Newswire Archives
A new brief from the Urban Institute examines Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace participation by insurers that participated in Medicaid, but not in private insurance markets prior to the ACA. The focus is on the potential hurdles for increased participation from Medicaid insurers.
The brief can be obtained at https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/100175/why_dont_more_medicaid_insurers_sell_plans_in_aca_marketplaces_0.pdf.
A report from the Congressional Research Service (CRS) analyzes (1) how the income distribution of the undergraduate population has changed over time; (2) the relationship between student income and certain student demographics, such as race and dependency status; and (3) how the income distribution of the undergraduate population compares with that of the population of individuals who do not have a post-secondary degree.
The report can be obtained at https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R45686.pdf.
High health costs are of great concern to patients. A related worry is the possibility of receiving an unexpected medical bill. A new report from the Commonwealth Fund examines why consumers receive them and what this phenomenon reveals about how health care is different from other goods and services.
The report can be obtained at https://www.commonwealthfund.org/blog/2019/underlying-causes-surprise-medical-bills.
A new report from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) shows that the physician shortage remains real and significant, with shortfalls in both primary and specialty care.
The report can be obtained at https://aamc-black.global.ssl.fastly.net/production/media/filer_public/31/13/3113ee5c-a038-4c16-89af-294a69826650/2019_update_-_the_complexities_of_physician_supply_and_demand_-_projections_from_2017-2032.pdf.
The Trump Administration on April 23 proposed changes that build on the progress made over the last two years and further the agency’s priority to transform the healthcare delivery system through competition and innovation while providing patients with better value and results. The proposed rule would update Medicare payment policies for hospitals under the Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) and the Long-Term Care Hospital (LTCH) Prospective Payment System (PPS) for fiscal year 2020 and advances two key CMS priorities, “Rethinking Rural Health” and “Unleashing Innovation,” by proposing historic changes to the way Medicare pays hospitals.
A fact sheet on the proposed rule can be obtained at: https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/fiscal-year-fy-2020-medicare-hospital-inpatient-prospective-payment-system-ipps-and-long-term-acute.
From the rise of Generation Z to an ever-changing U.S. electorate, demographic shifts are changing the U.S. and the world at large. Six major shifts are described in a report from the Pew research Center.
The report can be obtained at https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/04/11/6-demographic-trends-shaping-the-u-s-and-the-world-in-2019/?utm_campaign=2019-04-17+Rundown+(first+story+in+subject+line)&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Pew.
Yesterday, HHS Secretary Alex Azar unveiled his new “Primary Cares Initiative”, which will test five new value based payment models in primary care focused on paying for health and outcomes rather than fee for service. HHS hopes this initiative will transform primary care to deliver better value for patients throughout the healthcare system.
Read more here.
The AARP Public Policy Institute-led Home Alone Alliance has released a new study explores multicultural, gender, and generational experiences and the needs of caregivers performing complex medical and nursing tasks.
The report can be obtained at https://www.aarp.org/content/dam/aarp/ppi/2019/04/home-alone-revisited-family-caregivers-providing-complex-care.pdf.
Deloitte Center for Health Solutions released a report that detailed how technology, such as artificial intelligence, will continue to have a profound effect on the clinical, business, and administrative sides of healthcare. These changes require employers and clinics to re-envision the future of work.
Findings from a recent Health Care in America survey show that in addition to the challenge of affording the health care and social supports they need, Americans with disabilities also contend with roadblocks when seeking care. Changes both large and small can help make our health care system more responsive.
Survey results can be obtained at http://features.commonwealthfund.org/health-care-in-america?_ga=2.19437432.1955350527.1549291293-991394867.1549291293.
A new brief from the American Council on Education finds investing time and resources in student mental health makes good academic and economic sense for colleges, universities, and society at large. The paper uses empirical evidence from college student populations and examples from college presidents to examine how higher education leadership can advocate for and invest in student mental health.
The brief can be obtained at https://www.acenet.edu/news-room/Documents/Investing-in-Student-Mental-Health.pdf.
Please find a link to a helpful recap of the discussions surrounding State Authorization in the Department of Education’s recent federal negotiated rulemaking session. The author, Russ Poulin, is a Senior Director at WCET who has been closely following State Authorization issues for years and served as a member of this rulemaking panel.
