Policy and Legislation
Two areas for financial hope are being paid for telehealth and better data sharing in a rule on health information blocking.
Rule threatens the stability of hospitals which will face more uncompensated care costs, says America's Essential Hospitals.
Patients would be steered away from their physicians, Association of American Physicians and Surgeons said in letter to AG Jeff Sessions.
If Democrats are able to make a significant enough dent in Congress, it could forecast a shift in policy with far-ranging implications for the industry.
AARP says "Part D bailout" would be a windfall for big pharma; PhRMA counters that proposed changes would undermine Part D's structure.
In two separate moves on one day, ACO stakeholders ask CMS to keep upside-only risk model, while 29 others from Next Gen ACO Coalition want to make risk more predictable.
Affected supplies include consumables, pacemakers, computers and MRI machines.
Largest sum went to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to focus on increasing access to medication-assisted treatment.
It has funds for behavioral and mental health providers, for potential EHR incentives and for hospitals to better care for infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome.
Agency has issued blankets waivers to unburden providers, opened special enrollment period for Medicare beneficiaries to get, change coverage.