Federal Advocate Articles

(July 1, 2025) - The Senate passed its version of the One Big Beautiful Bill today, sending it back to the House where its future remains uncertain.
(June 30, 2025) - The Senate has entered the final phase of work on a budget reconciliation bill before a vote on final passage. Negotiations are continuing, and most in DC expect Congress to pass some version of the OBBB in the near future
(June 26, 2025) - The Senate continues to move toward a vote even though the final text for OBBB is not set. Senate GOP leadership intends to bring the bill directly to the floor without going through a committee process.
(June 26, 2025) - Dozens of insurers have pledged various reforms to prior authorization practices starting in 2026.
(June 18, 2025) - The Senate Finance Committee has released its draft of the budget reconciliation bill.
(June 10, 2025) - Kansas Medicaid payments are at risk under potential Senate health care provisions.
(May 22, 2025) - After a razor-thin vote, the bill moves over to the Senate where additional changes are anticipated.
(May 19, 2025) - After a weekend turnaround, House conservatives allowed the reconciliation bill to advance—setting the stage for pivotal amendments and a high-stakes floor vote later this week.
(May 14, 2025) - A House committee has tweaked part of the Medicaid proposal and passed it out of committee but concerns continue to linger.
(May 12, 2025) - President Trump signed an executive order this morning aiming to lower drug costs.
(May 12, 2025) - The House Energy and Commerce Committee released draft budget reconciliation legislation.
(April 8, 2025) - Congress stands at a crossroads as the budget reconciliation debate turns back to the House following Senate passage of a novel approach to the entire process late last week.
(April 8, 2025) - The Senate has confirmed Mehmet Oz, MD as the new administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
(April 8, 2025) - While the fiscal year 2026 appropriations process is on hold amid budget negotiations, Kansas Hospital Association staff have begun outreach to the Kansas Congressional Delegation offices for updates on their request forms.
(Feb. 26, 2025) - Federal agencies to ramp up enforcement of regulations.
(Feb. 26, 2025) - The House and Senate are working through the budget reconciliation process.
(Feb. 19, 2025) - Sign up for KHA's grassroots platform.
(Feb. 19, 2025) - New Secretary of HHS and administrator of HRSA have been appointed and confirmed. New CMS administrator coming soon.
(Feb. 19, 2025) - The House and Senate Budget Committees have started the budget reconciliation process.
(Jan. 29, 2025) - The new administration has issued several executive orders and administrative actions to reinforce priority items.
(Jan. 29, 2025) - The Office of Management and Budget has issued a memo instructing a pause on federal financial assistance. This pause is currently halted pending a judicial hearing.
(Jan. 15, 2025) – As the 119th Congress gets underway, Kansas' Congressional Delegation has received its committee assignments. While many subcommittee appointments are yet to be determined, Kansas is well represented on various committees overseeing key health care and financial issues.
(Dec. 11, 2024) - The 118th Congress is winding down, but the endgame may include interesting negotiations on health care extenders.
(Nov. 26, 2024) - Budgets and Cabinet appointees take center stage for the end of the year.
(Nov. 7, 2024) - CMS has released the CY 2025 Final Rules for OPPS and MPFS.
(Nov. 7, 2024) - The new landscape in Washington, D.C. will have an impact on health policy.
(Sept. 19, 2024) - Congress is facing the end of the federal fiscal year on Sept. 30.
(Aug. 24, 2024) - Congress is looking at an extensive agenda when they return after Labor Day.
(Aug. 15, 2024) - On Aug. 1, CMS released the Final Rule for the FY 2025 IPPS.
(July 17, 2024) - This week, Federal Advocate provides an update on the newly released Outpatient Prospective Payment System and Physician Fee Schedule proposed rules for CY 2025.
(June 12, 2024) - KHA has submitted a comment letter to CMS on the 2025 IPPS Proposed Rule.
(June 12, 2024) - Sen. Roger Marshall leads group to introduce the Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act.
(June 6, 2024) - The 340B Drug Discount Program is the focus of the health care political world.
(May 16, 2024) - Lawmakers are working on bills in both the House and Senate to expand access to the REH program.
(May 2, 2024) - The FTC has issued a final rule banning non-compete agreement across industries nationwide with a few exceptions.
(May 2, 2024) - CMS and HHS issue rules and reports on Medicaid, CHIP and continuous eligibility requirements.
(May 2, 2024) - CMS released its final policy and technical changes to Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plans.
(May 2, 2024) - CMS has issued a final rule focused on access to services for Medicaid beneficiaries in fee-for-service delivery systems.
(May 2, 2024) - CMS released a final rule focused on ensuring access to Medicaid and CHIP beneficiaries in managed care delivery systems.
(May 2, 2024) - The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission recently sent its annual report on Medicare Payment Policy to Congress.
(May 1, 2024) On April 22, HRSA finalized its 340B Administrative Dispute Resolution rule.
(May 1, 2024) - CMS finalizes DSH Third-Party Payer Rule.
(May 1, 2024) - The U.S. Department of Labor released the final rule on overtime exemptions.
(May 1, 2024) - CMS has released the FFY 2025 IPPS Proposed Rule
(May 1, 2024) - Register now for federal rules webinar.
(April 24, 2024) - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced the final rule for minimum staffing requirements for nursing homes participating in Medicare and Medicaid.
(Mar. 27, 2024) - Now that Congress has concluded the fiscal year 2024 budget, attention is turning quickly to writing the FY 2025 appropriations bills.
(March 14, 2024) - Congress is currently at a budget-inflection point.
(Mar. 7, 2024) - Congress is close to approving a budget bill to fund roughly half of the federal government’s departments and agencies for the remainder of FY 24.
(Feb. 22, 2024) - Last week, a large group of Kansas providers joined KHA staff for the NRHA annual Policy Institute.
(Feb. 8, 2024) - Congress’ budget deadlines are approaching, and the House and Senate Appropriations Committees are busy drafting their respective bills.
(Jan. 25, 2024)- Appropriations work continues to dominate the agenda in Congress.