Elizabeth Leiser

Oct 31, 2024 | commonwealthfund.org | MaryBeth Musumeci |Elizabeth Leiser |Sara Rosenbaum |Huba Zaman

Regulations are a fundamental part of health policy. Congress legislates in broad terms and agencies fill in technical details on myriad issues, from how Medicaid eligibility is determined to how Medicare providers are paid to how new drugs are approved for market. A recent Supreme Court decision, Loper Bright v. Raimondo, changes the balance of power between courts and federal agencies when interpreting laws and reviewing regulations and also impacts “friend of the court” (or amicus) briefs.

Sep 25, 2024 | commonwealthfund.org | MaryBeth Musumeci |Elizabeth Leiser

In May 2024, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized regulations intended to ensure access to Medicaid services. One provision has remained under the radar: requiring states every year to publicly report the number of people on waiting lists for home and community-based services (HCBS), along with average wait times, beginning in July 2027. States also must describe how they maintain their waiting lists, including whether and when people are screened for eligibility.