9 healthcare policies at stake if Congress' COVID-19 package stalls
Skip to main content
MDHC_Logotype_white
Subscribe
  • My Account
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • News
    • This Week's News
    • COVID-19
    • Providers
    • Insurance
    • Government
    • Finance
    • Technology
    • Safety & Quality
    • People
    • Regional News
    • Digital Edition
    • Biden to reopen 'Obamacare' markets for COVID-19 relief
      Hospitals push CMS to pause 'most favored nation' drug-pricing rule
      Prime Healthcare settles with union workers, agrees to $458,000 in backpay
      Biden administration warns fully meeting vaccine demand could take 'months'
    • Biden to reopen 'Obamacare' markets for COVID-19 relief
      Biden administration warns fully meeting vaccine demand could take 'months'
      Hospital system rebuked after offering vaccine to donors
      Thousands of Portland's healthcare workers not vaccinated
    • Thousands of Portland's healthcare workers not vaccinated
      Ascension’s St. Mary’s Hospital Surgery Center at Towne Centre and Allegheny Health Network’s Bethel Park surgery center
      Hospitals see opportunity, risk in ambulatory surgery centers
      Health suffers as rural hospitals close
      Medicare ACO participants fell in 2021
    • Billing, antitrust exemption changes upend negotiations between insurers and providers
      MAIN-Health Bill_iStock_i.jpg
      Insurance-tech firm MultiPlan makes $155M buy after blank-check deal
      Last-minute COVID costs cut into UnitedHealthcare's $396 million operating income
      CMS approves rule forcing insurers to ease prior authorization
    • Biden to reopen 'Obamacare' markets for COVID-19 relief
      Hospitals push CMS to pause 'most favored nation' drug-pricing rule
      Regulation Tracker: Biden reviews Trump's final rules
      Hospital system rebuked after offering vaccine to donors
    • Anthem's Q4 profits drop 41% with added COVID costs, patient care
      jesse ford salud revenue partners headshot
      Sponsored Content Provided By Salud Revenue Partners
      How to succeed on self-pay: think ‘balance integrity’
      KPMG says deal activity will stay high in '21: 10 takeaways
      By the Numbers: 20 largest healthcare investment banks in 2020
    • Studies extend hopes for antibody drugs against COVID-19
      Google to convert office space for COVID-19 vax clinics
      Dr. Karen DeSalvo
      Next Up Podcast: What to expect with telehealth and healthcare technology in the next four years
      Next Up Podcast: What to expect with telehealth and healthcare technology in the next 4 years - Transcript
    • Amid COVID health worker shortage, foreign-trained professionals sit on sidelines
      China pushes conspiracy theories on COVID origin, vaccines
      Avocado
      Avocado a day keeps the doctor away
      50% of Americans make resolutions. Fewer than 27% keep them over time.
      Data Points: Sticking with your resolutions
    • Humana names first chief equity officer
      WEb_i.jpg
      Q&A: Dr. Cliff Megerian, University Hospitals' soon-to-be CEO
      ZentyWeb_i.jpg
      Tom Zenty is leaving a legacy of transformational growth at University Hospitals
      Cerner names Erceg as new CFO
    • Midwest
    • Northeast
    • South
    • West
  • Insights
    • ACA 10 Years After
    • Best Practices
    • InDepth Special Reports
    • Innovations
    • The Affordable Care Act after 10 years
    • New care model helps primary-care practices treat obesity
      doctor with patient
      COVID-19 treatment protocol developed in the field helps patients recover
      Rachel Wyatt
      Project to curb pressure injuries in hospitals shows promise
      Yale New Haven's COVID-19 nurse-staffing model has long-term benefits
    • Michellene Davis
      Healthcare leadership lacks the racial diversity needed to reduce health disparities
      Dr. James Hildreth
      How medical education can help fight racism
      Modern Healthcare InDepth: Breaking the bias that impedes better healthcare
      Videos: Healthcare industry executives describe their encounters with racism
      Quotes from rebadged employees
      Outsourcing IT, revenue cycle takes toll on internal culture
    • A phone screen showing the question, "Mary we hope this information was helpful and we'd like to keep guiding you. Are you interested in knowing when it's your turn to receive the vaccine?"
      Chatbots, texting campaigns help manage influx of COVID vax questions
      A woman with a wearable sensor talking to her provider.
      Wearable sensors help diagnose heart rhythm problems in West Virginia
      self service station
      COVID-19 pushes patient expectations toward self-service
      Targeting high-risk cancer patients with genetics
  • Transformation
    • Patients
    • Operations
    • Care Delivery
    • Payment
    • Highmark Health inks six-year cloud, tech deal with Google
      Study: 1 in 5 patients report discrimination when getting healthcare
      HHS proposes changing HIPAA privacy rules
      Android health records app launches at 230 health systems
    • California hospitals prepare ethical protocol to prioritize lifesaving care
      Amazon, JPMorgan Chase, Berkshire Hathaway disband Haven
      Digital pathways poised to reshape healthcare continuum in 2021
      Healthcare was the hardest hit by supply shortages across all U.S. industries
    • A phone screen showing the question, "Mary we hope this information was helpful and we'd like to keep guiding you. Are you interested in knowing when it's your turn to receive the vaccine?"
      Chatbots, texting campaigns help manage influx of COVID vax questions
      A woman with a wearable sensor talking to her provider.
      Wearable sensors help diagnose heart rhythm problems in West Virginia
      New care model helps primary-care practices treat obesity
      How hospitals are building on COVID-19 telehealth momentum
