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U.S. Reps. Mike Kelly and Suzan DelBene Introduce Concurrent Care for Comfort Act to Address Hospice Care for ESRD Patients

U.S. Reps. Mike Kelly and Suzan DelBene Introduce Concurrent Care for Comfort Act to Address Hospice Care for ESRD Patients

U.S. Reps. Mike Kelly (R-Penn.) and Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.) have introduced the Concurrent Care for Comfort Act. This bipartisan legislation aims to ensure that hospice patients with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) can continue to receive dialysis treatment. Currently, hospice care is underutilized among ESRD patients, partly because the prospect of giving up dialysis deters many from entering hospice. Dialysis is considered life-sustaining curative care, which traditionally conflicts with the hospice model focused on palliative care without curative intent. The proposed act seeks to clarify Medicare coverage policies for palliative dialysis and establish separate reimbursement for these services when provided by renal dialysis facilities and other qualified providers to individuals who have elected hospice care. This initiative addresses a significant gap in healthcare provision for a vulnerable patient population.

Bipartisan Lawmakers Reintroduce Bill to Address High Heart Disease Risk in South Asian Americans

Bipartisan Lawmakers Reintroduce Bill to Address High Heart Disease Risk in South Asian Americans

A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers has reintroduced the South Asian Heart Health Awareness and Research Act. This legislation aims to increase federal research, public awareness, and culturally appropriate programs to address the disproportionately high incidence of heart disease among South Asian Americans. Representatives Pramila Jayapal and Joe Wilson, along with Senator Cory Booker, introduced the bill. The measure would authorize the U.S. health secretary to provide grants to states for programs focusing on communities severely affected by cardiovascular disease. The bill also seeks to ensure that research funding is directed towards risk factors that have not received adequate attention. South Asians in the United States face four times the risk of heart disease compared to the general population, with nearly two-thirds of middle-aged South Asian Americans facing an intermediate or high risk of heart failure within the next decade. The legislation is co-sponsored by Representatives Nanette Barragan...

Virginia Study Reveals Medicaid Pays Doctors Substantially Less Than Other Insurers for Preventive Care

Virginia Study Reveals Medicaid Pays Doctors Substantially Less Than Other Insurers for Preventive Care

A new study from Virginia, led by George Mason University professor Alison Cuellar, has found that Medicaid pays doctors substantially less than other health insurers for routine preventive visits. The research, set to be published in JAMA Health Forum, compared payment rates across different types of insurance, including traditional fee-for-service Medicaid, Medicaid managed care, Medicare plans, employer-sponsored insurance, and marketplace plans. The study revealed a consistent divide: both forms of Medicaid paid significantly less. Specifically, Medicaid private managed care plans paid 25% less than Medicare plans and over 40% less than marketplace plans, even though they generally paid more than the state’s traditional Medicaid program. This study utilized novel Transparency in Coverage and Virginia claims data to provide a more complete picture, especially considering that about 85% of Medicaid members nationwide are enrolled in Medicaid managed care.

Alabama Faces Significant Cancer Care Disparities Due to Geographic, Financial, and Systemic Barriers

Alabama Faces Significant Cancer Care Disparities Due to Geographic, Financial, and Systemic Barriers

A new scoping review published in the Journal of Cancer Survivorship highlights the profound cancer care disparities in Alabama, revealing that despite a lower cancer incidence rate than the national average, the state experiences substantially higher cancer mortality rates. The review, led by Nicole Caviness-Ashe and Timiya S. Nolan of the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Heersink School of Medicine, synthesized nearly three decades of research to identify the root causes. Key barriers include long travel distances to healthcare facilities, rural residency, and living in under-resourced areas, which consistently correlate with delayed treatment and poorer prognoses. Financial hardship emerged as the most pervasive obstacle, affecting patients across all age groups and leading to medication non-adherence and delayed care. Insurance status, particularly the lack of Medicaid expansion in Alabama, further exacerbates these financial burdens. Additionally, provider and system-level factors such as poor co...

Rep. John Carter Supports Bipartisan ASAP Act for Medicare Coverage of Alzheimer's Blood Tests

Rep. John Carter Supports Bipartisan ASAP Act for Medicare Coverage of Alzheimer's Blood Tests

Rep. John Carter is advocating for the bipartisan Alzheimer’s Screening and Prevention (ASAP) Act, which aims to enable Medicare coverage for FDA-approved blood tests designed to detect Alzheimer’s biomarkers. Currently, Medicare regulations prohibit coverage for any dementia screening test for individuals without symptoms, creating a significant barrier to early detection. The ASAP Act seeks to rectify this legal impediment, offering a more scalable and accessible diagnostic approach compared to previous methods. This legislative effort is highlighted by Stephenie Evans, a former caregiver from Belton, Texas, who emphasizes the critical difference early detection can make for families affected by Alzheimer's. Her personal experience with her grandmother, who lived with Alzheimer's for a decade, underscores the potential for earlier diagnoses to improve quality of life and allow families more time to prepare for the future. The initiative aligns with global efforts to raise awareness and challenge the stig...

Asheville Citizen-Times

New federal rules will reshape Medicaid in NC. Here’s what to know.

