At meetings this week, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission discussed a wide range of quality-related topics, including measures for long-stay nursing facility residents, behavioral health care and the Medicare program, and reforming quality measurement implications for premium support. Commissioners also examined six proposals MedPAC staff believe have the potential to slow the rate of growth of pharmaceutical spending by Medicare. These options seek to increase price competition, address Part B drug price growth and improve the current payment formula and data. Commissioners also received a status report on Medicare Accountable Care Organizations. The commission will meet again in November.

Headline
An outbreak of measles in Utah has grown to 663 cases, the state’s Department of Health and Human Resources reported May 12. There have been 466 cases…
Headline
During a trip to the Nashville VA Medical Center in Tennessee, singer Maggie Rose highlighted how music is a bridge to human connection, healing and hope for…
Headline
A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report released May 14 found that U.S.-reported dengue cases in 2024 increased 359% above the annual average from…
Headline
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced May 14 that 41 people across the U.S. are being monitored for symptoms of hantavirus following an…
Perspective
Public
Approximately 35 million Americans are enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans in 2026, and that number is expected to grow to about 45 million MA enrollees by…
Headline
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has released details on downloading its upcoming fiscal year 2025 Program for Evaluating Payment Patterns…