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What Could Healthcare Spending Cuts Look Like?

Trump’s goal of extending the 2017 tax cuts could have major implications for healthcare In Monday’s blog, I told you that the incoming Trump administration will be dominated by budget matters in 2025, with an effort to find enough savings to extend the 2017 tax cuts. The proposed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) commission seems dedicated to a fundamental remake of government, programs, and regulations. While the Republican or GOP control of both Houses is tight, leaders and the rank-and-file seem ready to hitch their wagons to Trump and his agenda. But as I noted Monday, process and procedures could create challenges. With all this in mind, what might healthcare cut proposals look like? The DOGE, Trump, and congressional GOP lists will likely be culled from various sources including governmental authorities and outside conservative think tanks. The lists below include proposals from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and a number

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What Will Trump’s Second First 100 Days Look Like?

What will the early months of a new Trump term mean for healthcare? President-elect Donald Trump is scheduled to take office on January 20 after coming back from the political dead. Trump will become just the second president to serve non-consecutive terms. For the politically curious, the first was Grover Cleveland in 1885 and then again in 1893. Cleveland beat Republican James Blaine in 1884, winning both the electoral and popular votes. He lost to Republican Benjamin Harrison in 1888. Harrison won the electoral vote, but Cleveland won the popular vote. Cleveland came back to beat Harrison in 1892, getting both the electoral and popular vote. A now more government-savvy Trump has come out fast to put together his agenda and personnel for his second term, a major difference than what occurred in 2017 when Trump looked flat-footed during the transition. Trump already has almost all of his nominees picked

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Channeling Nostradamus: The Healthcare Labyrinth’s 2025 Predictions

Even a master seer would have problems predicting what will occur in healthcare in 2025 In my last blog, I gave you my healthcare year-in-review for 2024. After that, as I always do each year, I play Nostradamus to prognosticate about what will happen in the next twelve months in the world of healthcare. Despite my Irish last name, I do have French blood (well, 50% French Canadien, so I count it). But I don’t claim to be an oracle or seer like our 16th century physician, apothecary, and astrologer friend. I do take a page from Nostradamus, though, in that my healthcare predictions for 2025 (not really prophecies) will be sometimes deliberately vague (they include a lot of mays, coulds, shoulds, perhaps, likelys and possibles) so as to amass a reasonable record for those tracking and putting together my forecasting report card for the history books. It also tends to make my

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The Healthcare Labyrinth 2024 Year In Review Blog

A busy year in healthcare with insurer woes and a presidential election that brought changing political winds As is my tradition at year’s end, I reflect back on all that occurred in healthcare in the year. It was a big year in healthcare and the election portends another massive one next year. I will have my 2025 predictions blog on Thursday. So, here are the major healthcare happenings from 2024. You can go to various blogs at the blog tab to learn more. In a few instances, I call out good blogs to go back to as well. NHED shows robust healthcare growth National healthcare expenditure data (NHED) was published for 2023. Costs rose 7.6% from 2022 to 2023 and reached almost $4.9 trillion. This made spending on healthcare expeditures hit 17.6% of the gross domestic product (GDP). Healthcare expenditure will consume almost one-fifth of the economy by 2032. Insurer

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February 15, 2024

Cigna To Start Stock Buyback Cigna said it would repurchase $3.2 billion in stock as part of a repurchase of $5 billion of common stock over the first half of 2024. This will help enhance its stock price.  Cigna will get $3.7 billion for its Medicare Advantage sale to Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC) when it closes. #cigna #hcsc Link to Article New Bill To Establish “Essential Hospital” Designation Lawmakers are sponsoring a bill that would designate about 1,000 hospitals as “essential health systems” under federal statute.  This would provide a vehicle to shelter these hospitals from negative programmatic decision (similar to critical access hospitals and sole community hospitals) as well as target new dollars for health equity and related initiatives. Hospitals would need to meet certain Medicare or Medicaid thresholds. #hospitals #medicare #medicaid Link to Article Capitol Hill Interest In AI Legislation But Little Progress A good article on the interest

