- Washington ends State Innovation Models (SIM) grant: SIM funded many Healthier Washington initiatives, and although the grant is ending, Healthier Washington continues.
- “Pathways to Success,” an Overhaul of Medicare’s ACO Program: Trump Administration announced our overhaul of the program for Accountable Care Organizations, or “ACOs,” in Medicare. ACOs serve a large number of Medicare beneficiaries – over 10.4 million individuals in Fee-for-Service Medicare (of the 38 million total Fee-for-Service beneficiaries) receive care from providers participating in a Medicare ACO.
- Medicare’s role in reducing senior poverty: As Poverty Awareness Month ends this January; it is a time for us to remember the strong relationship between poverty and health, and to consider the ongoing challenges of poverty among older adults.
- Proposed change to lower drug prices in Medicare Advantage and Part D: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced proposed changes to Medicare Part D to lower prescription drug costs for beneficiaries. Part D uses private insurance plans to cover drugs that are picked up at a pharmacy.
- Better data will serve as the foundation in modernizing the Medicaid program: The program is often the first or second largest line item in state budgets. Just recently, CMS’ independent Office of the Actuary released their Medicaid financial report, confirming what we have already known for quite some time – that our healthcare spending, particularly in Medicaid – is forecast to continue growing, averaging 5.7% annually over the next 10 years to reach over $1 trillion by 2026.