iImplementation of the Affordable Care Act
June 1 Deadline for States to Scrap Exchanges: A report published by Nevada’s state health exchange indicates that states that want to scrap their failing exchanges and allow the federal government to take over must submit details for the transition by June 1.
Study Shows Lack of Transparency on Drug Coverage: Avalere Health released an analysis showing that drug formularies are very or moderately accessible in only 52% of plans on the exchanges, and 38% of plans had no drug formulary data available.
Only 67% Paid Premiums: The House Energy and Commerce Committee majority announced that as of April 15, only 67% of individuals and families who selected a plan through the exchanges have paid their first month’s premium, based on enrollment data they requested from insurance providers.
WellPoint Enrollment Soars: Speaking on its earnings report, Wellpoint CEO Joe Swedish announced in a conference call that approximately 600,000 people signed up for the plans it offered through the exchanges and approximately 100,000 enrolled in their Medicaid plans. WellPoint’s net income slid 21% in the first quarter as a result of administrative changes.
House Passes ACA Expat Fix: The House passed the Expatriate Health Coverage Clarification Act (H.R. 4414). The bill was supported by some business groups, including Business Roundtable, but opposed by some labor and immigration groups, including the National Immigration Law Center. The White House opposes the bill for reducing consumer protections, but did not state whether or not the President would veto the bill..
Other Federal Regulatory Initiatives
CMS Issues Final Prospective Payment Rule: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued a final rule implementing payment rates for a prospective payment system for federally qualified health center services, allowing rural health clinics to contract with nonphysician practitioners, and implements changes to the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments.
CMS to Use Fingerprint Background Checks: CMS announced that it will be implementing fingerprint-based background checks for providers and suppliers of home health and durable medical equipment in the Medicare program.
CMS Sets ICD-10 Compliance Date: CMS announced that it will require the use of ICD-10 billing code system beginning on October 1, 2015.
CMS Proposes Updated Rates: CMS issued three proposals for increasing payment rates for skilled nursing facilities, inpatient psychiatric facilities, and inpatient rehabilitation facilities.
Premature Deaths Preventable: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a study which found that 40% of the nearly 900,000 deaths which occur each year due to heart disease, cancer, chronic lower repository diseases, stroke, and unintentional injuries are preventable.
Improper Payments Cost Medicare $50 Billion: HHS Deputy Inspector General Gloria Jarmon testified before the House Ways and Means Committee that improper payments cost Medicare approximately $50 billion in 2013.
FDA Approves Zykadia: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Zykadia, a breakthrough therapy drug for late-stage lung cancer, four months ahead of the review completion goal date. It is the fourth drug with breakthrough therapy designation to receive FDA approval.
Other Congressional and State Initiatives
Republican Reps Request Hold on Burwell Nomination: Republican Representatives from Louisiana sent a letter to their Senate counterparts asking them to place a hold on the nomination of Sylvia Burwell for Secretary of HHS until she promises to grant individual exemptions to the ACA’s mandates.
Energy and Commerce Launches Medical Cures Initiative: House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) and member Diana DeGette (D-CO) launched the 21st Century Cures Initiative to accelerate the pace of cures and medical breakthroughs in the U.S. The initiative has already released a white paper on the discovery, development, and delivery of new treatment and cures.
Senator Combats Antibiotic Resistant Infections: Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) introduced the Strategies to Address Antimicrobial Resistance (STAAR) Act, which will encourage federal antimicrobial resistance surveillance, prevention and control, and research efforts.
Committee Examines Rx and Heroin Abuse: The House Energy and Commerce Committee held a hearing to discuss how over prescription of pain killers can lead to prescription drug abuse, eventually resulting in heroin addiction.
Other Health Care News
Pfizer Proposes to Takeover AstraZeneca: Pfizer Inc. proposed a takeover to AstraZeneca worth approximately $100 billion. Pfizer was rebuffed, with AstraZeneca suggesting the offer undervalued the company very significantly. AstraZeneca then rejected a second offer of $106.43 billion on Friday, but Pfizer is expected to continue to pursue a takeover.
Upcoming Hearings and Markups
House
On May 6th, the House Energy and Commerce 21st Century Cures initiative will host a roundtable on the state of biomedical innovation in the United States.
On May 7th, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations will hold a hearing titled “PPACA Enrollment and the Insurance Industry.”
Senate
On May 7th, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies will hold a hearing to consider the proposed FY2015 Labor-HHA-Education Appropriation.
On May 8th, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee will hold a hearing to consider the nomination of Sylvia Mathews Burwell to be Secretary of HHS.