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February 14, 2024

Elevance Health Takeover Of BCBSLA On Hold Again Facing pushback from Louisiana regulators, the governor and some lawmakers, BCBSLA has again withdrawn its application for sales to Elevance Health. BCBSLA sought permission to transition to a for-profit entity. Additional article: https://www.modernhealthcare.com/mergers-acquisitions/elevance-health-blue-cross-louisiana-merger-called-off (Some articles may require a subscription.) #bcbsla #elevancehealth Link to Article Biden Administration To Scrutinize Middlemen In Drug Shortage Controversy The Biden administration has issued a Request for Information (RFI) about the role of drug channel middlemen in creating drug shortages. The middlemen include group purchasing organizations (GPOs) and drug wholesalers. About six entities dominate. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) are leading the effort. The agencies will look at market concentration, contracting practices, and regulatory exemptions. In addition, GPOs’ sole-source agreements that prevent hospitals and other providers from acquiring drugs elsewhere will be examined. HHS Press Release here: https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2024/02/14/ftc-hhs-seek-public-comment-generic-drug-shortages-competition-amongst-powerful-middlemen.html Additional

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February 13, 2024

Showing Strain In MA, PE Deals Dropped Significantly Private equity firms’ investment in the Medicare Advantage (MA) space are way down from a peak in 2021. This is a sign that rising medical expense and regulation is impacting the industry. Just 4 deals occurred in 2023, down from 19 in 2021. Additional article here: https://www.modernhealthcare.com/finance/private-equity-medicare-advantage-pesp-report (Some articles may require a subscription.) #medicareadvantage #privatequityfirms Link to Article Site-Neutral Payment Fight Great Kaiser Health News article on the fight over site-neutral payments.  Advocates want site neutral and won passage in a small way on Part B drug infusion in the House.  Hospitals are using their weight and dollars to keep it out of any bill.  In a related move, advocates are proposing a possible rural exception to a site neutrality to get the reform passed. See here: https://insidehealthpolicy.com/daily-news/site-neutral-proponents-float-rural-exemption-hospitals-flag-risks (Some articles may require a subscription.) #siteneutral #medicare Link to Article Texas Federal Judge

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February 12, 2024

Kaiser Turns Around Performance Kaiser Permanente moved from a $1 billion loss in 2022 to about breakeven at least in terms of operating income in 2023.  Its income was $4.1 billion with investments.  It reached the $100 billion mark in both operating revenues and expenses. #kaiserpermanente #managedcare Link to Article Article Summing Up Congressional And Regulatory Issues On AI A good article on all the activities surrounding the use of AI and possible regulations.  The article discusses potential Capitol Hill bills, recent rules and guidance from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and lawsuits against insurers on AI issues. #ai #claimsdenials #priorauthorization Link to Article Humana Study Shows Discrimination In Healthcare A new study sponsored by Humana focused on structural determinants of health rather than social determinants.  The study found that 88% of respondents reporting healthcare discrimination were black. While similar and related to social determinants, structural determinants

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February 9, 2024

Senate To Tackle Medicare Physician Formula A bipartisan group of senators will tackle long-term reform of the Medicare physician pay formula. On 1/1, a 3.4% reduction went into effect due to the existing formula.  Some have accused physicians of spending more time lobbying on health plan prior authorization reform than on their own rate issues. #medicare #physicians Link to Article CMS Wants Tougher Regulation Of Accrediting Organizations A proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) wants reform of how accreditation organizations operate, including conflict of interest and other requirements in force for other organizations. CMS Fact Sheet here: https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/accrediting-organization-proposed-rule-fact-sheet Additional article here: https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/regulatory/cms-proposes-greater-oversight-consulting-limitations-accrediting-organizations (Some articles may require a subscription.) #cms #healthplans Link to Article Provider Lobbies Pushing PA Reform At State Level A number of states have enacted and more will enact broad reforms of prior authorization (PA).  Generally these reforms revolve around electronic PA transmission,

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February 8, 2024

Weighty Lesson For Employers From NC State Employee Plan Experience On GLP-1 Drugs A lesson for employer groups as weight-loss drugs take off in popularity.  An analysis of data says that just 25 of over 6,200 prescribers in the North Carolina State Employee Plan accounted for 8 percent of the costs of prescriptions for costly weight loss drugs. These include GLP-1 meds Wegovy and Saxenda. These drugs accounted for 10% of total costs – or over $100 million. The state wanted to rein in costs with some ideas, but its pharmacy benefit manger shot them down. Shame on the healthcare players to not work with employers battling these cost issues. As important, there are telehealth entities now emerging, backed by private equity, advertising solely to prescribe such meds.  It is corrupt. #weightlossdrugs #drugpricing Link to Article Good News From Oscar Health; It Favors ACA Subsidy Extension Oscar reported major enrollment

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