Week in Washington

Congress

Generally, no updates from Congress this week. Funding expired for the Department of Homeland Security (reminder this impacts TSA). There does not appear any significant movement toward an agreement. Congress is preparing for President Trump’s State of the Union Address next week (February 24).Politico recently published a piece on why an Obamacare/ePTC deal never materialized (you can read it as there is finality that at least for the foreseeable future there will be no ePTC deal)

Vaccine Reversal

The FDA reversed its rejection of the Moderna flu vaccine application and instead will review the vaccine. Politico reported that White House intervention led to the change.

Update on Trends

United Healthcare and the Health Action Council (HAC) released a report on trends in health care costs. The report found that health care costs are rising faster among young adults than among older adults. The report also found that major health events (defined as medical claims exceeding $100,000 annually) were twice as likely today as it was five years ago.

Research You Can Use

Mackleby et al published research on the increase in midyear plan switching in Medicare Advantage and Medicare and risk selection of those that engaged in switching behavior.