HHS proposed a
rule
last year that would allow patients to access and share their electronic health information with third-party apps, among other data-sharing provisions. The rule intends to improve care coordination and foster innovation, but many groups in the health industry have concerns about patient privacy.
Politico
(1/15)
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A
Commonwealth Fund report
found that the uninsured gap between black/Hispanic and white adults dropped in states that expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2014. However, in 2016, the reduction began to slow and even wear away in some regions. The report attributes the stalled progress to the 15 states that have not expanded Medicaid, where almost half of the US black adult population and over a third of the US Hispanic adult population reside.
Modern Healthcare
(1/16)
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Health Insurance Marketplaces & Health Law
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The Supreme Court declined to fast-track the review of a lower court decision, which struck down the law’s individual mandate but did not rule on whether the rest of the ACA is constitutional in the mandate’s absence. In declining this motion from the House and Democratic-led states, it is unlikely the Court will review the case before the November elections.
Washington Post
(1/21)
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The Supreme Court announced that they would begin conducting their third review of the ACA contraception mandate, which requires employer-sponsored health plans to provide contraception coverage at no personal cost to the employee. Justices will review whether the provision violates religious freedom laws and exemptions blocked by the lower courts.
Politico
(1/17)
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The 2020 open enrollment period closed with an estimated 8.29 million consumers enrolled through Healthcare.gov. Detailed findings are expected from CMS in a March 2020 report. Additionally, CMS released
updated guidelines
for Section 1332 waivers that allow states to waive certain ACA requirements. This guidance includes new information on federal “pass-through” funding, which is when states directly receive funding for ACA provisions. Currently, 13 states have been approved for a Section 1332 waiver, with more expected to apply for waivers soon.
Health Affairs
(1/15)
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Quality Measurement & Value-Based Care
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According to an
independent evaluation
, the Medicare Next Generation Accountable Care Organization (ACO) model did not reduce health spending in its first two performance years. Rather, the model added $93.9 million in spending, though the increase was not statistically significant and the possibility for savings with this model is very low. The model is now in its fifth and final year.
Modern Healthcare
(1/10)
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The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) recommends a 3.3 percent increase in net payments to hospitals, 0.5 percentage points greater than what is currently scheduled. Included in this recommendation is a change in the payment structure to close the gap between physician office and hospital outpatient reimbursement rates. MedPAC’s updates encourage an alternative payment structure that moves toward value-based payments.
Modern Healthcare
(1/16)
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Dr. Kate Goodrich will be leaving her post to join the health insurance firm Humana. At CMS, Goodrich led quality measurement reporting and value-based purchasing programs. She was also responsible for the implementation of Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA).
Modern Healthcare
(1/16)
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The latest Democratic debate allowed the six candidates to discuss how they would tackle the rising costs of prescription drugs. All candidates agreed that Medicare should have the authority to negotiate prices. Other proposals to lower drug costs included reforming patent rights, importing drugs from other nations, and allowing the federal government to manufacture its own generic drugs.
Stat
(1/14)
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As part of a multi-prong effort to lower health care costs, California Governor Gavin Newsom submitted a proposal to be the first state to hold its own generic drug label. The move comes after evidence of price gouging, price-fixing, and generic drug prices rising more than brand name prices. Generic drug makers warn that California’s strategy is misguided and that the state will be subjected to the generic market dynamics that have led to recent price deflation.
CalMatters
(1/9)
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Opioid Crisis & Mental Health
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A
recent study published in JAMA
found that the ACA Medicaid expansion increased access to substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, and in turn, was associated with a six percent reduction in overall opioid overdose deaths. The results showed an 11 percent and 10 percent decrease in the heroin and illegal fentanyl mortality rates, respectively, in states that expanded Medicaid. Researchers believe that the reduced opioid mortality was supported by the ACA’s inclusion of mental health and SUD services as essential health benefits and increased naloxone access.
Washington Post
(1/10)
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Funds from a $1.5 billion opioid grant program may be used to fight addiction to stimulants, which includes methamphetamine and cocaine. Nationally, two-thirds of drug deaths involve opioids, but there are dramatic differences at the state level. Meth is the leading killer in many western states, with cocaine ranking third overall.
