CBO: House-passed version of AHCA would increase number of uninsured to 23M by 2026
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) on Wednesday scored the House-passed version of the American Health Care Act (AHCA), saying the legislation would increase the number of uninsured people by 23 million in 2026 relative to current law. The report from the CBO and the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) said the bill would result in 14 million more uninsured people in 2018.
Changes to VA Choice program could strengthen access
Proposed changes to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Choice program would improve access to long-term care services for veterans closer to home....
Medicare Hospital Wage Index review for 2018
Medicare Hospital Wage Index and Occupational Mix Data Analysis reports for 2018 will be released in the near future. Members are advised to review...
Delay sought in insurance exchange subsidies
A hearing was held on Monday in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on a request for a second...
CBO score for AHCA due today
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is leading a working group of 13 Senators, including Sen. John Thune, to draft the framework for the Senate’s...
CMS delays CJR, bundled payments until Jan. 1
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has delayed the start date to Jan. 1 for the expansion of the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement model, the new bundled payment program for heart attack and cardiac bypass surgery services and the new cardiac rehabilitation incentive program.
CMS releases SNF 2018 proposed payment rule
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has released the federal fiscal year (FFY) 2018 proposed payment rule for the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Prospective Payment System (PPS). The proposed rule reflects the annual updates to the Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) SNF payment rates and policies.
OSHA extends electronic record-keeping compliance deadline
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) says it is extending the July 1, 2017 compliance date for the electronic submission of the 2016 Form 300A report of injuries and illnesses. OSHA says it is delaying the deadline primarily because the agency has yet to roll out the secure website for posting the reports.
Supreme Court sides with nursing home in Kentucky case
The U.S. Supreme Court has sided with a nursing home in a Kentucky case tied to powers of attorney and arbitration agreements. The high court ruled 7-1 decision that the Kentucky Supreme Court's clear-statement rule violates the Federal Arbitration Act by singling out arbitration agreements for disfavored treatment.
Senate tinkers with AHCA amendments prior to the CBO score
Next week, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) will release its score for the American Health Care Act (AHCA, H.R. 1628), which was passed by the House on May 4. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) has created a 13-person Republican working group on health care, which is drafting a Senate version of the health care bill.
