Savannah Behrmann

Jan 21, 2025 | nationaljournal.com | Erin Durkin |Savannah Behrmann |Ledyard King

Lawmakers are taking a closer look at policies to equalize Medicare payments for services across different health care settings, an idea that has long received pushback from hospitals fearful of smaller payments from Washington. The current Medicare payment system reimburses at different rates for the same service depending on where this care is being delivered: a physician’s office, a hospital outpatient department, or an ambulatory surgical center.

Jan 20, 2025 | nationaljournal.com | Zac Weisz |Savannah Behrmann |Casey Wooten |Lauren Green

A triumphant audience hailed President Trump at his inauguration parade at the Washington Wizards’ home court, celebrating a victory that in their minds had been four years in the waiting. “Did you like my speech?” Trump rhetorically asked the rowdy and bleary-eyed crowd, stopping by the arena in Washington's Chinatown neighborhood to cap off his inauguration. He was flanked by families of the Israeli hostages who have been held in Gaza for over 15 months.

Jan 15, 2025 | nationaljournal.com | Erin Durkin |Casey Wooten |Savannah Behrmann

Republicans are considering Medicaid reforms that health experts expect could squeeze health access, including for rural populations. Cutting Medicaid spending could result in coverage losses for low-income individuals and further reduce reimbursements for providers, which are already lower compared to commercial payers, experts told National Journal. In rural America, Medicaid plays a particularly big role in health access.

Dec 10, 2024 | nationaljournal.com | Savannah Behrmann |Cristina Maza |Zac Weisz |Kirk Bado

Over 13 million voters weighed in on ballot measures proposing ranked-choice voting and open primaries across seven states and Washington, D.C. All but one were rejected, marking a setback for electoral-reform advocates. While ballot measures varied by state, several sought to establish top-two, top-four, or top-five primaries, open primaries to all voters, or ranked-choice voting. Only the D.C. ballot measure establishing top-four primaries and ranked-choice voting passed.

Nov 20, 2024 | nationaljournal.com | Casey Wooten |Erin Durkin |Cristina Maza |Savannah Behrmann

Following a wave of hurricanes, wildfires, and other catastrophes across the country, lawmakers this week appeared eager to pass a natural disaster supplemental package before the end of the year. If they succeed, it would result in a rare bipartisan victory in a Congress known for its lack of productivity. The effort comes as the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Disaster Relief Fund begins to run dry.