WHITE HOUSE:
As we enter the final week of the current Administration, they focused on the federal response to the devastating wildfires in California and the terror attack in New Orleans, new federal actions limiting offshore drilling and continuing to sign passed legislation. One item of indirect interest:
- More in the agency section below, but they finalized a new rule that will remove medical debt from credit reports. This may have an impact on collections and private payments, as well as continue to encourage municipalities to eliminate existing medical debt. In some circumstances, like in North Carolina, it’s led to a program where the state can use Medicaid dollars for providers who participate in the state’s medical debt relief program.
CONGRESS:
With the new Congress settled, talks have begun in earnest on how to move forward on the President-Elect’s ambitious agenda, with early discussions coalescing around one big bill that would cover everything from border security to tax cuts to immigration, although the one bill strategy has its detractors. The challenge, of course, is that to accomplish all the tax cuts and other goals that the President-Elect has outlined costs money, which the conservative members of Congress view as a non-starter. Adding to the complexity is that many of the potential areas of savings are politically popular programs, which are difficult to cut. Still, with a goal to get a bill done by April, it’s gonna be an active next few months. Elsewhere in the political world:
- The realities of government spending are becoming apparent as Elon Musk’s DOGE has revised downwards its goal of $2 trillion in cuts. The mechanics of how the agency will function is becoming clearer, even as the agency begins exploring what can be cut.
- Axios did a deep dive on two key figures in the incoming administration: Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, both of whom will be key in keeping Congress aligned with the Administration’s goals.
- The Senate Committee on the Budget released a bipartisan report further highlighting the impact that private equity has had on the US healthcare system, this time through the prism of the acquisition of a number of hospitals. The report is available here (PDF).
- Massachusetts passed a new law that places more disclosure and transparency requirements on private equity investments in healthcare. The state legislature published a fact sheet on the law . A copy of the legislation can be found at the legislative page.
- One useful CRS report from the week: an updated guide on where to find all the different and relevant statutory sources for the Medicare FFS system. You can access a copy here (PDF).
AGENCIES:
CMS announced a new funding opportunity to help recruit RN’s for SNF’s. While individuals SNF’s and associations are ineligible, the funding is specifically designed for organizations that will help place RN’s at SNF’s. The full guidance is available here (a Zip file containing a PDF guide). McKnight’s has a good summary of the program, and where it potentially falls short.
CMS released the 2026 advance notice for Medicare Advantage and Part D beneficiaries. The Fact Sheet is here while the draft program instructions are here. Fierce Healthcare has a good summary.
CMS posted an updated FAQ for the hospital price transparency requirements. It’s available here (PDF).
This might be of interest mainly to the lawyers, but HHS issued a report to Congress on how they used the section 1135 and other waivers during the Covid PHE. It’s available here (PDF).
It’s unclear how binding this will be on the incoming Administration, but HHS released their strategic plan on how they plan on incorporating AI into the agency’s goals. The central page is here. The overview is here (PDF).
It’s completely voluntary, but the FCC launched a new “US Cyber Trust Mark” to highlight when devices are considered cybersecure. The formal launch page can be found here. If you’re involved with
FROM THE NOTEBOOK:
- Oh look, another MA insurer has been dropped by providers as the Southwestern Health Resources network, which covers providers in Texas, announced that they’ve dropped Aetna.
- Shareholders have joined the fight to force United Health to provide an updated report on how they utilize prior authorization.
- With so much federal focus on immigration in the new administration, Roll Call examined just how difficult the conversation can make for the struggling long-term care workforce.
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