What Families USA’s new boss brings

Q&A: Where Anthony Wright wants to lead Families USA

Anthony WrightNew Executive Director of Families USAand is off to a good start.

Last week, Wright began his new role in Washington after 22 years as executive director. Health Access CaliforniaI met with him to discuss his vision for one of the nation’s leading health care advocacy organizations. The conversation has been edited for brevity and clarity.

Health Summary: Are there any lessons you learned at Health Access California that you think would be useful in Washington?

Light: One lesson is to ensure that consumers have a strong voice in shaping health policy. Patients and the public are sometimes left out of these discussions, but they are the backbone of the health care system and should be at the heart of them.

Health Summary: What health policy issues do you want to prioritize early in your term?

Light: Now there is a government guarantee that no one has to spend more. 8.5 percent I spend half my income on health insurance, but it’s due to expire next year.

If these tax credits were to expire, they would cost hundreds of dollars a month on average, and in some cases, 5 million Americans will lose their insurance. This is a key policy that we need to publicly inform lawmakers going into the fall.

Health Summary: How are you preparing for 2025 and beyond the election?

Light: We need to be clear that our health care is on the ballot. On health care, we have reproductive health care, the ACA and its future, [expanded tax credits] Or the price of prescription drugs.

Regarding prescription drug prices, [the federal government] Either increase the number of drugs they negotiate and extend discounted prices to a broader range of payers and patients, or eliminate that authority.

Regarding the ACA: 5 million People who may lose their insurance when subsidies expire. 20 million– And there are also people who could lose their insurance if the plan is abolished… [which would bring on] The sudden rise in insurance premiums sent the market into a vicious circle.

Health Summary: Is there anything you’ve accomplished in California that you’d like to see replicated on a national scale?

Light: In California, we have done a lot to address the issue of cost and value, and Families USA is a pioneer in that area. Office of Affordable Care It sets health promotion goals and many states are following suit.

Having grown up in the Bronx, the poorest district in the country, being the son of Ecuadorian immigrants and the grandson of Irish and Chinese immigrants, and in fact being uninsured for part of my childhood, issues of access, economic stability and equity are personal passions for me. It’s something I’ve had the pleasure of working on in California and I look forward to continuing to work on here at Capitol Hill.

Sanders, Cassidy call for subpoena vote on Steward Health CEO

of Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions A bankruptcy investigation has begun Steward HealthcareA private equity firm based in Dallas. 31 Hospitals Across eight states.

Chair Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Sen. Bill Cassidy The Louisiana Republican said the committee will vote July 25 to subpoena Steward’s CEO. Ralph de la TorreHe is scheduled to testify at a Sept. 12 hearing on the health system’s financial decisions leading up to its bankruptcy filing in May.

Important context: Steward has sold all of its hospitals in the United States. $9 billion Liabilities include: $1.2 billion In loan, $6.6 billion Unpaid rent is almost $1 billion unpaid invoices from medical vendors and suppliers; and $290 The total amount owed to employees in unpaid wages and benefits is $1 million.

Steward blames rising interest rates, labor costs and inadequate government health insurance reimbursement rates for the bankruptcy. Newly unsealed court documents also reveal that the company’s chief executives showered themselves with millions of dollars in compensation in the months leading up to the bankruptcy filing.

Zoom out: Steward’s bankruptcy is under investigation in several states, including Massachusetts and Arizona, and the health care system is also the subject of a federal congressional investigation. Department of Justicerecently launched a criminal investigation into the company over allegations of fraud and corruption. Michael Kaplan of CBS News.

Steward did not respond to a request for comment.

FDA allows sale of more tobacco-flavored e-cigarettes

of Food and Drug Administration Allowed R.J. Reynolds In order to keep some e-cigarette products on the market, my colleagues Rachel Rubain I will report.

Federal health officials have approved the sale of seven of the company’s Vuse Alto e-cigarette products, but only the tobacco-flavored pods.

The agency stressed that the move “does not mean that these tobacco products are safe.” The FDA said in a statement that the company’s products have shown they may benefit adults who smoke tobacco, adding that children are less likely to use tobacco-flavored e-cigarettes than other flavors.

background: Last year, the FDA rejected several applications for menthol-flavored e-cigarette products from RJ Reynolds, a decision the company fought in court, but last month the FDA issued approval for the first menthol-flavored e-cigarette products made by the company. enjoyThis drew immediate criticism from some public health advocates.

Government watchdogs have found problems with compliance with federal Medicaid eligibility redetermination requirements, including longstanding requirements, in nearly every state.

Important context: A pandemic-era policy meant Americans couldn’t be removed from Medicaid until the program expires in April 2023, forcing states to review their swelling rolls of insured people and weed out those no longer covered by the safety net program.

of Government Accountability Office During the so-called “rewind” process, several compliance issues were identified, including: 420,000 Eligible individuals, including children, lost coverage because states assessed eligibility for households rather than individuals. Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services.

• The watchdog recommended that CMS document and implement monitoring practices to prevent and detect state compliance issues with redeterminations. The agency agreed with GAO’s recommendation.

Joel McElvain on the move He currently serves as deputy general counsel for HHS, overseeing CMS-related matters. Department of Justice The official previously served as a special adviser to HHS, where he worked on drug price negotiations.

“No one should have to go into medical debt just to survive.”

— Robin DeChabert of Virginia Beach says a pharmacy charged her $1,700 for a prescription for Paxlovid.

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