    • Regional insurers bet big on virtual-first plans
      MedPAC votes to boost hospital payments, freeze or cut other providers
      Most Next Gen ACOs achieved bonuses in 2019
      Congress recalibrates Medicare Physician Fee Schedule after lobbying
  • Data/Lists
    • Rankings/Lists
    • Interactive Databases
    • Data Points
    • Health Systems Financials
      Executive Compensation
      Physician Compensation
  • Op-Ed
    • Bold Moves
    • Breaking Bias
    • Commentaries
    • Letters
    • Vital Signs Blog
    • From the Editor
    • Wellstar CEO calls adapting for the pandemic her bold move
      Howard P. Kern
      Recognizing the value of telehealth in its infancy
      Dr. Stephen Markovich
      A bold move helped take him from family doctor to OhioHealth CEO
      Dr. Bruce Siegel
      Why taking a hospital not-for-profit was Dr. Bruce Siegel’s boldest move
    • Barry Ostrowsky
      Ending racism is a journey taken together; the starting point must be now
      Laura Lee Hall and Gary Puckrein
      Increased flu vaccination has never been more important for communities of color
      John Daniels Jr.
      Health equity: Making the journey from buzzword to reality
      Mark C. Clement and David Cook
      We all need to 'do something' to fight inequities and get healthcare right, for every patient, every time
    • The missing piece in our fight against COVID-19: primary care
      Ambulatory surgery centers offer extraordinary value in a high-cost healthcare system
       Alan B. Miller
      Looking ahead with optimism as we continue to transform healthcare
      Dr. Bruce Siegel
      By protecting the healthcare safety net, Biden can put us on the path to a stronger country
    • Letters: Eliminating bias in healthcare needs to be ‘deliberate and organic’
      Letters: Maybe dropping out of ACOs is a good thing for patients
      Letters: White House and Congress share blame for lack of national COVID strategy
      Letters: VA making strides to improve state veterans home inspections
    • Sponsored Content Provided By Optum
      How blockchain could ease frustration with the payment process
      Sponsored Content Provided By Optum
      Three steps to better data-sharing for payer and provider CIOs
      Sponsored Content Provided By Optum
      Reduce total cost of care: 6 reasons why providers and payers should tackle the challenge together
      Sponsored Content Provided By Optum
      Why CIOs went from back-office operators to mission-critical innovators
  • Awards
    • Award Programs
    • Nominate
    • Previous Award Programs
    • Other Award Programs
    • Best Places to Work in Healthcare Logo for Navigation
      Nominations Open - Best Places to Work in Healthcare
      Nominations Closed - Health Care Hall of Fame
      Nominations Open - 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives
    • 100 Most Influential People
    • 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives
    • Best Places to Work in Healthcare
    • Health Care Hall of Fame
    • Healthcare Marketing Impact Awards
    • Top 25 Emerging Leaders
    • Top 25 Innovators
    • Top 25 Minority Leaders
    • Top 25 Women Leaders
    • Excellence in Nursing Awards
    • Design Awards
    • Top 25 COOs in Healthcare
    • 100 Top Hospitals
    • ACHE Awards
  • Events
    • Conferences
    • Galas
    • Webinars
    • COVID-19 Event Tracker
    • ntt data logo lockup webinar
      Sponsored Content Provided By NTT DATA
      Webinar: Mistakes I’ve Made — Confessions of a Healthcare Cybersecurity Expert
      bright.md logo lockup webinar
      Sponsored Content Provided By Bright.md
      Webinar: Enabling a hybrid care model — Streamlining the patient path to both telehealth and in-person care
    • Leadership Symposium
    • Healthcare Transformation Summit
    • Women Leaders in Healthcare Conference
    • Workplace of the Future Conference
    • Strategic Marketing Conference
    • Social Determinants of Health Symposium
    • Best Places to Work Awards Gala
    • Health Care Hall of Fame Gala
    • Top 25 Minority Leaders Gala (2022)
    • Top 25 Women Leaders Gala
  • Listen
    • Podcast - Next Up
    • Podcast - Beyond the Byline
    • Sponsored Podcast - Healthcare Insider
    • Video Series - The Check Up
    • Sponsored Video Series - One on One
    • Dr. Karen DeSalvo
      Next Up Podcast: What to expect with telehealth and healthcare technology in the next four years
      Carter Dredge
      Next Up Podcast: Ready, set, innovate! Innovation and disruption in healthcare
      Next Up Podcast: COVID-19, social determinants highlight health inequities — what next?
      Next Up Podcast: Saving Rural Health
    • Beyond the Byline: Regulators aim to boost value push with fraud and abuse law updates
      An older man wearing a mask receiving a vaccine.
      Beyond the Byline: Verifying information on the chaotic COVID-19 vaccine rollout
      doctor burnout
      Beyond the Byline: How healthcare supply chain struggles contribute to employee burnout
      Beyond the Byline: Covering race and diversity in the healthcare industry
    • Leading intention promote diversity and inclusion
      Introducing Healthcare Insider Podcast
    • The Check Up: Dr. Joseph Kerschner
      The Check Up: Dr. Joseph Kerschner of the Medical College of Wisconsin
      The Check Up: Chip Kahn
      The Check Up: Chip Kahn of the Federation of American Hospitals
      The Check Up: Trenda Ray
      The Check Up: Trenda Ray of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
      The Check Up: Dr. Kenneth Davis
      The Check Up: Dr. Kenneth Davis of Mount Sinai Health System
    • Video: Ivana Naeymi Rad of Intelligent Medical Objects
  • MORE +
    • Advertise
    • Media Kit
    • Newsletters
    • Jobs
    • People on the Move
    • Reprints & Licensing
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. Politics & Policy
August 07, 2020 04:40 PM

