A bipartisan group of House members sent a letter to the House speaker and Democratic leader urging them to avert an $8 billion cut to Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payments on Oct. 1. America's Essential Hospitals helped build momentum for the letter signing campaign.

America's Essential Hospitals calls on Senate leaders to reject a House proposal to impose work requirements for Medicaid as part of negotiations to raise the nation's debt limit, saying the plan would jeopardize access to care and harm communities.

The CMS Innovation Center shares a progress report on its 10-year strategy and a blog post announcing plans to improve integrated specialty care.

CMS on Aug. 29 finalized its decision to delay indefinitely implementation of the Radiation Oncology Model, which was scheduled to start Jan. 1, 2023.

President Joe Biden signed a $1.5 trillion fiscal year 2022 spending package; he already signed a four-day continuing resolution to provide time for the omnibus spending measure to move forward. 

In a new white paper, America's Essential Hospitals discusses essential hospitals' role in value-based payment models and makes recommendations to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation on improving equity through broader model participation.

A new Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation white paper outlines a strategy to advance health system transformation. The goal is to achieve equitable outcomes by driving accountable care, advancing health equity, supporting innovation, addressing affordability, and creating partnerships.

Managed care organizations can participate in direct contracting for their populations dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. The model builds on direct contracting opportunities that test risk-sharing arrangements to reduce Medicare expenditures while preserving or enhancing quality of care.

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized rules in conjunction with HHS' regulatory sprint to coordinated care. The OIG rule modifies safe harbor protections; CMS’ rule targets undue burden of the physician self-referral law, or Stark law.

The proposed rules seek to eliminate barriers to promoting care coordination under current fraud and abuse laws; comments are due to the agencies Dec. 31.

To facilitate multi-payer alignment for ambulance services, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation will provide an interactive learning system with targeted learning opportunities for state Medicaid programs.

The two mandatory payment models will test prospective episode-based payments for radiation oncology therapy and end-stage renal disease treatment.

Providers interested in the professional or global options under the new Primary Cares Initiative must submit a nonbinding letter of intent by Aug. 2.

In a new request for information, the agency seeks ideas for innovative programs and waiver concepts states could consider in developing Section 1332 waivers. The request follows October 2018 guidance aimed at increasing state flexibility.

The Primary Cares Initiative comprises five new voluntary payment model options under two paths. The new models build on the experience of the Medicare Shared Savings Program and Next Generation Accountable Care Organization model.

The Maternal Opioid Misuse model will last five years and support the integration of clinical care with other services critical for health, well-being, and recovery for pregnant and postpartum Medicaid beneficiaries.

Senators left Washington earlier than expected to campaign for midterm elections after confirming 15 federal judicial nominees and failing to overturn a regulation expanding short-term insurance plans.

The Innovation Accelerator Program's March 26 webinar will focus on administrative and regulatory barriers to physical and mental health integration in the Medicaid program.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is giving up to 10 states the opportunity to participate in the program to design, develop, and implement value-based payment approaches.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will host an information session and a series of four webinars in the coming weeks to provide information on new opportunities for states.

In response to the request for information, the association encouraged flexibility and a focus on hospitals treating high numbers of complex patients.

CMS is seeking broad feedback on a new direction for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation, with increased emphasis on patient-centered care and market-based reforms.

The decision extends by five years the state's demonstration of a capitated Medicaid managed care program and a low-income pool to provide support for the safety net.

This is the second Section 1332 State Innovation Waiver to receive approval; Alaska is pursuing the waiver to stabilize the state's individual health care market.

The webinar on June 28 will focus on the Medicaid Innovation Accelerator Program's Reducing Substance Use Disorders program area.

States have until June 12 to complete an expression of interest form for the Medicaid Innovation Accelerator Program track.

The new checklist tool helps states compile the necessary documents to apply to waive ACA provisions and pursue alternative reforms.

Over a five-year period, CMS will test the three-track AHC model, which aims to support health-related social needs of Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries.

A series of forums will provide information on the Next Generation ACO Model; a separate CMS webinar will outline the Medicare ACO Track 1+ Model.

Hawaii is the first state to receive approval for a Section 1332 waiver, and will be allowed to close its Small Business Health Options Program for five years.

The two new Beneficiary Engagement and Incentives models test different shared decision-making approaches designed to increase patient engagement.

It outlines factors stakeholders should focus on when designing alternative payment models, including type to propose, how to measure improvements, and more.

The Federal Health IT Strategic Plan: 2015–2020, aims to improve health IT infrastructure, transform health care delivery, and improve individual and community health.

Planned Parenthood remains an issue in government funding. Congress considers hospital bills, Medicare Part B premiums, medical innovation, health care competition, and Medicaid fraud and abuse, vows to focus on mental health.

Plans must be budget-neutral and cover as many people as traditional ACA reforms. With these waivers, states may forgo certain ACA provisions including the marketplaces and individual mandate.

The Senate takes up the House-passed budget resolution. Both the House and Senate are focused on medical innovation as the next major health push.

Senate HELP Committee to examine changes that could improve FDA process without compromising safety