Medicare & Medicaid
Some drug companies pay less than what they would otherwise owe by introducing a new drug formulation, HHS Secretary Alex Azar says.
The 2018 benefit year will now determine risk adjustment payments to insurers, using the statewide average premium.
Starting in 2019, insurers may use step therapy to choose the least expensive drug first before moving on to another prescription.
Patient care is expected to improve, and as more people join the MA plans, costs are expected to go down.
CMS is finalizing the elimination the 25 percent threshold that reduces reimbursement for long-term hospitals.
Hospices that fail to meet quality reporting requirements receive a 2 percent reduction to their payments.
Announcement comes less than two months after a scathing report from the Office of the Inspector General showing skyrocketing Medicare Part D drug spending.
Final rule would also expand drug pricing competition to drive down costs and eliminate controversial questions regarding opioids from the hospital patient experience survey.
The trend has broad policy implications as many states consider work requirements for Medicaid eligibility.
While they agree with certain proposals, they take issue with others, as stated in letters the groups sent this week to HHS Secretary Alex Azar.