Congress is struggling to agree on funding for the federal government beyond December 20, when the temporary funding measure expires. It is unclear whether there will be resolution on legislation to address the thorny issues of surprise medical billing and...

Congress is still working away on FY 2020 appropriations, and legislation to address surprise medical billing and prescription drug prices. Meanwhile, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has been very busy. The agency released a significant proposed...

Not all cooperation between the political parties has ceased in DC. During recent days, the House passed five health bills applauded by both Democrats and Republicans. These bills address the pediatric health care workforce, the nursing workforce, and palliative care....

Not a whole lot is new on the health front this week, except that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released data showing that health insurance premiums have come down and the number of health plan choices has gone up. (See the ACA section, below.)...

Congress returned from a two-week recess on October 15. It now must develop and pass appropriations to keep the government funded past November 21. Still under consideration is legislation to address surprise medical bills and prescription drug costs, although it is...

Congress is still in recess, and will return on October 15. Outstanding issues to tackle when they get back include appropriations to keep the government funded past November 21, and legislation to address surprise medical bills and prescription drug costs. It is not...

Not a lot happened during the past week in Washington…with respect to health care, that is.  The president signed the Autism CARES Act but, otherwise, policymakers and politicos have been preoccupied with other matters (i.e., the impeachment inquiry), which may...

Consumers who qualified for an another enrollment period, such as a special enrollment period (SEP) or Open Enrollment Period (OEP), but were unable to complete a Marketplace application, plan selection, or enrollment process due to Hurricane Dorian, may have access...

The big news from last week: Congress has passed the Autism CARES Act, and it is expected to be signed by the president. More good news: the US Customs and Immigration Services has decided to continue processing medical “deferred action” requests, which will make it...

Congress came back from its August recess last week and is working to develop legislation on surprise medical bills and prescription drug prices, among other things. While the Washington Update was on recess, the administration issued its final rule on the “public...