Another example of how health policy is like Groundhog Day, and the importance of embracing it.

Some big questions remain about how it will be enforced, but California is now on record setting a target rate of growth for health spending at 3% per year.

Antitrust enforcement was once a backwater of health policy, but it's getting renewed attention from policymakers as a tool for addressing high prices.

This has been quite a week so far for executive actions affecting health care:

Privacy protections for women seeking lawful abortions.
New staffing standards in nursing homes.
National standards for appointment wait times in Medicaid.
A ban on non-compete clauses for workers.

KFF analysis examines how state abortion limits following the Dobbs ruling have differing impacts by race and ethnicity
Black & American Indian or Alaska Native women are more likely than other groups to live in states with abortion bans and restrictions kff.org/womens-health-…

That COBRA reconciliation bill had an enormous amount of important health policy in it. But, it likely couldn't be considered under current budget reconciliation procedures.

Under current law, Medicare is prohibited from covering drugs prescribed for weight loss, but the door to coverage for other indications means more people with Medicare now have access to drugs that are effective for weight loss. NEW KFF
kff.org/medicare/issue…

NEWS: The Biden administration cracked down on nursing homes, issuing new minimum staffing requirements that a KFF analysis says most facilities don’t meet.

By Jordan Rau via KFFHealthNews

kffhealthnews.org/news/article/n…

Biden Administration Sets Higher Staffing Mandates. Most Nursing Homes Don’t Meet Them. kffhealthnews.org/MTg0MzQyMA via @kffhealthnews

The coordination at KFF is truly unmatched

CMSGov released the final nursing facility staffing rule today. It's similar to the proposed rule w/ one major add - an overall req of 3.48 hours.

KFF finds that ~1 in 5 facs currently meet the final staffing requirements. More on the final rule here: kff.org/policy-watch/n…

This new rule is a massive deal. It will transform America’s nursing homes so they’re safer for residents. And it will reduce burnout among nursing home staff who are trying their best but are stretched too thin.

...and we will talk about both on this week's #WTHealth podcast...(can't resist the plug).

Today is quite the illustration of the power of executive authority as the Biden Administration issues rules protecting the privacy of women seeking lawful abortions and establishing staffing standards in nursing homes.

Consolidation of hospitals and other providers has changed the health care landscape in communities across the country. A new KFF brief highlights 10 things to know about this trend. Among other things to know: (1/9) kff.org/health-costs/i…

Modern Healthcare Nearly a quarter of adults disenrolled from Medicaid in the past year say they are now uninsured, according to a survey. Read the full story here: modernhealthcare.com/policy/medicai…

Brookings Center on Health Policy is hiring!

We have 2 openings:

- Research assistant: for folks graduating college to a few years out w/ background in economics, math, CS

careers-brookings.icims.com/jobs/3428/rese…

- Staff assistant: Administrative support

careers-brookings.icims.com/jobs/3431/staf…