Once again, the policy world is all about the coronavirus – what laws and regulatory changes are needed to help individuals, health care providers, states, and businesses in this novel and extremely challenging environment. Keep reading for news and resources.

It won’t be a surprise that this issue of the Update is devoted to the coronavirus pandemic. As of this writing, two federal coronavirus-related bills have been enacted, and a third is (hopefully) close to enactment. It is expected that there will be more legislation...

Greetings from Washington, DC! This issue of the Update is devoted in large part to coronavirus-related policy and information, including information about insurance coverage for testing and treatment for COVID-19, the illness that results from the virus. Top line...

In the Update this week: The Supreme Court has decided that it will hear oral arguments in the ACA case during next year’s term, which begins in October 2020. A decision is not likely to be rendered until the following spring. The novel coronavirus of 2019 is taking...

In the Update this week: The “public charge” rule went into effect nationwide on February 24. Resources for families are provided below. Congress is still working on legislation to address surprise medical bills and prescription drug prices. The Kaiser Family...

In the Update this week: A federal court of appeals upheld the district court’s decision to invalidate the waiver granted to Arkansas that would have allowed the state to implement work requirements as a condition of Medicaid eligibility. The Supreme Court indicated...

In the Update this week: The president released his proposed FY 2021 budget. It proposes significant cuts to Medicaid and some other health programs, but is considered “dead on arrival” in Congress. A House committee approved another version of legislation to address...

There are two big healthcare news items this week, both generated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS): CMS issued its long-expected Medicaid “block grant” guidance, outlining how states can obtain waivers to gain greater flexibility in their...

There are two big news items in the health policy world this week: The Supreme Court lifted an injunction that had been stopping implementation of the administration’s “public charge” rule, but only while appeals are pending. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid...