Policy Watch
Quick-hitting policy analysis, polling, and updates on the key issues facing the country.
With Current Staffing Levels, About 1 in 5 Nursing Facilities Would Meet Fully-Implemented Minimum Staffing Standards in the Final Rule
This analysis uses the most recently-available data to examine the percentage of nursing facilities that currently meet the minimum staffing requirements in the final rule.
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PEPFAR’s Short-Term Reauthorization Sets an Uncertain Course for Its Long-Term Future
With the new omnibus bill, PEPFAR has been reauthorized until March 25, 2025, without the inclusion of any controversial provisions or changes related to abortion, sought by some. Still, while this latest step provides the program with some short-term certainty, including signaling bipartisan support (albeit limited), it marks a significant departure from PEPFAR’s past.
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Medicare Spending on Ozempic and Other GLP-1s Is Skyrocketing
This policy watch analyzes the latest data on Medicare Part D spending on GLP-1 drugs, initially approved to treat diabetes but in high demand as treatments for obesity, and shows how spending on these drugs has increased substantially in recent years.
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A Closer Look at Medicaid Expansion Efforts in Mississippi
This policy watch examines Mississippi’s recent Medicaid expansion activity, what expansion could mean for residents and the economy, and key developments to watch.
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Access to Adult Dental Care Gets Renewed Focus in ACA Marketplace Proposal
Adult dental care can lead to high out of pocket costs for consumers, especially for those with private insurance coverage. This post analyzes a proposed provision in the HHS Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2025, and possible implications for consumers who have Marketplace coverage.
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Three Questions About Medicaid Unwinding: What We Know and What to Expect
Ten months into the unwinding of the Medicaid continuous enrollment provision, states have conducted renewals for roughly half of all enrollees in the program. This policy watch examines three key questions to monitor as unwinding continues.
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