Robert King
FierceHealth
Washington, DC, United States
Contact Robert
Discover and connect with journalists and influencers around the world, save time on email research, monitor the news, and more.
| Recent: |
|
| Past: |
|
Past articles by Robert:
Becerra renews COVID-19 public health emergency another 90 days, possibly for last time
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra renewed Wednesday the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) for another 90 days, extending with it key waivers and regulatory | HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra has extended the COVID-19 public health emergency again for another 90 days and possibly for the last time. → Read More
CMS proposes new Medicare Advantage and Part D reforms on prior authorization, marketing
The Biden administration released a proposal to streamline Medicare Advantage (MA) and Part D plan prior authorization and add health equity requirements to star ratings. | CMS proposed new policies for Medicare Advantage and Part D plans, including streamlining prior authorization and adding a health equity index to star ratings. → Read More
Last-minute Senate bill seeks to extend value-based care doc bonus for another 2 years
A new bipartisan Senate bill aims to extend for two years a 5% bonus to doctors who participate in alternative payment models, with lawmakers having little time to get it through Congress before th | A new bipartisan Senate bill seeks to extend by two years a 5% bonus payment to physicians that sign up for an alternative payment model. → Read More
Pharmacies slam Cigna and Express Scripts for shrinking TRICARE network by 15K
Cigna and its pharmacy benefit manager subsidiary Express Scripts should roll back a decision to shrink by 13,000 the pharmacy network for TRICARE, which offers coverage for active-duty military me | Several pharmacy groups are slamming Cigna and Express Scripts' decision to dramatically shrink the pharmacy network for the military health program TRICARE. → Read More
Urban: 18M could lose Medicaid coverage after COVID-19 emergency expires, likely next year
A new estimate finds that 18 million people could lose Medicaid coverage after the COVID-19 public health emergency ends, with 4 million becoming uninsured. | A new report estimates 18 million people could lose Medicaid coverage due to eligibility redeterminations, but most will be able to transition to other coverage sources. → Read More
Advocacy groups press FTC to probe GPOs' role in supply chain shortages
Several patient and consumer advocacy groups are clamoring for the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to examine the role of group purchasing organizations in exacerbating supply chain shortages. | A collection of patient and consumer groups is pressing the FTC to examine the role of group purchasing organizations in supply chain problems. → Read More
AHA: Drugmaker 340B restrictions are harming safety net hospitals financially
A new hospital industry report charges that safety net and charity care hospitals are losing millions due to drug companies cutting off sales of pharmaceuticals discounted under the 340B program to | A new AHA report charges that average charity care hospitals are losing an average of $3 million a year in 340B savings as drugmaker restrictions take hold. → Read More
Hospital groups tell lawmakers looming Medicare cuts 'not sustainable' as officials come back
As Congress returns this week from a nearly monthlong recess, a collection of hospital groups is making sure resolution of a looming 4% cut to Medicare payments doesn’t slip through the cracks. → Read More
Supreme Court hears case on Medicaid patients' rights to sue, with advocates warning of far-reaching implications
The Supreme Court heard oral arguments Tuesday in a case that could decide whether Medicaid beneficiaries can sue the federal government if their rights are violated. | The Supreme Court heard oral arguments Tuesday on a case that could decide a Medicaid beneficiary's right to sue over nursing home treatment. → Read More
New alliance seeks to save value-based care bonus set to expire in 2023
A new alliance hopes to persuade lawmakers to keep around a 5% bonus to doctors that sign up for payment models and raise awareness on the benefits of value-based care. | A new advocacy alliance is pushing Congress to keep a 5% bonus to doctors that sign up for alternative payment models, which is set to expire after this year. → Read More
Senate panel finds Medicare Advantage marketing complaints increase for some states
A new report found nearly 10 states reported higher complaints of Medicare Advantage (MA) marketing, including complaints of seniors being misled about a plan’s benefits. | A new Senate report found that nine out of 10 states had higher complaints surrounding Medicare Advantage marketing practices from 2020 through 2021, with a key senator calling for CMS to crack down on such practices. → Read More
Doctor groups turn up heat on Congress to halt 2023 pay cuts after final CMS rule
Doctor groups are making a last gasp to get Congress to delay a 4.4% cut to Medicare payments after a payment rule finalized the adjustment. | Doctors are now turning to Congress in a high-stakes bid to head off a 4.4% cut to Medicare payments set for 2023 after CMS finalized the cuts in a recent payment rule. → Read More
MACPAC calls for greater transparency from states, CMS in COVID-19 emergency unwinding
A key panel wants greater transparency from federal regulators and states to chart the unwinding of the COVID-19 public health emergency and with it a massive effort to redetermine Medicaid eligibi | MACPAC is calling on states and CMS to publicly release key progress reports on the unwinding of the COVID-19 emergency, which will spark a massive redetermination of Medicaid eligibility. → Read More
CMS cracks down on poor-performing nursing homes by increasing penalties
The Biden administration is increasing scrutiny of nursing homes that fail to meet quality standards or make improvements, the latest bid to overhaul how such facilities are evaluated. | CMS is cracking down on nursing homes that are habitual poor performers, adding stiffer penalties to a quality improvement program. → Read More
HRSA, not deterred by legal battle, seeks to fine Merck for 340B violations
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) dinged drug giant Merck for cutting off 340B sales to hospitals’ contract pharmacies, potentially setting off a new legal battle over the controver | HRSA is calling for Merck to get fined for cutting off sales of 340B-discounted drugs to a safety net hospital's contract pharmacies. → Read More
Tenet Healthcare lowers 2022 outlook for surgical center business after Hurricane Ian closures
Tenet lowered its financial outlook for its surgical center subsidiary United Surgical Partners International due to more spikes in COVID-19 cases. | Tenet lowered the 2022 financial outlook for its surgical center subsidiary United Surgical Partners International after Hurricane Ian forced the closure of 60 centers. → Read More
ACHP: Nonprofit Medicare Advantage plans made up one-third of 5-star options
Nonprofit community Medicare Advantage (MA) insurers touted more five-star plans compared to their competitors, according to a new analysis. | Nonprofit community Medicare Advantage plans made up one-third of plans that garnered five stars, an analysis from the Alliance of Community Health Plans. → Read More
Lawmakers press for audio-only telehealth extensions for prescribing opioid abuse treatments
House lawmakers are pressing for federal regulators to extend telehealth flexibilities to prescribe medication-assisted treatments to combat opioid abuse amid concerns over the “unpredictable futur | House lawmakers want SAMSHA and DEA to make long-term flexibilities to physicians for prescribing the opioid abuse treatment buprenorphine. → Read More
CMMI's Liz Fowler says financial stress delaying value-based care investments
Providers that participated in value-based care generally fared better financially during the worst parts of the COVID-19 pandemic when non-essential procedures were largely on pause. | CMMI Director Liz Fowler said that while the pandemic spurred greater interest in value-based care, lingering financial pressures are delaying such investments. → Read More
Kaufman Hall: Hospital volumes remain below 2019 levels as care shifts to outpatient settings
Patient volumes continue to remain below pre-pandemic levels for hospitals and health systems this year as COVID-19 likely accelerated a shift to outpatient settings, a new report finds. | Hospital patient volumes continue to track below pre-pandemic levels for 2022 likely due to a shift to outpatient settings, a new Kaufman Hall survey found. → Read More