MACPAC Holds December 2024 Meeting
On December 12 and 13, the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) held a virtual public meeting, which included the following sessions: State and Federal Tools…
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MedPAC Holds December 2024 Meeting
On December 12 and 13, 2024, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) held a virtual public meeting. By law, the Commission reviews Medicare’s fee-for-service payment policies each year…
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From the President’s Desk: Building on Our Commitment to Improving Lives in 2024
When I founded Applied Policy nearly fifteen years ago, my goal was not only to assemble a team capable of delivering exceptional value to our clients but also…
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IRA Inflation Rebates: 2024 in Review
Signed into law in April 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) represents a key step in the U.S. government’s efforts to reduce prescription drug costs, particularly for Medicare…
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There May Be More Changes Ahead for LDTs
Throughout 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…
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Cybersecurity Under a New Administration
In 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…
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CMS Finalizes Mandatory Kidney Transplant Payment Model to Enhance Access to Transplants for ESRD Patients
On November 26, 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the Alternative Payment Model Updates and the Increasing Organ Transplant Access (IOTA) Model final rule.…
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CMS Proposes CY 2026 Changes to Medicaid Advantage and Part D to Allow Access to Anti-Obesity Medications, Enhance Patient Care, and Promote Health Equity
On November 26, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released its Contract Year 2026 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage Program, Medicare Prescription Drug…
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MedPAC Holds November 2024 Meeting
On November 7 and 8, 2024, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) held a virtual public meeting, which included the following sessions: Reforming physician fee schedule updates and…
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Addressing Barriers to Care for Rural Veterans
Accessing 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,…
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MACPAC Holds October 2024 Meeting
On October 31 and November 1, 2024, the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) held a virtual public meeting, which included the following sessions: Medications for…
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HHS Waivers Following Disasters
When 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…
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