In the News

Democrats Push to Restore $83 Billion in Clawed-Back IRS Funds

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Dozens of House Democrats are supporting a new effort to replenish billions in pared-back IRS modernization funding, which they say is necessary to enforce tax law and help taxpayers. “For too long, wealthy individuals and large corporations have gotten away with not paying their fair share of taxes,” said Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.), the bill’s lead author. “This bill restores the…

House panel clears prior authorization, price transparency bills

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Tags: Health

The House Ways and Means Committee cleared bipartisan legislation on Wednesday to reduce insurance care denials in privately run Medicare Advantage plans, and boost price transparency. The panel advanced seven health bills to the full House floor. Chief among them was the Improving Seniors Timely Access to Care Act, which introduces several reforms to prior authorization, which requires…

It Has Wide Support and Costs Nothing. Can This Prior Auth Bill Pass Congress?

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Tags: Health

"I still have hope," said Peggy Tighe, legislative counsel for the Regulatory Relief Coalition, a group of physician specialty organizations advocating for regulatory burden reduction in Medicare, when she was asked about the Improving Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act, which was approved last week by the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee. The measure, which seeks more…

Feds reprimand private company using AI to review WA Medicare claims over delayed processing

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The Arizona-based company using artificial intelligence to review certain Medicare requests in Washington state under a controversial six-year pilot program has been found out of compliance by the federal government. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced Monday that Virtix Health was required to submit a Corrective Action Plan because it was not responding quickly…

E&C Health Panel Advances Transparency, Prior Auth Bills 

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Tags: Health

The House Energy & Commerce health subcommittee advanced a broad package of bipartisan health care bills Thursday (June 25) aimed at increasing health care price transparency and strengthening prior authorization oversight. The package includes measures requiring hospitals, insurers and other providers to disclose more pricing information, increasing reporting requirements…

 Democrats push for more data on Medicare AI prior authorization pilot 

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Dive Brief: Democrat lawmakers are calling on the CMS to release more data on a controversial pilot program that adds artificial intelligence-backed prior authorization for some services in traditional Medicare.  In a letter sent to CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz on Monday, representatives pushed the agency to release information on how long it takes technology vendors…

Medicare AI program made them suffer in pain. Now they want answers

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For months, Medicare patients in Washington have struggled with delays and denials for medical treatments due to a new program that uses artificial intelligence to review care. Now, patients and their doctors are fed up and demanding changes. Lawmakers scrutinizing the program want to see it overhauled. “Congress and the public deserve a full understanding of the impact this program is…

Groundbreaking event celebrates new low-income housing

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Two dozen people braved the June rain to celebrate a new affordable housing project’s groundbreaking on Tuesday in Marysville. The Housing Authority of Snohomish County broke ground on its Leonard Crossing project in Marysville, across the street from the Marysville Cedar and Grove Park & Ride. Construction for the more-than-$40 million project will begin before the end of the…

Prior authorization bill now eligible for House fast track

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Legislation aimed at reducing delays when Medicare Advantage plans require preapproval for care could hit the House floor under fast-track rules for bills that have broad support. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Pa., targets use of prior authorization in Medicare Advantage — in which insurers approve or deny services before they can be delivered. The legislation would require…