9 healthcare policies at stake if Congress' COVID-19 package stalls

Rachel Cohrs
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print
    Modern Healthcare Illustration / Getty Images

    Negotiations between the Trump administration and congressional Democrats on another comprehensive COVID-19 package have devolved into a stalemate, which could jeopardize policies favored by the healthcare industry.

    Lawmakers missed a deadline to pass a major bill before enhanced federal unemployment benefits expired, and chances are dimming for a comprehensive package in the near future. Government funding expires at the end of September, which could provide another deadline for a legislative vehicle.

    Healthcare industry players were pushing for a bevy of policies that could be delayed or abandoned. James Gelfand, the ERISA Industry Committee's senior vice president on health policy, called a potential failure to reach a deal "the height of dysfunction."

    "If Congress gives up on Phase Four, it will be a massive abdication of duty to the American people. Failure to deliver on surprise billing, transparency, telehealth, even COVID testing … issues that supposedly had broad bipartisan support," Gelfand said.

    Nine healthcare policies in particular could fizzle without a deal.

    1. More Provider Relief Fund money

    Both Democrats and Republicans had proposed significant boosts to a fund lawmakers created to help hospitals and other healthcare providers offset coronavirus-related expenses and lost revenue. Lawmakers have set aside $175 billion so far, and HHS has not distributed all of it yet. Hospitals and doctors asked for another $100 billion, which Democrats supported, but Senate Republicans proposed a more modest $25 billion.

    FTI Consulting Managing Director Charlene MacDonald said assistance provided in prior relief packages was critical to helping providers survive the first wave of shutdowns, but the virus still is not contained.

    "Absent congressional action to provide additional relief, it's not a matter of if but when our country's healthcare infrastructure falters under the weight of sustained economic pressures," MacDonald said.

    2. Relaxing Medicare loan terms
    Providers in August had to start paying back Medicare loans that were intended for COVID-19 relief, and hospital finance experts have said that hospitals with limited cash on hand could struggle to pay the loans back. CMS will withhold providers' Medicare fee-for-service reimbursement until the loans are repaid. Both parties had suggested tweaks to relax the repayment conditions.

    3. Liability protections
    Healthcare providers had hoped that a legislative package would include a shield to strengthen protections against medical malpractice liability. Senate Republicans introduced a measure that included many of the features providers wanted, but Democrats objected to the policy.

    4. Telehealth policy extension
    Senate Republicans' proposal extended several telehealth payment flexibilities from the CARES Act through 2021. Without a COVID-19 relief package, these policies are tied to HHS' public health emergency declaration, which has to be renewed every 90 days.