The panel recommended the continuation of the current state reciprocity agreement (SARA) structure and Poulin provides helpful insights into these negotiations.
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released a new working paper updating the agency’s approach to updating the effects of changes to medical malpractice laws on federal spending.
The report can be obtained at https://www.cbo.gov/system/files/2019-04/55104-Medical%20Malpractice_WP.pdf.
Join the Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) for this week’s free webinar on best practices and innovative technologies for interprofessional education (IPE). The 2017 and 2018 United States Public Health Service–IPEC Award honorable mention recipients for the category of health communications and technology will be on hand to discuss the key takeaways from their IPE projects.
For additional information and to register for this webinar, click here.
The State Higher Education Finance (SHEF) Report examines the trends, context, and consequences of state higher education funding decisions. For 16 years, the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO) has produced this annual report to broaden understanding and enable analysis of state-level and national funding and enrollment trends over time.
A Data Point from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) examines the relationship between educational attainment and the rates at which adults are unemployed or underemployed (working involuntarily part time or involuntarily in a temporary job).
The Data Point can be obtained at https://nces.ed.gov/pubs2019/2019039.pdf.
One way to improve care for high-need, high-cost patients and make the health system more effective is to identify promising care delivery and payment innovations from accountable care models around the world. A publication from the Commonwealth Fund explores best practices from a global innovation database to improve health outcomes and reduce the total cost of care for high-need, high-cost populations in the U.S.
It can be obtained at https://www.commonwealthfund.org/blog/2019/adapting-promising-innovations-meet-needs-high-need-high-cost-populations.
The Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee held a hearing on “Reauthorizing the Higher Education Act: Strengthening Accountability to Protect Students and Taxpayers” in which Members and witnesses discussed current and potential innovations to holding higher education institutions accountable for ensuring their students are receiving high-quality degrees relevant to today’s workforce needs.
Republicans supported the idea that loan repayment rates would be a better measure of student achievement than the cohort default rate. They emphasized the flexibility granted to accreditors to work with more at-risk institutions, yet some regulations hold them back from fully supporting these institutions. Ranking Member Murray was concerned about the varied state authorizations for distance learning, but that they all should focus on quality assurance. In terms of accreditation, she believes that if there is program level accountability, there should additionally be a catch all institutional backstop.
There were also discussions on ensuring CTE and certificate programs have similar accountability measures as robust as the measures for 4-year institutions.
A new paper from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO)reviews the recent literature on the effect of changes in traditional liability laws on health care spending and presents new analyses of how such changes affect Medicare, Medicaid, and other spending. The CBO is incorporating those assessments into its updated modeling of the budgetary effects of changes in traditional liability laws.
The report can be obtained at https://www.cbo.gov/system/files/2019-04/55104-Medical%20Malpractice_WP.pdf.
The House Education & Labor Committee held a hearing on “Examining the Policies and Priorities of the U.S. Department of Education” in which Education Secretary Betsy DeVos discussed the Department’s priorities.
CTE, apprenticeships, and Pell grants for short-term programs received bipartisan and Administration support. Democrats questioned why Education Freedom Scholarships are a 100% tax credit and how they are not actually contributions. Republicans disagreed stating that the scholarships are a voluntary contribution that can be used to create new school programs or even transportation to CTE programs. Democrats also disagreed with the $60 million proposed for charter schools instead of increasing funds for public schools.
The high cost of attending 4-year institutions and the large amount of student debt concerned both parties. Sec. DeVos discussed the NextGen plan, which includes helping high school students learn more about program costs and earning potential through the College Scorecard and the Administration’s support for various pathways. Republicans emphasized Congress’ responsibility in creating PSLF and how the Department is only responsible to carry out what Congress outlined. The Department is looking to phase out PSLF, which greatly concerned Democrats.
There was disagreement on the Department’s negotiated rulemaking process with Ranking Member Virginia Foxx defending the Department and Rep. Pramila Jayapal noting the lack of student advocates and state attorney generals on the panel. Democrats asked about the Department’s plan for schools with crumbling infrastructure, and Sec. DeVos believes that is a state and local issue.
