On The Hill
House Republicans continued to make progress on a potential reconciliation bill. A reconciliation bill generally only target tax and spending provisions and would only need a simple majority to pass in the Senate. Politico posted the latest document that was being circulated. Included in the bill were:
- large Medicaid cuts as well as repeal of Biden regulations (e.g., Access rule, eligibility rule, etc.)
- Significant cuts to providers (there (site neutrality/eliminate Medicare coverage of debt /reduce uncompensated care/Medicare GME payments cuts/reduce urban hospital payments/increase taxes on non-profit hospitals).
- Unspecified Changes to the Inflation Reduction Act drug policies and CMMI
- Unspecified reductions in premium tax credits for the ACA Marketplace.
As a next step House leaders are expected to coalesce around a specific set of policies as well as negotiate with Senate/White House counterparts. House leaders are targeting an April date to pass legislation.
Executive Actions
President Trump issued a number of executive orders in the first few days of his administration. As a reminder executive orders do not carry force of law but instead direct agencies to implement the orders. On the health policy front these orders included directing agencies to:
- Withdraw from the World Health Organization
- “Eliminate unnecessary expenses and rent-seeking practices that increase health-care cost”
- Rescind Biden era executive orders including ones that ordered agencies to strengthen the Affordable Act and Medicaid and lower prescription drugs.
The new Administration also ordered a halt to all federal health agency communications at least until February 1. This would mean that normal communication to states and issuers (e.g., webinars/guidance/responding to e-mails) would stop. Additionally, CDC publications on disease prevalence (e.g., flu rates) and public health incidents would also stop.
Odds and Ends
- CMS will appeal the United Healthcare ruling that required CMS to recalculate Medicare Advantage Star Ratings.
- Katie Keith gives a rundown of key health policy issues to track for 2025
