Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Biden Administration Moves To Implement Law Targeting Surprise Bills
AP: Trump-Era Law On Surprise Medical Bills Advances Under Biden
The Biden administration on Thursday began putting in place consumer protections against “surprise” medical bills enacted in bipartisan legislation signed last year by former President Donald Trump. Regulations jointly issued by four federal agencies spell out protections for insured patients against surprise billing in medical emergencies, and unexpected charges from out-of-network doctors at an in-network facility. Out-of-network clinicians and service providers would also be barred from billing patients for the difference between their charges and what insurance paid. (Alonso-Zaldivar, 7/1)
CNN: Most Surprise Medical Bills To End Under New Rule
The interim final rule starts the process of filling out the No Surprises Act, a contentious and long-delayed bill Congress passed in December and former President Donald Trump signed into law after much lobbying from both insurers and providers. Subject to a 60-day comment period, the rule is the first of several the Biden administration will roll out to implement the law. Under the rule, patients would be responsible only for their in-network cost-sharing for both emergencies and certain non-emergencies where they are unable to choose in-network providers. (Luhby, 7/1)
Fox Business: Biden Begins Implementing Trump-Era Ban On Surprise Medical Bills
The rule, set to go into effect in 2022, bans surprise billing for emergency services, high out-of-network cost-sharing, out-of-network charges for ancillary care at an in-network facility, and other out-of-network charges without advance notice. "No patient should forgo care for fear of surprise billing," HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a statement. "Health insurance should offer patients peace of mind that they won't be saddled with unexpected costs." (De Lea, 7/1)
In news from the Biden administration —
CNBC: Unemployed Can Now Get Zero-Premium Health Insurance Via Marketplace
Anyone who is receiving — or already received — unemployment benefits in 2021 could discover they now qualify for no-cost or low-cost private health insurance. As of Thursday, zero-premium health plans that come with minimal or no cost-sharing — i.e., deductibles and copays — are available through the Affordable Care Act marketplace to individuals collecting unemployment at any point this year. The financial help was authorized in the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act, which was signed into law in March by President Joe Biden. (O'Brien, 7/1)
The New York Times: Justice Dept. Pauses Federal Executions, Reversing Trump Policy
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland on Thursday imposed a moratorium on federal executions pending a review of the Justice Department’s policies and procedures, reversing the Trump administration’s decision to resume executions of federal death row inmates last year after a nearly two-decade hiatus. “The Department of Justice must ensure that everyone in the federal criminal justice system is not only afforded the rights guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States, but is also treated fairly and humanely,” Mr. Garland said in a memo to Justice Department leaders. “That obligation has special force in capital cases.” (Benner, 7/1)
CIDRAP: ICE Has Worked To Address COVID, GAO Report Says
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has worked to develop responsive COVID-19 protocols around facility intake processes, screening and testing, social distancing, and more, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) said in a report published yesterday. In 2020, ICE tested 80,200 detainees for COVID-19, identified 8,622 cases (10.8%), and recorded 8 deaths. As part of its COVID response in 2020, the ICE also classified 14,729 detainees as high-risk, of whom 529 (3.6%) developed COVID-19 infections. As of March 2021, ICE confirmed more than 10,000 cases but the same number of deaths. (7/1)
The Hill: Biden EPA To Reassess Trump-Era Chemical Health Findings
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will reassess findings under the former Trump administration about the safety and use of several chemicals. In a statement released Wednesday, the EPA said it would make changes to the risk evaluation for the chemical 1,4-dioxane and may also add new information to evaluations for six others. (Frazin, 7/1)
ABC News: US Jobless Claims Fall To 364,000, A New Pandemic Low
The number of Americans applying for unemployment aid fell again last week to the lowest level since the pandemic struck last year, further evidence that the job market and the broader economy are rebounding rapidly from the coronavirus recession. The Labor Department reported Thursday that jobless claims dropped by 51,000 to 364,000. Applications for unemployment benefits have fallen more or less steadily since the year began. The rollout of vaccines has sharply reduced new COVID-19 cases, giving consumers the confidence to shop, travel, eat out and attend public events as the economy recovers. (Wiseman, 7/1)
