President-elect Trump’s return to the White House has brought renewed attention to the organization and operations of the federal workforce. Statements from the Trump transition team and remarks from Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, who are set to lead the advisory Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), have fueled speculation about an imminent restructuring of civil […]
Read MorePresident-elect Trump has indicated that he will move quickly to achieve an ambitious policy agenda in his second term. He and his transition team have promised to “seal the border” immediately following his inauguration and to extend the tax cuts in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act within the first hundred days of his administration. […]
Read MoreThroughout 2024, Applied Policy closely tracked and reported on the evolving oversight of laboratory-developed tests (LDTs), drawing on insights shared by stakeholders during our October 2023 webinar on the subject. In 2025, the regulatory landscape for LDTs may continue to shift. While the Biden administration sought to tighten FDA oversight, the incoming Trump administration may […]
Read MoreIn our January 2024 article, “Ransomware in Healthcare,” Applied Policy highlighted the escalating threat of ransomware attacks on healthcare organizations, noting the rise of ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) models that have made such attacks more accessible to cybercriminals. The persistence and severity of this issue were underscored when Change Healthcare, a unit of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated, experienced […]
Read MoreAccessing healthcare can be difficult for the over 4.4 million American veterans living in rural America. Barriers to care include long travel distances, a shortage of healthcare workers, and limited broadband access. Such obstacles are especially pronounced in American Indian and Alaska Native communities—groups that have traditionally served in the military at higher rates than […]
Read MoreWhen Hurricanes Helene and Milton struck the Southeast this year, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) acted quickly to ensure that people in the impacted areas who were covered under Medicare, Medicaid, or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) had continued access to essential healthcare services and supplies. By issuing emergency waivers […]
Read MoreCopay accumulators, copay maximizers, and alternative funding programs (AFPs) are the three main categories of patient assistance programs, and the legal and regulatory landscape shapes their use. Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), non-grandfathered individual and small group health insurance plans must cover Essential Health Benefits, or “EHB”, including prescription drugs. Many plans currently interpret […]
Read MoreOn November 1, 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the Calendar Year (CY) 2025 Home Health Prospective Payment System final rule for home health agencies (HHAs). CMS released a fact sheet accompanying the final rule. This final rule includes the annual payment update, changes to the home health conditions of participation, […]
Read MoreOn October 10-11, 2024, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) held a virtual public meeting, which included the following sessions: Medicare beneficiaries in nursing homes; Findings from MedPAC’s annual beneficiary and provider focus groups; Supplemental benefits in Medicare Advantage (MA); Work plan for a mandated final report on the impact of recent changes to the […]
Read MoreCongress has once again delayed significant Medicare reimbursement cuts for clinical laboratory tests. Signed by President Biden on September 26, 2024, the short-term government funding bill delays the implementation of up to 15% payment reductions for approximately 800 lab services by one year. This marks the fifth time Congress has postponed the phase-in of new […]
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