Current Issues
Healthcare Insurance
COVID-19 Emergency Extension & End
The Biden Administration announced (January 30) that it will officially end the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) ...
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Medical Care/Prescription Drugs
Merck Lawsuit Against Drug Negotiation
Merck filed a lawsuit (June 6) against the provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 requiring the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to negotiate ...
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Medicare Program
Addressing Inflation & Medicare
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) was enacted into law (August 17th) and included the following key provisions to address program costs ...
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Child/Family Welfare
Future of Gas Stoves
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a request for information (RFI) from the public (March 7) on gas stove hazards and potential solutions ...
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Research & Analysis
Medicaid and Postpartum Hopitalizations
Health Affairs
This report (January 2023) summarizes the results of a study which found significant reduction of hospitalizations of a child and/or mother after a birth.
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Improved Processing Needed for Veterans’ Claims of Contaminated Water Exposure at Camp Lejeune
OIG/Veterans Administration
This report (August 2022) of the Inspector General of the Veterans Administration provides the results of a review of the processing and deciding of claims tied to contaminated water exposure at Camp Lejeune. The OIG fuound that of 57,500 Camp Lejeune-related claims for VA disability compensation benefits reviewed, Veterans Benefits Administration staff incorrectly processed 21K claims. The largest error was prematurely denying more than 17K claims by not sending required letters to veterans requesting evidence needed to document exposure.
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Demographic Variation in Health Insurance Coverage
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
This report summarizes a statistical analysis of 2020 health survey data to estimate U.S. health insurance coverage. The analysis finds that in 2020, nearly 10% of Americans were uninsured (31.6 million), including 5% (3.7 million) children and nearly 14% of working-aged adults.
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Key Federal Programs
Family Planning [HHS]
This Year (FY 22)
Budget Proposal (FY 23)
Enacted (FY 23)
% Change
$286,479,000
$400,000,000
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Supplementals (FY 21-22)
$50,000,000
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services [HHS]
This Year (FY 22)
Budget Proposal (FY 23)
Enacted (FY 23)
% Change
$1,370,463,000,000
$1,423,680,000,000
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Supplementals (FY 21-22)
$1,520,000,000
Aging and Disability Services [HHS]
This Year (FY 22)
Budget Proposal (FY 23)
Enacted (FY 23)
% Change
$2,318,000,000
$3,111,000,000
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Supplementals (FY 21-22)
$1,710,000,000
Veterans Health Administration [VA]
This Year (FY 22)
Budget Proposal (FY 23)
Enacted (FY 23)
% Change
$115,438,000,000
$118,748,000,000
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Supplementals (FY 21-22)
$16,604,000,000
