March 5, 2021 7:01 AM By Zachary Sherwood and Brandon Lee
Senate Democrats face a gauntlet of Republican attempts to rein in President Joe Bidenâs $1.9 trillion stimulus package in a marathon session of votes that will extend the timetable for passage into the weekend.
Democratic leaders plan to rough it through the amendment process and emerge with a bill that gets the votes of all 50 Democrats without risking a revolt from progressives in the House, which will have to agree on the Senate version before it goes to Biden for his signature.
The president has already agreed to revisions to keep moderate Senate Democrats on board, including narrowing the eligibility for direct payments to millions of Americans. Incentives have also been added, including more money for rural hospitals, health insurance subsidies for the unemployed and broadband.
February 25, 2021 6:06 AM By Brandon Lee
Xavier Becerra, President Joe Bidenâs pick to lead the Health and Human Services Department, assured lawmakers yesterday that as HHS secretary heâd build on the existing private sector insurance scheme in the U.S. rather than push for Medicare for All.
When he was a member of the House, Becerra championed the federal government-operated health-care program that would cover all Americans, in a shift that would effectively wipe out the private-sector health insurance industry.
âThe most important thing is to give everyone in this country coverage, good coverage,â said Becerra, now Californiaâs attorney general, in response to a question from the Senate Finance Committeeâs ranking member, Mike Crapo (R-Idaho). Biden has âmade it very clear where he wants to build on the Affordable Care Act. That will be my mission,â he said.
Wednesday, February 24, 2021
The pace and pressure to embrace value-based care are picking up. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the risks and limitations of reliance on fee-for-service reimbursement and, combined with the groundbreaking changes in health care delivery models and regulatory flexibility, indicate a renewed focus on value-based care. This article outlines five of the top trends to watch for in value-based care for 2021.
1. Leaning In to Value-Based Care
One of the lessons from 2020 is that reliance on fee-for-service can leave providers vulnerable to volatility and changes in demand. As utilization plummeted during the COVID-19 pandemic, providers who had invested heavily in value-based care have been better able to weather the pandemic and the economic downturn by having a consistent source of revenue despite low utilization.
February 22, 2021 6:09 AM By Brandon Lee
Nearly a month after U.S. vaccination campaigns ramped up to give Covid-19 shots to more than a million people a day, their second doses are coming due, straining state rollouts and leaving some without complete immunizations.
In Texas alone, almost 6,000 people were overdue for their second shots in early February. In Washington state, health officials said last week that some mass vaccination clinics would be delivering follow-up doses only. A Michigan hospital system canceled last-dose appointments for the past week after its supply was reduced.
âAll I have on hand is enough to get me through today and tomorrow,â Carolyn Wilson, chief operating officer of Beaumont Health system in Michigan, said in an interview.