Insight Entries

WHG - Weekly, April 6-10

While initially speeding out of the gate with a large “Phase 4” recovery bill focused on infrastructure and other Democratic priorities, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) released a Dear Colleague over the weekend acknowledging that a bipartisan effort is needed to create a “CARES 2” package that will build off the last emergency relief measure – CARES Act (H.R. 748)... Read More

(Llamas, 4/6/20) #Medicare Advantage, #Medicare Part D, #Physicians, #COVID-19

WHG - Key Federal COVID-19 Stimulus Funding Opportunities for Health Care Providers and Hospitals

WHG provides an overview of key stimulus funding opportunities for health care providers and hospitals that were made available through the series of COVID-19 response bills signed into law, thus far. Phase I Bill – Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020 (H.R. 6074) Phase II Bill – Families First Coronavirus Response Act (H.R. 6201) Phase III Bill –... Read More

(Testa, 4/2/20) #Budget, #Physicians, #Public Health, #COVID-19

WHG - Weekly, March 30-April 3

On March 29, President Trump extended the White House’s “15 Days to Slow the Spread” guidelines, which were set to expire tomorrow, through April 30 – a major reversal from his previous comments to relax recommendations for social distancing and reopen the country for business by April 12. Whether the administration intends to pursue its plans to tailor mitigation guidelines... Read More

(Llamas, 3/30/20) #Medicare Part D, #Subsidies, #Public Health, #Telehealth, #COVID-19

WHG - Updated (3/31/20): Catalogue of Health Agency Guidance and Government Response to COVID-19

As the novel coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19) has taken hold, U.S. government agencies have ramped up the rapid release of fact sheets and guidance documents on a near hourly basis. To help navigate the outpouring of information, this catalogue is intended to encapsulate and organize the relevant guidance for health care providers, insurers, state governments, public health agencies, and other stakeholders,... Read More

(WHG, 3/31/20) #Medicare Part D, #COVID-19, #Insurance Coverage, #Telehealth, #Public Health, #Skilled Nursing Facilities, #Physicians, #Medicare Advantage, #Waivers, #Hospitals, #Food and Drug Administration

WHG - Weekly, March 23-27

Bipartisan talks in the Senate continue this week after the chamber failed to clear a procedural threshold to move forward on H.R. 748, the legislative vehicle for Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). Meanwhile, House Democrats are expected to unveil legislative text for their own proposal as soon as today after a breakdown in negotiations with Senate... Read More

(Llamas, 3/23/20) #Health Insurance Exchanges, #Insurance Reform, #Prescription Drugs, #Public Health

WHG - Weekly, March 16-20

Congress remains in session this week in an extraordinary effort to mitigate the health and economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic. The House acted last Friday to pass the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (H.R. 6201), designed to guarantee free coronavirus testing, establish paid leave, enhance unemployment insurance, expand food security initiatives, and temporarily increase federal Medicaid funding to 6.2... Read More

(Llamas, 3/16/20) #Prescription Drugs, #Public Health, #Telehealth

WHG - Lookback: Key COVID-19 Updates March 9-13

During March 9-13, 2020, there were several updates about the coronavirus from all levels of government. In addition to the discussion lawmakers are having with public health experts at hearings and the primetime briefing by President Trump, departments throughout the administration have released fact sheets and guidance documents on a near daily basis. Attached is a brief recap of the... Read More

(WHG, 3/13/20) #Costs, #Hospitals, #Physicians, #Public Health

WHG - In South Carolina, Democratic Candidates Discuss Medicare for All, Rural Health, Coronavirus, and Other Public Health Issues

On February 25, 2020, seven candidates convened in Charleston, South Carolina for the 10th Democratic presidential debate ahead of the state’s Democratic primary (February 29) and Super Tuesday (March 3). A total of 14 states (Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and Virginia), as well as American Samoa and Democrats abroad, will... Read More

(Llamas, 2/26/20) #Insurance Reform, #Rural Health, #Public Health, #Housing

WHG - Key Legislation on Surprise Medical Billing; Includes W&M, Ed & Labor, HELP/E&C Proposals

We provide an updated side-by-side analysis of the major congressional legislation intended to protect patients from surprise medical billing that have been introduced thus far in the 116th Congress. For each of the three proposals outlined below, the chart examines key provisions regarding prohibited balance billing scenarios, payment mechanisms, implications for plans and providers, cost-sharing implications for patients, interaction with... Read More

(Llamas, 2/20/20) #Hospitals, #Insurance Reform, #Physicians

WHG - Democratic Candidates Deliberate on Electability and Health Care Reform in Latest Primary Debate

On February 19, 2020, six Democratic candidates debated for their spot as the 2020 nominee in Las Vegas, Nevada. To qualify for the debate, candidates had to have either 10 percent or more in four national, Nevada, or South Carolina polls; have 12 percent or more in just two Nevada or South Carolina polls; or, have secured at least one... Read More

(LaRosa, 2/20/20) #Cost-Sharing, #Costs, #Public Option, #Medicare for All

WHG - Side-By-Side Summarizes 5 Key Federal Telehealth Bills

It can be hard to keep track of federal telehealth legislation in a sea of legislative and regulatory health care priorities, so the team at Wynne Health Group has made it easy for you. We created a side-by-side (SBS) summarizing five key telehealth bills introduced in the 116th Congress: ECHO Act of 2019; Mental Health Telemedicine Expansion Act; CONNECT for Health Act... Read More

