Musk Calls Out Goals For DOGE
Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who is co-leader of Donald Trump’s proposed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) commission, said that the best-case scenario would be to put together $2 trillion in cuts to federal spending. He said that then DOGE would have a good shot at executing $1 trillion in reductions.
Whether the goal is a real $1 trillion or $2 trillion, it is clear that healthcare program cuts will play a big role in spending reductions.
#doge #government #spending #trump #congress #healthcare
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5076095-elon-musk-doge-2t-spending-cut-goal/?tbref=hp
Generic Drug Lobby Worried About Tariffs
The U.S. generic drug lobby is worried about the imposition of tariffs and wants to convince the incoming Trump administration such tariffs would hurt efforts to lower drug prices. The Lobby is also pushing for so-called “skinny” labeling, biosimilar automatic interchangeability, and patent reform.
(Article may require a subscription.)
#drugpricing #generics #tariffs #trump #biosimilars #patents
UHG Asks Court To Dismiss Government Suit Against Acquisition
UnitedHealth Group (UHG) and Amedisys are asking a federal court to dismiss a government lawsuit over the acquisition of the home-care entity by the healthcare giant or require the Justice Department to better define where the deal would stifle competition. The government has argued it would give UHG far too much market control over the home-care world if the acquisition occurs.
Additional article: https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/payers/unitedhealth-amedisys-ask-court-dismiss-dojs-challenge-33b-merger-deal and https://www.beckerspayer.com/m-and-a/unitedhealth-asks-judge-to-dismiss-challenge-to-amedisys-merger.html
(Some articles may require a subscription.)
#unitedhealthcare #homecare
https://www.modernhealthcare.com/providers/unitedhealth-group-amedisys-antitrust-lawsuit-case
Medicaid Directors Concerned About 1115 Waiver Backlogs
Medicaid directors have signaled their concern that there is a major backlog in approval of 1115 Medicaid waivers. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking to address this by working through pending applications before the administration changes. This week three more states received their waivers. The new Trump administration is expected to take a very different tack on waivers.
(Article may require a subscription.)
#medicaid #waivers #coverage
Health Systems Drop Medicare Advantage
Becker’s inventories the 21 health systems that have dropped Medicare Advantage (MA) for 2025. One of them is the split between Cigna MA and Dover-based Bayhealth.
Additional article: https://www.beckerspayer.com/contracting/cigna-medicare-advantage-split-with-delaware-system-triggers-special-enrollment-period.html
#medicareadvantage #hospitals #providers
15,000 Docs Oppose Kennedy Nomination
More than 15,000 doctors signed an open letter urging senators to vote against the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Notwithstanding the grassroots effort, I think RFK Jr. will make it. The GOP seems to be acquiescent.
#rfkjr #hhs #healthcare #providers
https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5076993-doctors-oppose-kennedy-nomination
Kroger Pharmacies Settle Opioid Charges
The Kroger Co. has agreed to pay Kentucky $110 million to settle a lawsuit alleging it dispensed millions of doses of opioids into the state over the course of more than a decade without adequate oversight.
#opioids #healthcare
https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5077534-kroger-110m-kentucky-opioid-settlement/
— Marc S. Ryan
