Washington DC Update News

Below are recent articles from the Washington DC Update newsletter, a weekly Family Voices newsletter that provides the latest on national policy affecting children/youth with special health care needs and their families, and also shares relevant resources and happenings in the field.

Washington Update, March 5, 2020

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...

Washington Update, February 26, 2020

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...

Washington Update, February 19, 2020

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...

Washington Update, February 13, 2020

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...

Washington Update, February 5, 2020

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...

Washington Update, January 29, 2020

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...

Washington Update, January 23, 2020

The big news in the health policy world this week was the announcement by the Supreme Court that it will not take up, on an expedited basis, the case challenging the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act. The Court has not yet decided whether to hear the case...

Washington Update, December 19, 2019

BREAKING NEWS: A federal court of appeals has ruled on the case challenging the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Texas v. United States. Key protections of the law remain in place pending further court action. See “ACA” section in this week's...

Washington Update, December 11, 2019

This week Members of Congress unveiled several bills that could affect families of children and youth with special health care needs. A conference agreement on the defense authorization bill would provide paid parental leave to all federal employees. This bill is...

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