Health Care

Massachusetts policymakers continue to debate health care reform proposals with important implications for industry stakeholders.

It's all about tax reform in Congress. This week, the House will look to pass its version of tax reform while the Senate begins marking up its package. Meanwhile, the end of the year is fast approaching and there are number of issues, including the health care minibus, that will need to be addressed.

The Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance has released draft regulations changing the existing Employer Medical Assistance Contribution (EMAC), creating a temporary supplemental contribution, and modifying the unemployment insurance rate schedule.

The CHIP Reauthorization fight heads to the Senate where it faces an uncertain path forward as neither side can agree on payfors and the Senate Finance Committee focuses in on tax reform. While the Trump Administration is reportedly preparing an executive order that would eliminate the individual mandate, they are in a holding pattern to see if it gets included in the tax reform package.

As the calendar turns to November, pressure continues to grow in Congress to pass a CHIP extension and address outstanding minibus extenders. Also on the radar is the first open enrollment period under the Trump Administration and the implications this could have for other policy issues.

Our colleagues at ML Strategies have provided their Health Care Weekly Preview for the week of October 23, 2017. The preview discusses the Alexander-Murray stabilization package introduced by Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Patty Murray (D-WA).

Last week, ML Strategies released an Advisory providing a comprehensive review of the sweeping health care legislation recently released by the Massachusetts Senate.

On Tuesday, October 17, Massachusetts Senate leaders released comprehensive health care legislation containing a wide range of provisions significantly impacting industry stakeholders.

Our colleagues at ML Strategies have provided their Health Care Weekly Preview for the week of October 16, 2017. The preview discusses the Administration's decision to stop paying the cost-sharing reductions (CSRs) that plans have been receiving to cover lower-income individuals under the Affordable Care Act.

Our colleagues at ML Strategies have provided their Health Care Weekly Preview for the week of October 9, 2017. This week's preview discusses many topics, including the Trump administration's roll back of the ACA's mandate that employers cover birth control coverage.

Our colleagues at ML Strategies have provided their Health Care Weekly Preview for the week of October 2, 2017. This week’s preview focuses on the wake left by Secretary Price's exit, including its impact on the administration's deregulatory agenda.

Last week, ML Strategies released an Advisory providing a comprehensive review of the Republican’s efforts this past year to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.  

The Republican evolution on health care over the course of 2017 has tested the resolve of the party’s years-long effort to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The Republican goal of repeal and replace has reached a fever pitch, with days to go before we may come to a resolution on this nearly eight-year drive.

Our colleagues at ML Strategies have provided their Health Care Weekly Preview for the week of September 18, 2017. This week’s preview focuses on the prognosis for the Graham-Cassidy bill to block grant ACA funding to states, including potential roadblocks imposed by Senators John McCain (AZ), Susan Collins (ME) and Lisa Murkowski (AK).

Massachusetts lawmakers have returned from summer recess and are preparing to tackle a robust legislative agenda this fall. Legislators will meet formally through the third Wednesday in November, at which point formal sessions will end until 2018.

This past August, the Massachusetts Senate and the Millbank Memorial Fund Healthcare Working Group held three roundtable discussions geared towards finding solutions to rising healthcare costs and providing patients with more coordinated care.

Our colleagues at ML Strategies have provided their Health Care Weekly Preview for the week of September 11, 2017. This week’s preview focuses on Congress' efforts to stabilize the ACA marketplaces, as well as the proposal from Senators Lindsey Graham (SC) and Bill Cassidy (LA) to use block grants to fund Medicaid expansion and private insurance subsidies.

Our colleagues at ML Strategies have provided their Health Care Weekly Preview for the week of July 31, 2017.  This week’s preview focuses on the fallout from the failed vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA)Our colleagues at ML Strategies have provided their Health Care Weekly Preview for the week of July 31, 2017. This week’s preview focuses on the fallout from the failed vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Our colleagues at ML Strategies have provided their Health Care Weekly Preview for the week of July 24, 2017. This week's preview focuses on the Better Care Reconciliation Act and Senate parliamentary rules. 

Our colleagues at ML Strategies have provided a Health Care Weekly Preview.  This week’s preview describes the Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA), the User Fee Acts (UFAs), the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), and the health care Minibus.