Leaders of the North Carolina House and Senate have agreed on a Medicaid expansion plan, radio station WUNC reported March 2. 

As the end to the nation's COVID-19 public health emergency looms, hospitals and health systems are prepping for an unprecedented period — the unwinding of federal policy that led to a complete transformation of care delivery operations, including billing processes, patient coverage and telehealth flexibilities.

California lawmakers are mulling legislation to allow immigrants without legal status to purchase health insurance on Covered California, the state's ACA Exchange, the Sacramento Bee reported Feb. 24. 

A group of senators is urging CMS and states to ensure kids can stay continuously enrolled in the Children's Health Insurance Program. 

A group of senators is calling on health plans to continue covering at-home COVID-19 tests for members when the public health emergency comes to an end. 

Up to 6.7 million children nationwide are at risk of losing their CHIP coverage when Medicaid redeterminations begin this spring, according to a new analysis from the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts will continue reimbursing telehealth at the same rate as in-person services for primary and chronic care for now. 

Connecticut lawmakers are considering a proposal to reduce premiums by reimbursing insurers for the most costly claims, CT News Junkie reported Feb. 16. 

West Virginia lawmakers are considering adding a Medicaid "buy-in" program to provide insurance to low-income workers making too much to qualify for the program, the News and Sentinel reported Feb. 16. 

Medicare Advantage audits are "unequivocally not cuts" in funding, HHS says. 

Proposed changes to Medicare Advantage payments could cut benefits for members, according to a report commissioned by the Better Medicare Alliance. 

In January, CMS said it will implement stricter auditing practices around Medicare Advantage plans, but payers and policy experts say they have a lot of questions about the next steps forward.

President Joe Biden has vowed to strike down any law that cuts Medicare spending — but cutting spending can come in many forms.

AHIP, the trade association representing the insurance industry, is opposed to some of CMS' proposed changes to the Medicare Advantage star ratings program. 

Provider groups are applauding CMS' proposed rule overhauling prior authorization in Medicare Advantage. 

As the U.S. prepares to end the COVID-19 public health emergency, hospitals are facing a major cut in Medicare payments used to treat patients diagnosed with the disease.

New York state legislators and stakeholders are debating a bill that would overhaul the state's health system and establish a single-payer system, Spectrum News reported Feb. 9. 

Traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage beneficiaries could begin seeing lower copays for certain Part B drugs beginning April 1, according to new guidance from HHS. 

Payer executives are expecting to lose members in their Medicaid managed care contracts as states begin the redetermination process, but some are hopeful to convert some of these members to other lines of business. 

As Medicare Advantage insurance companies continue to grow in popularity, it’s important for our nation’s health policy leaders to ensure that MA enrollees have access to the same level of medically-necessary coverage as traditional Medicare. Fortunately, CMS has proposed a rule to address this problem, and public comments are due Feb. 13.