GOP May Run Another Reconciliation Bill
Republicans may run another budget reconciliation bill to advance a number of President Donald Trump’s stalled priorities, including funding for the war, a voting bill, and to fund the Department of Homeland Security. Within the bill likely will be more healthcare cuts to meet spending rule and deficit mandates. Not all of the initiatives would pass the Byrd rule, which limits what can be in such a bill.
Among the healthcare cuts that could be included are:
- Implementing aggressive site neutrality in Medicare.
- Funding cost-sharing reductions in the Exchanges (to save on premium tax credits).
- Further reining in Medicaid eligibility for some populations.
- Aspects of Trump’s healthcare plan, including expanding ICHRA reimbursement and small business healthcare tax credits, Exchange benefit package changes, replacing Exchange subsidies with Health Savings Account (HSA) contributions, and codifying TrumpRx.
- Requiring greater price transparency from health insurance companies and providers.
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#congress #trump #reconciliation #exchange #coverage
https://www.modernhealthcare.com/politics-regulation/mh-gop-budget-reconciliation-bill-medicaid-aca
Medicare Physician Payments Under-Funded
A good Health Affairs Forefront Blog on the historic under-funding of physicians in Medicare. This is despite numerous reimbursement strategies and alternative payment models for primary care.
The authors do a great job of covering the real decline in physician pay over time. Primary care physician spending per traditional Medicare beneficiary averaged $438 in 2017, declining to $420 in 2023, while both total fee schedule spending per beneficiary and total E/M service fee schedule spending increased. The share of fee schedule spending associated with primary care physicians declined from 18.6 percent in 2017 to 15.9 percent in 2023. Medicare spent $17.0 billion on primary care physicians for 38.9 million beneficiaries in 2017, which declined to $14.4 billion for 34.4 million beneficiaries in 2023.
(Article may require a subscription.)
#physicians #primarycare #medicare
Top Dems Oppose Trump Exchange Rule
Top Senate Democrats came out in a letter condemning a proposed rule by the Trump administration that would change a great deal of benefits in the Exchanges. Primary among the worries for them are promoting catastrophic health plans and non-network ones.
#exchanges #trump #coverage
https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5802017-senate-democrats-condemn-trump-aca-rule
Former Healthcare Policy Leaders Advocate For Medicare Choice Option
A coalition of former congressional staffers and federal health leaders wants Congress to pass “Medicare by Choice.” The proposal would allow anyone the option of enrolling in traditional Medicare regardless of age. Employers could select the program as an option as well. The proposal would also add an out-of-pocket cap, vision, dental, and hearing. Parts A, B and D would all be combined.
#medicare #coverage
https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5800964-medicare-by-choice-health-care-policy-democrats
— Marc S. Ryan
