Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Medicare, Medicaid Set To Cover Costs For COVID Vaccine Even Under EUA
Politico: Medicare And Medicaid To Cover Early Covid Vaccine
The Trump administration this week will announce a plan to cover the out-of-pocket costs of Covid-19 vaccines for millions of Americans who receive Medicare or Medicaid, said four people with knowledge of the pending announcement. Under the planned rule, Medicare and Medicaid will now cover vaccines that receive emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration, the people said, which is a change from current policy. The regulations, which have been under development for weeks, are likely to be announced by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on Tuesday or Wednesday. (Diamond and Cancryn, 10/26)
The Hill: Trump Admin To Announce Coronavirus Vaccine Will Be Covered Under Medicare, Medicaid: Report
The administration has reportedly been working on the initiative for weeks and expects to announce the change in policy on Tuesday or Wednesday. At least two vaccine developers have said they intend to apply before the end of the year for an emergency use authorization, which allows the vaccine to be distributed before official FDA approval during a state of emergency. (Coleman, 10/26)
In other Medicare news —
The New York Times: UnitedHealth Ships Flu Kits To Medicare Recipients
With Covid-19 hospitalizations spiking again in many parts of the country, public health officials have expressed concerns about a perennial source of strain on the health care system: seasonal flu. As threats of a “twindemic” loom, health care workers have stressed the need for vaccination and other preventive measures to slow the spread of flu. One insurance company is going further to try to mitigate the effects of flu season: UnitedHealthcare, the country’s largest health insurance company, plans to provide at-risk patients with 200,000 kits that include Tamiflu, the prescription antiviral treatment; a digital thermometer; and a coronavirus P.C.R. diagnostic test. (Goldberg, 10/24)
CNBC: Here Are Tips From Advisors For Getting Your Medicare Coverage Right
For the nation’s older residents, the stakes can’t be higher when it comes to choosing health-care coverage. That’s partly because under Medicare — you’re eligible at age 65 — changing plans can be challenging in some circumstances and costly if you get your choices wrong. So whether you’re giving your coverage an annual checkup during open enrollment (Oct. 15 through Dec. 7) or signing up for the first time, financial advisors say there are some key considerations to factor into your decision-making. (O'Brien, 10/23)
And in other Medicaid news —
Indianapolis Star: Healthy Indiana Plan Gets Federal Extension For 10 Years
Indiana has received federal approval to continue its Healthy Indiana Plan for another decade, making Indiana the first state to receive a 10-year extension for its Medicaid expansion alternative. The extension comes as more Hoosiers than ever are enrolled in the health coverage plan. More than 572,000 Indiana low-income residents receive their health insurance through the plan, about 100,000 more than at this time last year, officials for the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration said. Typically states receive only a two- or three-year extension of their Medicaid alternatives. (Rudavsky, 10/27)
Bloomberg Law: Indiana Gets 10-Year Extension For Medicaid Work, Premium Rules
Federal health authorities granted an unprecedented 10-year extension to Indiana’s Medicaid expansion program that requires beneficiaries to work and pay premiums, the state announced Monday. The waiver extension is more than twice as long as the three- to four-year period that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services normally provides to state programs. (Ebert, 10/26)
