TRP Health Policy has prepared an Issue Brief, “What We Know About ACA Repeal & Replace.” This document outlines and summarizes the most recent developments around the key factors that will underpin the repeal and replace debate in the 115th Congress. Specifically, we examine the timing for a repeal vote, the likely scope for repeal via budget reconciliation, the potential... Read More
Impact Health - Regulations that may be Rescinded or Revised under the Trump Administration
There has been a lot of discussion and speculation in the weeks following the election about the fate of many regulations issued during President Obama’s administration. TRP Health Policy has prepared a memorandum that examines the healthcare regulations that Congress or President-elect Trump could unravel beginning early next year, when the new administration and Congress convene. The memorandum analyzes both... Read More
Impact Health - Health Reform Implementation Tracking Update (Nov. ed.)
TRP Health Policy has compiled all key developments in implementation of the ACA during the month of November. These updates are being posted to our online catalogue of ACA implementation here, which is indexed by title and section of the law. We hope you find this to be a helpful recap and reminder of the broad range of regulations, guidance,... Read More
Impact Health - Rep. Tom Price Selected as HHS Secretary; Seema Verma, Aide on IN and KY Medicaid Plans, Tapped as CMS Administrator
President-elect Donald Trump has tapped Rep. Tom Price (R-GA) to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Trump’s transition team announced early this morning. Rep. Price, an orthopedic surgeon, has been a longtime opponent of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), was one of the first Republicans to introduce an alternative to the law when Democrats were debating healthcare... Read More
Impact Health - TRP Health Policy: Slide Deck Examining ACA Repeal & Replace Scenarios
TRP Health Policy has compiled a set of slides examining the politics, policy, and potential pathways for an ACA repeal and replace effort next year. The slides aim to help separate fact and fiction of what we may see in this regard... Read More
Impact Health - TRP Health Policy: Potential Components of ACA Repeal & Replace Legislation
In light of the Republican control of the White House and Congress next year, we believe it is likely they will pursue budget reconciliation to repeal key components of the Affordable Care Act and replace them with new or differentiated policies that meet similar goals. President-elect Trump and key congressional leaders have already reiterated that this is among their top... Read More
Impact Health - Election Recap and Preview of 115th Congress
In a new slide deck, TRP Health Policy has compiled our breakdown of the results from last night and their implications for Federal policies, with an emphasis on healthcare. The slides provide a recap of the election results, leadership in Congress, political dynamics, and healthcare policy implications... Read More
Impact Health - Health Reform Implementation Tracking Update (Oct. ed.)
TRP Health Policy has compiled all key developments in implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) during the month of October. These updates are being posted to our online catalogue of ACA implementation here, which is indexed by title and section of the law. We hope you find this to be a helpful recap and reminder of the broad range... Read More
Impact Health - Health Reform Implementation Tracking Update (Sept. ed.)
TRP Health Policy has complied all key developments in implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) during the month of September. These updates are being posted to our online catalogue of ACA implementation here, which is indexed by title and section of the law. We hope you find this to be a helpful recap and reminder of the broad range of... Read More
Impact Health - 2016 Election Preview
This week at TRP Health Policy we have updated our analysis of the upcoming presidential and congressional elections, with analysis of their implications on Federal policy. In a concise slide deck, we present expectations for election outcomes, races to watch, and implications for Administration priorities under different scenarios... Read More
Impact Health - CMS' Exchange Rule: What You Need to Know
CCIIO recently announced new regulations intended to strengthen the health of the ACA marketplaces and improve the experience for insurers. The slate of technical tweaks announced by the agency — known as the draft 2018 Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters — is the latest step in a range of actions the administration has taken this year to address complaints... Read More
Impact Health - MACRA: Initial Parameters and Future Directions
In a new slide presentation, TRP Health Policy provides a concise overview of MACRA's physician payment reforms, which consolidate the PQRS, Meaningful Use, and Value-based Payment Modifier programs into the Merit-based Incentive Program and offer further incentives to providers participating in Alternative Payment Models. The slides recap key considerations with the SGR repeal legislation, including patient care, administrative burden, small... Read More
Impact Health - EpiPen and the Pricing Debate - Congressional Oversight and Campaign Proposals
The chorus of disapproval about the cost of EpiPen prescriptions reached a crescendo last week after the maker of the drug, Mylan, was widely lambasted for drastic price increases in the product which is widely used to combat potentially life-threatening allergic reactions. Over the past decade, the list price for a package of two injectors has jumped from $94 to... Read More
Impact Health - Aetna and the Exchanges - What It Means for the ACA, Third-Party Payers, and the 'Public Option'
Last week, Aetna – one of the nation’s largest private insurers – announced that it would withdraw from 11 of the 15 Affordable Care Act (ACA) state exchanges where it sells health plans. Aetna, which had 838,000 exchange customers at the end of June, said its policyholders are turning out to be sicker and costlier than expected. In addition to... Read More
Impact Health - Quick Note re Fall Outlook & Cures/Innovations Package
Through some recent discussions with lead staff, we have gotten a clearer picture of the likely congressional activities during the September and post-election lame duck work periods that we wanted to pass along. According to Senate Republican leadership, the September work period is likely to focus on the “messes” left over from July: Puerto Rico pension issues, Zika, and the... Read More
Impact Health - Issue Brief: Clinton and Trump Health Policy Proposals
TRP Health Policy has prepared an issue brief outlining Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump’s stated healthcare priorities. While it emphasizes those impacting the pharmaceutical space, in light of the headline debates around drug pricing, the memo also explores other aspects of their healthcare agendas... Read More
Impact Health - 2016 Federal Election Outlook
TRP Health Policy has prepared a PowerPoint deck that examines the 2016 Federal elections and potential implications for healthcare. Here we walk through recent polling on the presidential and congressional races, consider the priorities of the key candidates and their parties, and look to areas of likely focus next year. In brief, no matter how you slice it, we will... Read More
Impact Health - Issue Brief: Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization
This memorandum provides an overview of the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act (CNR), including background on the federal child nutrition programs it would address (section II) and details on the five-year reauthorization process (section III). Also provided below is background on the iteration of CNR currently in place, the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (HHFKA) (P.L. 111-296), which was signed into... Read More
Impact Health - Issue Brief: Part B Drug Pricing Levers - Least Costly Alternative and Inherent Reasonableness
With the increased politicization of drug pricing, the Administration is reportedly contemplating regulatory changes it might undertake to address the issue, such as deploying least costly alternative (LCA) or inherent reasonableness authority. However, both of these paths face considerable legal and political obstacles, and LCA policies likely would require legislation restoring HHS authority prior to implementation... Read More
Impact Health - Issue Brief: Telemedicine Coverage and Reimbursement
This memorandum explores the reimbursement and regulatory landscape for telemedicine services, particularly those relating to population health. The memo provides a brief definition of telemedicine, in contrast to broader telehealth services (sec. II), before outlining how government and private payers reimburse providers for certain telemedicine services (sec. III). Additionally, the memo identifies alternative sources of telemedicine funding via grant and... Read More