Week in Washington 021524

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Week in Washington

02/15/2024

Congress

Politico reported that while Congress may rescind the recent 3.4% cut to rates for Medicare doctors, further changes are very unlikely. The lack of a budget deal combined with it being an election year should forestall any complex health care legislation until after the election.

Duals

Axios reported that that the dual eligible population (beneficiaries enrolled in both Medicaid and Medicare) could generate billions in profit. They highlighted a recent McKinsey report that projected earnings to grow for insurers covering this population by over 10%.

Medicaid

• Medicaid Expansion – As previously reported several Southern states are considering pursing Medicaid Expansion. Two of those states, Alabama and Georgia, are considering pursing Arkansas’ model of Medicaid expansion. Arkansas’ model involves pushing some of those enrollees into private (individual market) coverage. Both states deserve monitoring.
• Post-Partum Coverage – States continue to embrace the option of extended postpartum coverage. There are only four states (Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, and Wisconsin) that have not yet adopted extended post-partum coverage and two of those (Iowa and Wisconsin) are considering adding it during their legislative sessions this year.

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