Reimbursement
The agency has yet to say whether parity will remain between an in-person and a telehealth visit.
Skilled nursing facilities will get a $750 million, or 2.2%, boost for 2021.
The department will distribute $15 billion from the CARES Act Provider Relief Fund to providers that didn't receive funding in the first round.
HHS estimated in 2018 that the 28.5% cut to drug reimbursement rates would save Medicare $1.6 billion.
Sustaining gains created by expanded telehealth will require more generous reimbursement policies from payers.
One tracks the effectiveness of COVID-19 drug therapies and the other pays for counseling to slow the spread of the virus.
The order reinstates a previously withdrawn rule mandating PBMs to give the rebate savings to consumers, rather than health plans.
A number of high-yield healthcare issuers have defaulted since the start of the crisis, and near-term credit risk remains elevated.
In March there was a 35% decrease in weekly hospitalizations and a 45% decrease in weekly hospitalizations not related to COVID-19.
Even upticks in COVID-19 patients haven't made up for the revenue losses, since reimbursement for those services is comparatively slim.