Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Biden To Reverse Trump-Allowed Medicaid Work Requirements
The Washington Post: Biden Administration To Move Friday To Rescind Medicaid Work Requirements
The Biden administration is planning Friday to wipe out one of the core health policies of the Trump era, taking actions that will immediately rescind permission for states to compel poor residents to work in exchange for receiving Medicaid benefits. Federal health officials will withdraw their predecessors’ invitation to states to apply for approval to impose such work requirements and will notify 10 states granted permission that it is about to be retracted, according to a draft plan obtained by The Washington Post and confirmed by two individuals familiar with the decision, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. (Diamond and Goldstein, 2/11)
Politico: Biden Moving To Withdraw Trump-Approved Medicaid Work Rules
The Biden administration on Friday will notify states it plans to revoke Medicaid work requirements, starting the process of dismantling one of the Trump administration's signature health policies. The move is one of several steps that Biden’s health department is expected to take this week to unravel the contentious work rules long criticized by Democrats, according to internal documents obtained by POLITICO. (Cancryn, 2/11)
In other news on Medicaid and Medicare —
Oklahoman: Medical Groups Ask Oklahoma Supreme Court To Halt Plan To Outsource Medicaid
Several local medical groups are asking the Oklahoma Supreme Court to halt Gov. Kevin Stitt's plan to outsource care for most of the state's Medicaid recipients. The groups that oppose partially privatizing the state's Medicaid program have asked the court to temporarily block the Oklahoma Health Care Authority from drastically overhauling the program that will serve more than 1 million Oklahomans after Medicaid expansion takes effect this summer. The Oklahoma State Medical Association, Oklahoma Dental Association, Oklahoma Osteopathic Association, Oklahoma Society of Anesthesiologists and the Oklahoma chapter of American Academy of Pediatrics are seeking an injunction from the court to halt the process until the Oklahoma Legislature can weigh in. (Forman, 2/11)
Houston Chronicle: As Texas Uninsured Rate Soars, Republican Rep. Lyle Larson Pushes For Medicaid Expansion
Rep. Lyle Larson filed legislation this week to expand Medicaid, becoming the first Texas Republican in years to actively push the Obama-era measure that would bring billions of dollars in federal aid to combat the state’s booming uninsured rate. “I think we should have a discussion,” the San Antonio lawmaker said. “We should have a discussion, and everybody should bring their ideas.” Texas is one of only a dozen states that have declined to expand the public safety net program under the Affordable Care Act. House Republicans last tried in 2013 and faced a blockade by then-Gov. Rick Perry, who argued there were too many problems in the state’s existing Medicaid program to add even more people to it. (Blackman and Bureau, 2/11)
Modern Healthcare: Humana To Cover Hospice Care On Some Medicare Advantage Plans In Five Markets
Humana on Wednesday announced it started offering hospice care on some of its Medicare Advantage plans in Atlanta, Cleveland, Denver, the Louisville, Ky. metro area and the Richmond-Tidewater region of Virginia at the start of this year. The move is part of a four-year Medicare demonstration through to gauge if covering hospice services under Medicare Part A benefits creates improves care, innovation, quality and access to care, according to a news release. Susan Diamond, president of Humana's Home business, said she hopes the program will remove barriers to care. (Christ, 2/11)
Modern Healthcare: Hospitals Ask Supreme Court To Toss 340B, Site-Neutral Pay Cuts
The American Hospital Association and other hospital groups appealed the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit's July ruling that upheld HHS' decision to lower some Medicare outpatient drug payments by 28.5% at 340B hospitals—a policy that dates back to 2017. Hospitals argued that the Supreme Court must revisit the case because the D.C. Circuit allowed HHS "to make wholesale changes" to reimbursement rates for 340B hospitals, claiming that Congress only gave HHS the power to make small adjustments. The Supreme Court needs to "ensure (the D.C. Circuit) does not give cover to federal agencies when they supplant Congress's policy judgments with their own," the petition said. (Brady, 2/11)