CBS News
(1/21)
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Social Determinants of Health
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A ten-year study of populations across the United States and the United Kingdom examined the social and economic factors behind the increasingly poor health of aging adults. Researchers report that wealth was the largest socioeconomic advantage to increasing disability-free life expectancy.
The Guardian
(1/15)
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Attorneys general from 14 states, plus Washington D.C. and New York City, submitted a lawsuit against a final rule by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that will eliminate states’ ability to waive work requirements for SNAP beneficiaries. Roughly 700,000 people were expected to lose their food stamp benefits. The lawsuit asserts that food stamp cuts would increase the burden on states managing the “negative health effects of malnutrition and instability
.
”
Washington Post
(1/16)
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Additional Eye-Catching Headlines
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Reporters from Vox examined health systems across the world to create
Everybody Covered
, a look at how other countries achieved universal health care and what the United States can learn from them. Included in this report is a single-payer system in Taiwan, a private-public hybrid in Australia, a strategy similar to the ACA in the Netherlands, the National Health Service of Great Britain, and a creative hospital budgeting program in Maryland.
Vox
(1/13)
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A new virus, originating in China, was identified last month. As of January 22, more than 500 cases and 17 deaths have been confirmed in China, with cases appearing in other countries across the world (including the United States). Scientists believe that the virus is less dangerous and infectious than its cousin SARS, but also warn that it can spread from person to person through the respiratory tract.
Associated Press
(1/22)
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Brookings Fellow Christen Linke Young proposed a
model
that would lower uninsured rates through an auto-enrollment process, similar to that used for 401(k) plans. However, auto-enrollment may result in people being placed into inappropriate plans and underusing the insured care.
Health Affairs
(1/16)
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Spotlight on IMPAQ Health
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IMPAQ President Dr. Adaeze Enekwechi was recently elected to serve as a member on the
Alliance for Health Policy’s Board of Directors
. In this role, Dr. Enekwechi will help the Alliance realize its mission of helping policymakers and the public better understand health policy, the root of the nation’s health care issues, and the trade-offs posed by various proposals for change.
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IMPAQ to Share Health Policy & Data Expertise at NHPC/Datapalooza
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IMPAQ Health experts will deliver 14 presentations at AcademyHealth’s
National Health Policy Conference
(NHPC) and
Health Datapalooza
, joint events taking place February 10–11, 2020, in Washington, DC. We invite you to speak with our experts at our exhibit booth and to join some of our sessions. Examples include:
- Addressing Social Determinants of Health: Recent Innovations, Remaining Challenges (Panel discussion including IMPAQ President Dr. Adaeze Enekwechi)
- Incorporating Data on Changing Healthcare Workforce Needs Associated with Value-Based Payment Models into Healthcare Workforce Policy Planning (Presentation with IMPAQ Principal Research Associate Dr. Brandy Farrar)
- Formulary Restrictions for Opioid Alternatives Increase Opioid Prescribing Among Medicare Beneficiaries (Rapid fire session with IMPAQ Research Associate Dr. Tanvi Rao)
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Interested in speaking with one of our experts?
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Health Policy - Upcoming Events, Trainings, Tools, & Webinars
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Join NIHCM as they bring together health care experts to discuss new developments targeting social determinants of health taking place in the private and public sectors.
Register here.
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This webinar will explore findings from Trust for America’s 2019 State of Obesity report. It also features public health leaders as they discuss the national obesity crisis, its health impacts, and how advocates are working at the national and local levels to address this on-going epidemic.
Register here.
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NASHP’s RAISE Family Caregiver Resource and Dissemination Center will host a webinar to discuss state and federal policies and initiatives to support family caregivers. The webinar will provide an overview of the Recognize, Assist, Include, Support and Engage (RAISE) Family Caregivers Act, and will feature state leaders from Tennessee and Washington State who will share their policies and innovations to support family caregivers.
Register here.
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NOTE:
The information, analyses, and opinions expressed in the articles, publications, or comments contained therein are those of the authors and should not be considered verified or endorsed by IMPAQ or any of our partners or clients.
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