(Testa, 2/14/20) #Mental and Behavioral Health, #Chronic Diseases, #Rural Health, #Grants, #Telehealth

WHG - 2020 Legislative and Regulatory Outlook

Please find here WHG’s Legislative and Regulatory Outlook for 2020, based largely on changes reflected in the administration’s Fall 2019 regulatory agenda. As in previous releases of our annual outlook, we aim to provide a comprehensive line-up of key federal health care policy developments we expect to see throughout the course of the coming year and their approximate timing. Of... Read More

(WHG, 1/8/20) #Affordable Care Act, #Food and Drug Administration, #Insurance Reform, #Social Determinants of Health, #End-Stage Renal Disease, #Drug Pricing, #Delivery Reform

WHG - At December Debate, Democratic Candidates Continue Discussion on Comprehensive Health Reform; Discuss Impeachment As Well

On December 19, 2019, candidates convened again for the sixth 2020 Democratic Presidential primary debate. Seven candidates took the stage at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, each having met the threshold of securing at least 200,000 individual campaign donors, and receiving at least four percent in four DNC-approved polls. Co-hosted by PBS NewsHour and Politico, the event was moderated... Read More

(LaRosa, 12/19/19) #Affordable Care Act, #Cost-Sharing, #Costs, #Public Option, #Medicare for All

WHG - Surprise Medical Billing Might Get a Hybrid Solution

Reaching a consensus on how to protect patients from surprise medical bills has eluded Congress for most of the year even though members in both parties and chambers are highly motivated to find a fix. With an agreement reached over the December 7–8, 2019, weekend, a solution seems closer than it has in a long time. Unlike typical health policy... Read More

(Wynne and Joyce, 12/18/19) #Hospitals, #Insurance Reform, #Physicians

WHG - Candidates Continue to Discuss Medicare For All and Women’s Reproductive Rights at Fifth Democratic Presidential Primary Debate

On Thursday, November 20, candidates convened again for the fifth 2020 Democratic Presidential primary debate. Ten candidates qualified for the debate criteria, needing to have 165,000 unique donors and to have met one of two polling requirements: (1) two polls at 5 percent or more in the four early nominating states (Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina); or (2)... Read More

(Wynne Health Group, 11/21/19) #Women’s Health, #Medicare for All

WHG - Chart: Democratic Presidential Candidates' Proposals on Mental and Behavioral Health

We provide a side-by-side analysis of Democratic presidential candidates’ proposals on mental and behavioral health reform that have been released thus far. For each of the three candidates below, the chart examines their key provisions regarding insurance reform, delivery reform, public health and workforce initiatives, research, and the opioid crisis. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (MA); Sen. Amy Klobuchar (MN); and Mayor... Read More

(Llamas, 10/25/19) #Mental and Behavioral Health, #Insurance Reform, #Public Health, #Delivery Reform

WHG - Chart: Democratic Presidential Candidates' Proposals on Rural Health

We provide a side-by-side analysis of Democratic presidential candidates’ proposals on rural health reform that have been released thus far. For each of the two candidates below, the chart examines their key provisions regarding insurance reform, delivery reform, anticompetitive behavior, workforce and capacity, telehealth, opioid crisis, and social determinants of health. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (MA); and Mayor Pete Buttigieg (South... Read More

(Llamas, 10/25/19) #Mental and Behavioral Health, #Workforce, #Social Determinants of Health, #Delivery Reform

WHG - Chart: Democratic Presidential Candidates' Proposals on Maternal Health

We provide a side-by-side analysis of Democratic presidential candidates’ proposals on maternal health reform that have been released thus far. For each of the two candidates below, the chart examines their key provisions regarding Medicaid and CHIP and delivery reform. Sen. Kamala Harris (CA); and Sen. Cory Booker (NJ)... Read More

(Llamas, 10/25/19) #Pediatrics, #Women’s Health, #Ambulatory Surgical Centers, #Delivery Reform

WHG - Chart: Democratic Presidential Candidates' Proposals on Comprehensive Health Reform

We provide a side-by-side analysis of Democratic presidential candidates’ proposals on comprehensive health reform that have been released thus far. For each of the six candidates below, the chart examines their key provisions regarding plan implementation, enrollee eligibility, benefit design, cost sharing, balance billing, prescription drugs, implications for providers and private plans, and finance mechanisms. Vice President Joe Biden; Sen... Read More

(Llamas, 10/25/19) #Costs, #Hospitals, #Insurance Reform, #Physicians

WHG - Chart: One Year Implementation Update on SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act

Thursday, October 24, 2019, marked the one year anniversary of the passage into law of the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment (SUPPORT) for Patients and Communities Act – the major federal legislative package addressing the opioid epidemic. In observance of the anniversary, the Wynne Health Group produced the attached chart capturing a section-by-section update on the... Read More

(Wynne Health, 10/24/19) #Food and Drug Administration, #Pharmacies, #Prescription Drugs, #Public Health, #Opioids