politics
Medicaid work rules shock
State Medicaid leaders knew an administration policy to implement Medicaid work requirements was coming, but they were shocked to find out that the rules were far stricter than federal officials had signaled weeks ago.
The rule makes it harder for sick and disabled people to prove they are medically frail, and thus too sick to work. States and advocates had hoped that having a serious medical condition would be enough. Instead, people must show both that they have a condition, and that it prevents them from working.
Read more about why Medicaid experts say the new system could threaten coverage for millions.
Medicare & Medicaid
Oz’s ‘gift’ to governors
CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz said Wednesday that his agency was doing states a “favor” by warning that if they don’t properly use money from a federal rural health fund, it will be yanked back.
Speaking at an event held by the Connected Health Initiative, Oz noted that the fund, which began allocating money late last year, comes with strings attached. That includes proving that it will be used to “transform” rural care.
“If they don't abide by what they wrote, if they don't do a good job getting the money out of the capitals of these states, we will take the money back,” Oz said. “Now, that's actually a favor for the governors, because the governors can now go to legislatures or other groups — the insurance commissioner — and say, ‘Listen, if you don't fix this problem, we're going to lose the money.’”
He praised some states for the initiatives they brought to CMS to get funding. Wyoming, he said, had “clever ideas,” and Montana, he added, is improving its electronic health records system.
people moving
In and out at HHS
The White House nominated Ge Bai to be an assistant secretary of Health and Human Services, a promotion from her current role as principal deputy assistant secretary for planning and evaluation. Bai, a Johns Hopkins professor, has written extensively about using price transparency to reduce health care costs, a policy favored by the Trump administration. Her nomination comes as Kennedy teases a forthcoming website that will allow consumers to review hospital prices.
Meanwhile, Mike Stuart is out as HHS general counsel. His current role is unclear. HHS first said in February that Stuart would exit his role, but wouldn’t say when. NOTUS recently reported that Stuart had bought six figures worth of stock in a company with HHS contracts. Robert Foster, principal deputy general counsel, is now listed on HHS’ website as acting general counsel. HHS declined to comment.
