Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
CMS Proposes 2.4% Home Health Pay Bump, Expedited Handling Of Fraud
Modern Healthcare: CMS Proposes 2.4% Home Health Pay Increase For 2027
Home health providers would receive a 2.4% pay bump in 2027 under a proposed rule the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services published Wednesday. The draft regulation also would accelerate the process for excluding any type of provider or supplier from Medicare when fraud is detected. CMS placed a moratorium on new home health and hospice provider enrollment into Medicare last month as it conducts fraud investigations. (Early, 7/1)
More on healthcare workers and caregivers —
KFF Health News: 'What The Health? From KFF Health News': Supreme Court Makes Health Policy
The Supreme Court wrapped up its 2025-26 session this week with a spate of decisions, including several affecting health policy. The most significant: an immigration case that could exacerbate a shortage of workers in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. Meanwhile, two separate investigations paint in vivid detail how some doctors and hospitals are pocketing huge profits as a result of a federal law intended to shield patients from surprise medical bills. (Rovner, 7/1)
KFF Health News: HealthQ Special: Caregiving In The Sandwich Generation
If you are taking care of a child and you have a parent over 65, you’re among millions across the U.S. in the same life stage. Nearly a quarter of all American adults — and half of all adults in their 40s — fall into this “sandwich generation” category, according to Pew research. And being in the middle of that sandwich can feel … intense. (Anthony, Farmer, Ruppelt and Siner, 7/2)
In other health industry developments —
The Colorado Sun: Transgender Patients Seek To Hold Children's Hospital Colorado In Contempt
The transgender patients and their families who are suing Children’s Hospital Colorado are seeking to hold the hospital in contempt for failing to resume gender-affirming care as ordered by the courts. (Ingold, 7/2)
Modern Healthcare: Allegheny Health Network Closes Deal To Buy Heritage Valley
Allegheny Health Network closed its acquisition of Heritage Valley Health despite pushback from the Pennsylvania attorney general. The deal adds Heritage’s two hospitals, dozens of clinics and 500 employed and affiliated physicians to the 16-hospital provider division of Highmark Health. A final order Friday from a federal court paved the way for the transaction’s close, with conditions. (Kacik, 7/1)
Modern Healthcare: Dartmouth Health Gets $10M Gift For Hospital-At-Home Program
Dartmouth Health is rewriting the script for how to start a hospital-at-home program — and potentially help rural patients — with a $10 million gift from a New Hampshire philanthropist. Most health systems are standing up the programs with internal funds. Dartmouth Health is benefiting from the largesse of one of its professors, and the gift could signal another way for health systems to secure the funding needed to get the programs off the ground in more communities. (Eastabrook, 7/1)
Chicago Tribune: Northwestern Medicine Plans Cancer Care Facility In Orland Park
Northwestern Medicine plans to use a whopping $225 million donation to help build a new medical office building for cancer care in Orland Park. (Schencker, 7/1)
Cardinal News: The Pulse: Carilion Launches New Clinical Trial For Cancer Treatment
Carilion Clinic is expanding cancer research in Roanoke by bringing in new clinical trials as part of the development of the Carilion Taubman Cancer Center. (Schabacker, 7/2)
WUSF: BayCare Plans Medical Drone Delivery In The Tampa Bay Area
The Clearwater-based health system, in a partnership with Zipline, will be able to move meds, lab samples and critical supplies within minutes after the aircraft begin flying in Pinellas County in 2027. (Mayer, 7/1)
