Home

The individual market stabilization deal struck by Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Patty Murray (D-WA) may face challenges and more tweaks, but health policy analysts say the measure's changes to 1332 waiver statute are a key step to the future of U.S. health care even if the cost-sharing reduction payment authorizations are just a short-term fix.

A source tells Inside Health Policy that rumored potential HHS secretary nominee, former Lilly president and HHS official Alex Azar, has been interviewed for the job and wants it with conditions -- but those conditions remain unknown as of press time.

The IRS will reject 2017 electronic tax returns filed without confirmation of whether the filers had health insurance, the agency said Wednesday (Oct. 18).

FDA approved Wednesday (Oct. 18) Kite Pharma's Yescarta (axicabtagene ciloleucel), marking the second gene therapy approved in the United States and the first for certain types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

A coalition of Democratic attorneys general are seeking a temporary restraining order that would force the administration to continue paying out the cost-sharing reduction payments, arguing the coalition is likely to succeed on the merits of their case and failure to take action would cause irreparable harm to residents.

Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Patty Murray (D-WA), in their just-released market stabilization bill that funds the cost-sharing reduction payments for two years, agreed to amend 1332 statute to fast-track the waiver process, broaden the budget neutrality requirements, and set up the pass-through funding structure Alaska recently used for its reinsurance waiver.

Basic Health Program (BHP) funding would be held harmless from any reductions in projected funding under the state innovation waivers as part of the bipartisan market stabilization legislation unveiled Tuesday, a reaction to the administration's decision that is slated to cost Minnesota about $369 million if not reversed.

The ranking Democrat on the Senate health committee Monday (Oct. 16) slammed FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb's proposal to delay implementation of the agency's updated nutrition facts rule, saying the move is detrimental to public health and creates uncertainty for industry and consumers.

Senate health committee Chair Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and ranking Democrat Patty Murray (WA) reached a deal to fund the cost-sharing reduction payments for two years, allow all Americans to purchase catastrophic plans, restore ACA marketing funding via state outreach grant and provide “significant” changes to the Section 1332 waivers that would expand choices and speed up the approval process, according to Alexander's office.