iImplementation of the Affordable Care Act
HHS Releases January Enrollment Numbers: The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released the ACA’s enrollment numbers for January. The total number of enrollees increased by 53% to 3.3 million, and 25% of these enrollees are between the ages of 18 and 34.
CMS Offers Enrollment Extension: Due to scheduled maintenance on the data services hub over the President’s Day weekend, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is allowing those signing up for insurance through healthcare.gov to call CMS beginning on February 18th to request coverage with an effective date of March 1st.
Uninsured Rate Falls: A new Gallup survey found that the percentage of uninsured Americans dropped to 16% in the first quarter of 2014, putting it on track to drop to the lowest level measured since 2008. The authors noted that if the rate continues to fall over the next several months, it suggests the ACA is responsible for the decline.
Senators Question Mandate’s Enforcement: Six Republican Senators wrote a letter to IRS Commissioner John Koskinen, asking him to clarify how the agency will enforce the ACA’s individual mandate tax.
Republican Leaders Question Medicare Cuts: Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA), and four other House Republican leaders sent a letter to express their concern about the impact of cuts made by the ACA on the Medicare Advantage program.
Representatives Request Investigation of Covered Oregon: Representative Greg Walden (R-OR) and other members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee wrote a letter to the Government Accountability Office requesting an investigation into Oregon’s online exchange Covered Oregon.
Republicans to Attack 30 Hour Workweek: In an op-ed published on the National Review Online, House Majority Leader Eric Cantorstated that House Republicans will vote on a bill changing the ACA’s definition of full-time work as a 30 hour workweek.
8.1 Million Latinos Eligible for ACA Credits: HHS released a report which found that eight in ten uninsured Latinos are eligible for tax credits to purchase health insurance through the marketplaces, or for coverage through Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program.
Other Federal Regulatory Initiatives
NY/HHS Reach Agreement on Waiver: New York has reached an agreement in principle with HHS on a federal waiver allowing the state to reinvest $8 billion in federal savings generated by the Medicaid Redesign Team to preserve health services in Brooklyn and other struggling hospitals.
Cancer Panel Urges HPV Vaccination: In its annual report, the President’s Cancer Panel stated that underuse of HPV vaccines leads to preventable cancers and presented four goals to increase HPV vaccine uptake.
CBO Explains Report on ACA: Following the controversy over the Congressional Budget Office’s (CBO) report on the labor market effects of the ACA, the CBO released a report clarifying their findings and countering several misconceptions.
Drug Shortages Increasing: The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report which found that the total number of drug shortages has increased since 2007, forcing providers to ration care or rely on less effective drugs.
HHS Joins International Coalition: HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced that the US will be partnering with 26 countries, the World Health Organization, and Food and Agriculture Organization, and the World Organization for Animal Health to combat infectious diseases.
Meaningful Differences Affects 7.4 Million: Avalere Health released an analysis which found that 7.4 million Medicare beneficiaries in enhanced prescription drug plans (PDP) could be affected by the proposed Meaningful Differences rule released by CMS in January, which may terminate or consolidate 214 enhanced PDPs.
Other Congressional and State Initiatives
Senate HELP Urges Removal of Tobacco Products: Members of the Senate HELP Committee sent letters to Walgreens, Rite Aid, and the National Association of Chain Drug Stores urging them to follow CVS’ example and remove tobacco products from their stores.
House Oversight Urges Action on Overpayments: Republican leaders of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee sent a letter to HHS Secretary Sebelius, urging her to recover overpayments made to the New York state’s Medicaid program before approving the waiver allowing New York to reinvest federal money saved by the Medicaid Redesign Team.
Other Health Care News
Senators Promote Telehealth Services: Former Senate Majority Leaders Tom Daschle and Trent Lott, along with former Senator John Breaux, launched the Alliance for Connected Care to promote telehealth and remote patient monitoring policies. Board members include Verizon, WellPoint, CVS, and Walgreens, among others.
Hearings and Mark-Ups Scheduled
The Senate and the House are in Recess.
