Medicare & Medicaid
Goals include reducing consumer costs, accelerating innovation and clarifying program requirements.
The data indicates enrollment remained stable and more consumers were able to actively enroll or re-enroll in coverage.
The approval has been met with opposition over fears that Medicaid block grants cause vulnerable populations to lose access to healthcare.
The American Hospital Association had raised concerns about the proposed rule this past December, saying it could lead to confusion and program failures.
The report found that 53% of hospitals in the bottom quartile of the area wage index for 2020 were in rural areas.
The group said the complexity of the proposed rule necessitates a longer window in which to conduct a thorough review.
Negotiations of drug prices are to be based on clinical outcomes; if the drug is not effective, the payer is not held accountable for the full price.
The new opportunity will test how financial risk-sharing can reduce Medicare expenditures while preserving the quality of care for beneficiaries.
Health spending increased at a slightly faster rate than gross domestic product, but the report analyzed figures prior to the pandemic.
The letter’s recommendations surround relief, recovery, rebuilding and addressing ongoing challenges in equity, workforce and behavioral health.