Policy Blog

This week, the Wall St. Journal predicts the end of the gravy train for MA plans, while Congress (and FDA finally) turn their attention to clinical trials, among other health priorities.

We see our first glimpse of guidance implementing the second round of drug price negotiations as the Administration seeks to shore up its healthcare legacy ahead of election deadlines.

This week, legislators have been preoccupied with appropriations deadlines while the FDA plans to hold a meeting about whether or not they have too many meetings.

This week site neutral payment policy wins some important allies while others look to keep health care quality, PBM reform, MA marketing rules, and data sharing concerns relevant.

The Digest is coming to you a day early as we are out tomorrow. I will send an update on Monday with any important information from Friday or the weekend.

New this week: Congress is back and doctors are stirring. CMS drops the Inpatient Rule and hospitals are furious, MedPAC is back and feeling contemplative. All this and more as we continue the “April showers with quite a few flowers (and pollen)” portion of springtime in DC.

The regulatory update for this week features finalized payment policies for Medicare Advantage and Part D programs, alongside ongoing negotiations with pharmaceutical companies. Additionally, the FDA approves Abbott’s TriClip™ device for repairing leaky tricuspid heart valves amidst a Senate hearing addressing concerns about private equity’s impact on healthcare.

With Congress out for a spring holiday, CMS decided to release some of the early Medicare rules and DC enjoyed one of the longest cherry blossom seasons on record (https://wapo.st/4cFlGLh)

This week all eyes have been on Congress and their efforts to avert a partial (or total) government shutdown. Meanwhile, the EtO final rule (expected today) is still pending but the MA final rule is at OMB.