When President George W. Bush established the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) within the Department of Health and Human Services by executive order in 2004, he set an important precedent. Each subsequent administration has continued this practice, using executive orders to guide the development and regulation of health information technology […]
Read MoreEach March, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) is required to report to Congress on the Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) payment systems, the Medicare Advantage (MA) program, and the Medicare prescription drug program (Medicare Part D). In this report, MedPAC provides payment update recommendations for Medicare FFS payment systems and status updates on ambulatory surgical centers […]
Read MoreOn March 6 and 7, 2025, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) held a virtual public meeting, which included the following sessions: • Reforming Physician Fee Schedule Updates and Improving the Accuracy of Relative Payment Rates, • Reducing Beneficiary Cost-Sharing for Outpatient Services at Critical Access Hospitals, • Background: Medicare Insurance Agents, • Preliminary Work […]
Read MoreThe paradox has become a cliché for aspiring health policy professionals: securing a seat at the table requires experience, but gaining that experience often depends on already having a seat at the table. While internships can be an option for bridging the experience gap, not all internships are created equal. Many consist of little more […]
Read MoreOn February 27 and 28, the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) held a virtual public meeting, which included the following sessions: Hospital Non-DSH Supplemental Payment and Directed Payment Targeting Analyses, Overview of the Self-Directed Model Design, Interview Findings on Self-Direction Program Design and Administration, and Automation in the Prior Authorization Process. The […]
Read MoreAlthough they do not provide clinical care, community health workers (CHWs) can play a critical role in healthcare delivery, particularly in rural and frontier communities. Also known as promotores or community health representatives, CHWs serve as liaisons between patients and providers, leveraging cultural awareness and community ties to improve access to care. CHWs’ efforts vary […]
Read MoreApplied Policy regularly reports on the meetings and recommendations of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) and the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC). Herein, we explore how these commissions are structured, their roles, and their influence on policy. Origins and Statutory Authority MedPAC provides guidance on Medicare policy. It was established through […]
Read MoreShortly after casting a pivotal vote to advance Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination for Secretary of Health and Human Services this week, Senator Bill Cassidy (R-La.) took to the Senate floor to explain his decision. Cassidy, a physician and member of both the Finance and Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) committees—where Kennedy’s testimony underwent […]
Read MoreProgram Overview Rooted in the Civil Rights Movement and the War on Poverty, the community health center program has become a key component of the healthcare safety net. From two federally funded clinics established in the 1960s, it has expanded to 1,400 organizations overseen by the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) Bureau of Primary […]
Read MoreAccording to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), the United States could face a shortage of between 37,800 and 124,000 physicians by 2036. This shortfall, described as an “urgent crisis” by the president of the American Medical Association (AMA), is expected to disproportionately affect rural areas, where access to healthcare is already limited. Both […]
Read More