Summary
WHG has prepared its Updated Legislative and Regulatory Outlook for 2021, based largely on changes reflected in the Administration’s recently released Spring 2021 Unified Agenda. As in previous versions of our annual outlook, we 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.
This outlook provides the most recent sketch of what is expected from the Biden-Harris Administration for the remainder of this year and into the following years. Prominent regulatory developments include:
- A new Alternative Payment Model proposed rule that will likely sketch a new demonstration model out of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI);
- Regulations that improve fair housing to focus on advancing racial equity;
- Additional regulations on surprise medical billing pursuant to the No Surprises Act;
- Continued work on tobacco reform, including banning the use of menthol flavoring in cigarettes;
- New flexibilities via national waivers for the Summer Food Service Program; and
- The likely continued collection of information on improving health equity through Medicare’s various payment programs via the CY/FY 2022 Medicare payment update cycle.
On the legislative front, we also provide dates for the remaining congressional recesses and the end of the Fiscal Year. In addition, you will find dates for the expiration of the current moratorium of the 2 percent Medicare sequester, the end of COBRA premium assistance, the FY 2022 Appropriations markup schedule, and other important legislative dates.