Medicaid

The first major academic study of Medicaid work requirements concludes that, after work requirements took effect in Arkansas last year, the policy caused thousands of people to lose health insurance but did not boost employment among low-income people.

The House passed legislation Tuesday (June 18) to stop authorized generics from lowering the rebates that drug companies must pay in Medicaid. The rebate measure was also included in the president’s budget request.

Former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb named payer tactics as one of the biggest obstacles facing the gene therapy space, as novel drugs seeking coverage after receiving FDA approval are often viewed by payers as not having enough data on which to base a coverage decision.

Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD) said the Bipartisan Policy Center’s rural health task force plans to release policy recommendations in 2020 and hopes to bring rural health issues to the forefront of candidates’ agendas -- but two former GOP lawmakers on the task force said rural health proposals shouldn't become a part of a presidential debate or they could become too divisive to get through Congress.

CMS Administrator Seema Verma and senior advisor to the president Kellyanne Conway touted efforts by CMS and the Trump administration to improve maternal health in rural areas by extending Medicaid coverage for postpartum women with substance use disorders, but advocates said Medicaid coverage should be extended for all postpartum women and more states should expand Medicaid, speaking at a Kaiser Family Foundation event Wednesday (June 12).

New Hampshire told a federal judge Thursday (June 6) that imposing Medicaid work requirements and rolling back retroactive eligibility are “common-sense measures designed to provide medical assistance to eligible populations in a fiscally responsible and sustainable manner.”

A proposed ballot measure to expand Medicaid in Florida has cleared an early hurdle on the path to be added to next year’s ballot.

The bipartisan National Governors Association wants the federal government to let states import drugs and exclude Medicaid coverage of fast-tracked, first-in-class drugs while additional tests are done on them.

Senate Finance Chair Chuck Grassley (R-IA) said Wednesday (June 5) that he wants drug makers to take on a share of costs in the catastrophic phase of Medicare Part D, and health insurance plans to also pay more.