Month: April 2021

President Biden today submitted to Congress his discretionary budget request for fiscal year 2022. The budget request, which is not binding, proposes $1.5 trillion for appropriated spending in FY 2022, including $769 billion for domestic programs, a 16% increase over last year’s level. The full budget request is expected to be released later this spring.  

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Rochelle Walensky M.D., yesterday declared racism “a serious public health threat,” and said the agency would accelerate its work to address racism as a fundamental driver of racial and ethnic health inequities in the United States. A new CDC website on racism and health will serve as a hub for the

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has selected 61 applicants for the Value in Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Demonstration, a four-year Medicare payment model beginning this month for selected health care providers who agree to participate. Participants will test whether a new care management fee and performance-based incentive payment for OUD treatment services reduces hospitalizations and improves

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Pfizer today said it is seeking an amended emergency use authorization for its COVID-19 vaccine, requesting that the Food and Drug Administration allow its use for individuals between 12 and 15 years old. The request follows last week’s release of late-trial data affirming the vaccine’s safety for that age group, along with 100% effectiveness in preventing

When Congress returns to Washington, D.C., on Monday, lawmakers’ attention will turn to one of the largest infrastructure spending packages in our nation’s history.  The legislation that President Biden outlined last week would focus on the repair and replacement of roads, bridges and transit systems. We believe that any comprehensive infrastructure plan must also include

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services late today issued a proposed rule to update skilled nursing facility payment rates for fiscal year 2022. The rule would update payments by a net 1.3% relative to FY 2021 ($444 million), which includes a 2.3% market basket, a 0.2 percentage point productivity reduction and a forecast error

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services late today issued a proposed rule to update hospice payment rates for fiscal year 2022. CMS proposes a 2.3% ($530 million) net increase to payments, compared to FY 2021. This includes a 2.5% market basket update and a 0.2 percentage point cut for productivity. The agency also proposed a

Fifty-three organizations began participating April 1 in the first performance year of the Global and Professional Direct Contracting Model, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation announced today. Organizations that applied and deferred their start date will start the model on Jan. 1, 2022, if they continue to meet the model’s requirements, but the agency