Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
CMS Ban On New ACA Exchange Brokers Blocked After Industry Cried Foul
Modern Healthcare: CMS Freeze On ACA Exchange Brokers Lifted By Court
Health insurance marketers have gotten a reprieve from a federal freeze on enrolling new agents and brokers to serve the Affordable Care Act of 2010 marketplaces. The U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland issued a stay Thursday against the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ block on new agent and broker sales registrations for the federal health insurance exchanges, according to two trade groups that filed lawsuits against the agency. (Tepper, 11/5)
On surprise medical bills —
Stat: Two No Surprises Act Arbitrators Lose Federal Contracts
The Trump administration is cutting off two groups tasked with arbitrating disputes over surprise medical bills, citing a failure “to meet minimum performance standards.” (Payne, 11/5)
More on healthcare costs —
Becker's Hospital Review: CMS To Make Drug Price Negotiation Framework Permanent
CMS has finalized a rule that sets ongoing policies for the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program, starting with negotiated prices that take effect in 2029. The agency said the rule is designed to give drugmakers in the program a clearer, more predictable process going forward, according to a Nov. 5 news release. (Kuchno, 11/5)
Modern Healthcare: CMS Proposes Rollback Of Medicare, Medicaid Provider Rules
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is carrying on its deregulatory press in a draft regulation that would update the conditions of participation for federal health programs. For example, the proposed rule published Thursday would eliminate numerous emergency preparedness and training protocol measures from the Conditions of Participation, Conditions for Coverage and Requirements for Participation providers and suppliers must meet to participate in Medicare and Medicaid. (Early, 11/5)
MedPage Today: Physician Groups Give Mixed Reviews On Medicare Fee Schedule Final Rule
Physician groups had mixed opinions on the final Medicare Physician Fee Schedule rule for 2027, which included slightly increased pay cuts for doctors who treat Medicare beneficiaries, compared to a proposed rule released in July. (Frieden, 11/5)
Fortune: Southeast Asia Shouldn’t Copy The U.S. Healthcare Model, Says Walgreens Boots Alliance’s APAC Head
The U.S. is the world’s largest healthcare spender, pouring roughly 17% of its GDP—or $5.6 trillion—into treatments and care. Yet, according to Li Zhong, the APAC president of the Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA), while Americans generally have a long lifespan, they have a shorter healthspan than their counterparts in Vietnam, despite the latter devoting just 4.6% of its GDP to health spending. (Ang, 11/6)