New federal rules will reshape Medicaid in NC. Here’s what to know.

Major changes tied to immigration status and work requirements could affect hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians on Medicaid.

Representative David Valadao Co-Leads Bipartisan Legislation for Essential Health System Designation

Representative David Valadao Co-Leads Bipartisan Legislation for Essential Health System Designation

Representative David Valadao (R-Calif.) is co-leading bipartisan legislation, H.R. 7145, aimed at establishing a federal definition for 'essential health systems.' This bill, reintroduced in January, seeks to provide Congress with a mechanism to direct support towards foundational members of the nation's healthcare safety net. The legislation is gaining traction in the House, attracting several new cosponsors from both Democratic and Republican parties. The initiative comes as Congress returns to Capitol Hill with a busy agenda, including addressing legislative and policy priorities before the end of the year, and amid a political environment increasingly shaped by upcoming elections. The bill's progress is part of broader efforts to advance essential hospitals' priority advocacy issues.

Representative Haley Stevens Co-Sponsors Resolution for Pharmacy Workforce Suicide Awareness Day

Representative Haley Stevens Co-Sponsors Resolution for Pharmacy Workforce Suicide Awareness Day

Representative Haley Stevens (D-MI) has co-sponsored a House of Representatives resolution to designate September 20th as Pharmacy Workforce Suicide Awareness Day. This initiative, introduced by Reps. Paul Tonko (D-NY) and Jen Kiggans (R-VA), aims to raise awareness, eliminate stigma, and foster conversations around suicide prevention within the pharmacy profession. The resolution is supported by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), who established the annual observance in 2023 during Suicide Prevention Month. The move comes in response to research indicating that pharmacists and female pharmacy technicians face an elevated risk of suicide. The resolution highlights the significant public health challenge of suicide and the particular vulnerabilities within the healthcare sector.

Congress Introduces Resolution for Pharmacy Workforce Suicide Awareness Day

Congress Introduces Resolution for Pharmacy Workforce Suicide Awareness Day

A resolution has been introduced in the House of Representatives to designate September 20th as Pharmacy Workforce Suicide Awareness Day. The resolution was put forth by Representatives Paul Tonko (D-NY) and Jen Kiggans (R-VA), with Representative Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) among its cosponsors. This initiative, established in 2023 by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), aims to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and encourage conversations about suicide prevention within the pharmacy profession. The resolution highlights that healthcare professionals, including pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, face an increased risk of suicide due to chronic understaffing, heavy workloads, administrative burdens, frequent interruptions, and aggressive performance expectations. These pressures not only affect individual well-being but also impact patient safety and the long-term sustainability of the profession.

Congressman Gus Bilirakis-backed CHANGE Act Advances in Committee to Improve Alzheimer's Detection

Congressman Gus Bilirakis-backed CHANGE Act Advances in Committee to Improve Alzheimer's Detection

Bipartisan legislation, including provisions from the CHANGE Act championed by Representative Gus Bilirakis, has unanimously advanced out of the House Ways and Means Committee with a 40-0 vote. The package aims to enhance the early detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. The bill's stated goals include directing the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to identify effective cognitive-impairment detection tools and to assist clinicians in connecting patients with necessary follow-up care. This legislative effort has garnered support from various patient and aging organizations, and companion legislation has also been introduced in the Senate, indicating broad backing for its objectives. The advancement of this bill signifies a concerted effort to address the growing challenges associated with Alzheimer's and other dementias through improved diagnostic pathways.

Kennedy-Linked MAHA Group Allegedly Sought $300,000 for Access to U.S. Health Officials

Kennedy-Linked MAHA Group Allegedly Sought $300,000 for Access to U.S. Health Officials

A nonprofit organization associated with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., known as MAHA, reportedly solicited corporate sponsorships of up to $300,000 in exchange for access to U.S. health officials. These sponsorship packages allegedly included opportunities for speaking slots at events and private dinners with prominent leaders. The upcoming summit organized by MAHA is expected to feature executives from both the technology and healthcare sectors. Furthermore, senior officials from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) are slated to participate in this event. This arrangement has raised concerns regarding the potential for paid access to government policymakers and the influence of private entities on public health policy.

Senator Klobuchar Advances Bipartisan AI Safety Bill to Mitigate Catastrophic Risks

Senator Klobuchar Advances Bipartisan AI Safety Bill to Mitigate Catastrophic Risks

Senator Amy Klobuchar is actively collaborating with Republican senators on a bipartisan legislative initiative focused on artificial intelligence (AI) safety. This proposed bill aims to address and reduce the potentially catastrophic risks associated with advanced AI models. The legislation, currently under negotiation and not yet formally introduced, would mandate that developers of powerful AI models conduct assessments and report on serious risks. Furthermore, it would require these developers to implement measures to prevent potential harm. A key aspect of the proposal is the potential expansion of federal government authority, allowing it to test AI models and intervene if significant safety concerns are identified and not adequately addressed by developers. This collaborative effort underscores a growing recognition among lawmakers of the need for regulatory frameworks to manage the rapid advancements and inherent risks of AI technology.