits managers (PBM), such as CVS and United (two of the largest PBMs), but Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar says he has the power to eliminate them in the United States.
Pharmaceutical companies on Thursday, Aug. 10 were notified...National News
Four major U.S. cities are suing President Trump and his administration for deliberately attempting to ensure the Affordable Care Act (ACA) fails, thus violating the president's constitutional duty to execute laws faithfully under the Take Care Clause.
Representing 4.5 million Americans, the plaintiffs, Baltimore, Chicago,...National News
HHS Secretary Alex Azar says current interpretations of the two privacy laws…are not just impeding value-based arrangements in healthcare. They can also get in the way of communities and families working together to combat our country’s crisis of opioid addiction, another top priority for President Trump.
Azar made the comments...National News
On July 25, the House of Representatives passed a bill to loosen regulations for health savings accounts (HSAs), allowing spouses to contribute. The House also passed another bill letting more beneficiaries in on HSAs.
The Restoring Access to Medication and Modernizing Health Savings Accounts Act, HR6199, will grant plans...National News
Gov. of Kentucky Matt Bevin didn’t get the ruling he was hoping for in court for his Medicaid overhaul plan and now his administration is making dental and vision coverage cuts for almost 500,000 residents.
On Friday, U.S. federal judge James E. Boasberg rejected Kentucky’s proposal to enact work requirements in the Medicaid...National News
HHS Secretary Alex Azar wants the high court to weigh in after lower courts side with hospitals over a 2017 CMS rule and FAQ guidance on Disproportionate Share Hospital Payments (DSH).
Azar is pushing back against a slew of court rulings that argued the federal agency skirted its responsibilities when it didn't follow notice and...National News
Not yet scheduled, the vote by the full Senate is the final step in the confirmation process.
His nomination is expected to have enough votes to pass the Senate. Republicans hope to confirm Azar by the end of the month.
Read the expectations in ANCOR
The Washington Post lists " key things to know about Alex Azar":
All but...National News
Trump's first choice for HHS Secretary, Tom Price, resigned amid reports of inappropriate travel expenses.
Alex Azar, a former HHS official and pharmaceutical executive, will go before the Senate Finance Committee 10 a.m. Jan. 9.
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch said in a statement reported in The Hill:
Mr. Azar has...