This past week CMS announced 27 accountable care organizations that will participate in the Shared Savings Program, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo issued an executive order to establish a health insurance exchange in New York, and some parties celebrated the six-year anniversary of Massachusetts health reform.
IN THE COURTS
A number of newspapers and online news networks published an AP article this week, which highlights a possible misunderstanding from the Supreme Court arguments. During the arguments, the reporter says, some of the justices and lawyers appeared to be under the impression that the law does not allow most consumers to buy low-cost, stripped-down insurance to satisfy the minimum coverage requirement. The article notes that the law does, in fact, offer a cheaper "bronze" plan similar to what we know as a catastrophic coverage policy.
AT THE AGENCIES
CMS announced 27 accountable care organizations in 18 states that will participate in the Shared Savings Program, which was created by the Affordable Care Act to encourage coordination among providers to improve quality of care for Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries. The American Medical Association praised the fact that physicians are leading more than half of the first ACOs.
ON THE HILL
On Tuesday (4/17), U.S. Senators Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), John Barasso (R-Wyo.), and House Representatives Phil Gingrey (R-Ga.) and Phil Roe (R-Tenn.) (all medical doctors) released a report warning that Medicare may not be able to pay health care providers by 2016.
IN THE WHITE HOUSE
On Thursday (4/12) President Obama's re-election campaign released an online video to mark the sixth anniversary of the enactment of the Massachusetts health reform law.
THIRD PARTIES
The American Hospital Association and the Federation of American Hospitals criticized CMS's proposed rules implementing Section 6402(a) of the Patient Protection of the Affordable Care Act. The proposed rules require hospitals to investigate any potential Medicare overpayments and create liabilities when health care providers "knowingly" retain Medicare overpayments for more than 60 days.
IN THE STATES
Some states may continue implementing provisions from the Affordable Care Act even if it is overturned. Rhode Island, Maryland and Oregon were working to expand health coverage before the law passed and have already implemented parts of it. Sixteen states and the District of Columbia have passed laws enabling public insurance exchanges to be established.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo issued an executive order last week to establish a health insurance exchange in New York.
THIS WEEK
On Wednesday (4/18) at 2:00 p.m. the Senate Special Committee on Aging held a hearing titled "The Future of Long-Term Care: Saving Money by Serving Seniors."
On Saturday (4/21) at 10:30 a.m. in 138 Dirksen, the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee will hold a field hearing titled "Improving access to Quality Healthcare for Rural Veterans."
Next Tuesday (4/24) at 10:00 a.m. in 215 Dirksen, the Senate Finance Committee will hold a hearing titled "Anatomy of a Fraud Bust: From Investigation to Conviction" on Medicare billing fraud.
To view our compilation of recent health care reform implementation news, click here.