A day after President Obama unveiled his new jobs package, federal officials announced more than $700 million in new building and facility upgrade grants made possible by the Affordable Care Act, as a means to create jobs. The Fourth Circuit Courts of Appeals handed down its much-anticipated ruling on the Virginia case against the Affordable Care Act. The court held that Virginia lacked the necessary standing to bring the suit and so remanded it to the district court for dismissal. On Friday, CMS Chief Don Berwick turned 65, making him eligible for the Medicare benefits he oversees.
IN THE COURTS
On Thursday (9/8), the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed one of the most high-profile challenges to the Affordable Care Act, finding that Virginia lacked standing to sue because no residents had yet been made to pay a penalty for failing to buy health insurance.
AT THE AGENCIES
On Friday (9/9), the day after President Obama's big jobs speech, HHS unveiled a new round of healthcare grants as a means of creating thousands of jobs. HHS announced $700 million in new funding opportunities for building and upgrading community health centers.
ON THE HILL
In his Thursday (9/8) jobs speech, President Obama called for "modest adjustments to health care programs like Medicare and Medicaid," however he did not specify further details.
A new report from the Center for Responsive Politics finds that the healthcare industry has made significant contributions to 10 of the 12 members of the Joint Committee on Deficit Reduction, the congressional committee established by the Budget Control Act. These findings have reinforced the beliefs of many that the panel's changes to healthcare programs may not amount to more than tinkering.
Democrat members of the House Ways and Means Committee have created an outline of hundreds of billions of dollars in potential healthcare savings for the Committee on Deficit Reduction’s consideration.
The co-chairmen of the Joint Committee on Deficit Reduction, Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas) and Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash) announced on Tuesday (9/6) that Sarah Kuehl will be deputy to staff director Mark Prater.
On Friday (9/9), the House Ways and Means Committee's health panel held a hearing to discuss hospital consolidation, which, according to The Hill, quickly turned into a debate on the Affordable Care Act's merits. Republicans argued that accountable care organizations will accelerate provider concentration trends. Others argued that though there was a trend towards provider concentration, ACOs would not exacerbate it.
IN THE STATES
On Wednesday (9/7) in Louisiana, District Judge Janice Clark issued a temporary restraining order blocking the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals from implementing a plan to shift more than 800,000 Medicaid recipients to private insurers.
On Friday (9/9), Oklahoma's congressional delegation urged HHS to accept the state's request for an adjustment in the medical loss ratio standards to which it will be held in the next few years.
In New Mexico, Governor Susan Martinez appointed Dr. Dan Derksen to serve as director of the Office of Healthcare Reform within the Department of Human Services. One of his primary duties will be to establish a health insurance exchange.
THIS WEEK
On Monday (9/12) at 12 p.m. in 902 Hart, The Alliance for Health Reform held an event entitled, “Inside Deficit Reduction: What it Means for Health Care.”
On Tuesday (9/13) at 9:30 a.m. in The Legacy Hotel and Meeting Center, the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities will hold an Advisory Committee Meeting.
On Tuesday (9/13) at 10 a.m., the U.S. Census Bureau will host a teleconference to announce the findings from its report: “Income, Poverty and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2010.”
On Wednesday (9/14) at 10 a.m., the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology will host a HIT Policy Committee Advisory Meeting.
On Wednesday (9/14) in 538 Dirksen, the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs' Subcommittee on Securities, Insurance and Investment will hold a hearing to examine emerging issues in insurance regulation.
On Thursday (9/15) at 10 a.m. in 2123 Rayburn, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health will hold a hearing titled, “Cutting the Red Tape: Saving Jobs from PPACA's Harmful Regulations.”
On Thursday (9/15) at 12 p.m., the Hudson Institute will host a panel discussion titled, “Medicare Part D Drug Benefit: Five Years Later - Is It Working?”
As always, please feel free to contact us with any questions.
To view our compilation of recent health care reform implementation news, click here.