Center for Connected Health Policy Telehealth Policy Barriers

News At A Glance

National

Individual mandate repeal paves way for the AffordableCare Act lawsuit– 20 states have filed a lawsuit against the federal government stating that the ACA is unconstitutional without a tax penalty. The effort is led by attorneys general from Texas and Wisconsin.

Hospitals appeal federal ruling on Medicare 340B payment cuts– In Nov. 2017, the American Hospital Association, Association of American Medical Colleges, and America’s Essential Hospitals filed a lawsuit against the Department of Health and Human Services for $1.6B payment cuts. Upon dismissal of the case, the groups appealed the ruling stating the 22.5% reduction of average drug sale prices will threaten healthcare access for vulnerable patients.

Azar expressed support for CDC funding for gun violence research but a key representative doesn’t think it is likely– Senator Markey (D-MA) requested the head ofthe Department of Health and Human Services to detail a time-linefor moving ahead with gun violence research after his comments addressing the 1996 Dickey Amendment. Oklahoma representative Tom Cole (R-OK) thinks the costs for the current spending bill are already too high.

Becker’s Hospital Review summarizes the past six months of value-based care with the current administration–• 11/2017- Cancellation of cardiac bundled payments and reduction of

requirements for Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement• 09/2017- Request for new ideas for Innovation Center• 01/2018- Bundled Payments for Care Improvement Advanced• 01/2018- Azar states approval of mandatory pilots; Price was

against them• 01/2018- Merit-based Incentive Payment System physician

reporting may be eliminated based on Azar remarks.

February 28, 2018|Issue 2

CMS New Deadline for Electronic Clinical Quality Measures Reporting for Medicare-Eligible Hospitals- A two-week extension puts the new deadline at March 16th to allow vendors and hospitals additional time to submit data.

Bundled Payments for Care Improvement Advanced Model deadline set to March 12 despite American Hospital Association request for additional month.

Reimbursement Malpractice Licensing

HIPAA/Privacy/Security Prescribing

Credentialing

The Center for Connected Health Policy summarized the main policy barriers that may restrict provider participation in telehealth.

The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health proposed two telemedicine bills for opioid treatment that would allow providers to prescribe controlled substances via telemedicine in emergencies and addiction treatment centers.

Healthcare

California

Oregon’s Right to Health Care bill fails to garner support– Sponsored by Democrats, the bill wouldhave placed a referendum to voters to add the right to healthcare as a constitutional right. Last year, Oregonians voted “yes” on keeping taxes on healthcare insurance to provide Medicaid expansion funding.

Hospitals to see 1.5 percent gain from the 2018 Medicare Outpatient Prospective Payment System–Research conducted by DC-based firm, Avalere Health, shows that 42 states, including MA, have seen gains and will continue to do so despite cuts to the 340B program. This is in large part to the increase in payments for non-drug items and services.

Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield to offer farmers insurance plans that do not comply with ACA– After Idaho Blue Cross declared a move to follow through with non-compliant insurance plans, Iowainsurer follows suit. The new plan will offer Iowa’s Farm Bureau cheaper insurance without consumer protections such as additional charges for pre-existing conditions. The Bureau currently has 28,000 members and has no requirements other than a $55 membership fee.

Utah Senate Bill 217 looks to put an end to cognitive testing for physicians over 70– The UtahMedical Association is against the test, believing the test is discriminating physicians based on age. The bill states that only tests designed according to the American Medical Association’s standards should be used. The current test is created and administered by Intermountain Healthcare.

Ohio’s Cleveland Clinic looks to open new hospital– In January 2017, Cleveland Clinic finalized plans toconstruct a 205-bed hospital in London starting in 2021. The system already has a presence in Toronto and Abu Dhabi.

Other States

A lower uninsured rate places burden on charity care requirements– Four California hospitals are askingthe Attorney General for a 50-75% decrease in charity care requirements, stating that it is becoming increasingly difficult to qualify for tax breaks due to a decrease in the number of uninsured people. Others cite that there are still 3 million uninsured people they can provide care to.

AC Wellness coming to Santa Clara– Coming Spring2018, Apple’s new primary clinics will be available to employees and employees’ family members. New job postings include a search for physicians, behavioral health workers, and prevention effort coordinators.

Physician Group Allied Pacific seeks to revive Pacific Alliance Medical Center– Heavy maintenancecosts led to the hospital’s shutdown in November 2017. Allied Pacific partnered with AHMC Healthcare system to place a bid. The group believes the 128-bed facility can be turned into a 24-hour urgent care facility.

LA County Sheriff's Department recruiting jailphysicians– LA county is offering to pay off student debts for young physicians interested in working at the jails. The lack of healthcare personnel results in 10+ hour waits for some prisoners.

Snapshots

Illinois Department of Public Health reports 4,500+ women crossed the state border for

abortions in 2016

Indiana, Iowa, and Missouri have been creating stricter regulations on abortions that would make access to abortion difficult.

In turn, Illinois has been expanding services. As a result, the state saw an increase of 42% for out-of-state abortions from 2015-2016, despite a 3.7% decline of overall abortions.

New family planning funding available through Office of

Population Affairs

$260 million are available through Title X family planning program grants. While grants cannot be given for programs with abortion services, Planned Parenthood may still apply.

Pharmaceutical companies encouraged to join fight against

opioid epidemic

The Food and Drug Administration calls on pharmaceutical companies to create formulas to help current opioid addiction drugs last longer.

¨

¨

Like what you see? Don’t forget to check out our website where you can find our Policy Briefs, Issue Briefs, and much more! Ihpl.llu.edu

CDC requires money to renew facilities studying deadly

pathogens

The center is requesting $350 million from Congress to renew its BSL4 laboratories that require maintenance to safeguard pathogens such as Ebola. Facilities will need to be replaced by 2023.

¨