    5. COVID-19 testing funds
    Insurers, labs, employer groups and others had asked Congress to create a fund to pay for tests conducted for public health surveillance, back-to-work, back-to-school, and other purposes that insurers aren't legally required to cover. Funding proposed by both sides in the negotiations would have funneled money to the states for testing instead.

    6. State and local funding

    Healthcare providers asked Congress to provide more financial support to states so their budgets would be insulated. Providers fear that states faced with massive shortfalls could cut Medicaid provider rates to make ends meet. Many healthcare stakeholders were also pushing for increased federal Medicaid matching funds to directly bolster Medicaid programs.

    7. Hazard pay
    Hospitals and healthcare providers had asked for Congress to fund additional pay, child care and other benefits for healthcare workers. Democrats pushed the policy in their proposal.

    8. COBRA subsidies
    Some lawmakers had asked for funds to help laid off workers stay on their employers' health plans, but anti-abortion groups objected to the idea. The proposal was also expensive, so its inclusion was unlikely even in better circumstances. Observers say that it's more likely to be abandoned the longer the package is delayed.

    "People are losing their health insurance coverage, their jobs, their housing. Widespread issues with testing remain. Our entire healthcare system is under colossal strain and cracks are deepening every day that Congress drags this out," Families USA senior director of federal relations Jen Taylor said.

    9. Funds for community health centers
    Both parties' proposals also included funding for Federally Qualified Health Centers to support operations as they serve as front-line healthcare providers for vulnerable populations.

    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Send us a letter

    Have an opinion about this story? Click here to submit a Letter to the Editor, and we may publish it in print.

    Recommended for You
    Biden more bullish on vaccines, open to 1.5M daily shot goal
    Biden more bullish on vaccines, open to 1.5M daily shot goal
    Biden's early approach to virus: Underpromise, overdeliver
    Biden's early approach to virus: Underpromise, overdeliver
    Sponsored Content
    Get Free Newsletters

    Sign up for free enewsletters and alerts to receive breaking news and in-depth coverage of healthcare events and trends, as they happen, right to your inbox.

    Subscribe Today

    The weekly magazine, websites, research and databases provide a powerful and all-encompassing industry presence. We help you make informed business decisions and lead your organizations to success.

    Subscribe
    Connect with Us
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS
    • Instagram

    Stay Connected

    Join the conversation with Modern Healthcare through our social media pages

    MDHC_Logotype_white
    Contact Us

    (877) 812-1581

    Email us

     

    Resources
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise with Us
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Editorial Dept
    • Submission Guidelines
    • Code of Ethics
    • Awards
    • About Us
    Legal
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    Modern Healthcare
    Copyright © 1996-2021. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • This Week's News
      • COVID-19
      • Providers
      • Insurance
      • Government
      • Finance
      • Technology
      • Safety & Quality
      • People
      • Regional News
        • Midwest
        • Northeast
        • South
        • West
      • Digital Edition
    • Insights
      • ACA 10 Years After
      • Best Practices
      • InDepth Special Reports
      • Innovations
    • Transformation
      • Patients
      • Operations
      • Care Delivery
      • Payment
    • Data/Lists
      • Rankings/Lists
      • Interactive Databases
      • Data Points
    • Op-Ed
      • Bold Moves
      • Breaking Bias
      • Commentaries
      • Letters
      • Vital Signs Blog
      • From the Editor
    • Awards
      • Award Programs
        • 100 Most Influential People
        • 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives
        • Best Places to Work in Healthcare
        • Health Care Hall of Fame
        • Healthcare Marketing Impact Awards
        • Top 25 Emerging Leaders
        • Top 25 Innovators
        • Top 25 Minority Leaders
        • Top 25 Women Leaders
      • Nominate
      • Previous Award Programs
        • Excellence in Nursing Awards
        • Design Awards
        • Top 25 COOs in Healthcare
      • Other Award Programs
        • 100 Top Hospitals
        • ACHE Awards
    • Events
      • Conferences
        • Leadership Symposium
        • Healthcare Transformation Summit
        • Women Leaders in Healthcare Conference
        • Workplace of the Future Conference
        • Strategic Marketing Conference
        • Social Determinants of Health Symposium
      • Galas
        • Best Places to Work Awards Gala
        • Health Care Hall of Fame Gala
        • Top 25 Minority Leaders Gala (2022)
        • Top 25 Women Leaders Gala
      • Webinars
      • COVID-19 Event Tracker
    • Listen
      • Podcast - Next Up
      • Podcast - Beyond the Byline
      • Sponsored Podcast - Healthcare Insider
      • Video Series - The Check Up
      • Sponsored Video Series - One on One
    • MORE +
      • Advertise
      • Media Kit
      • Newsletters
      • Jobs
      • People on the Move
      • Reprints & Licensing