News Briefs
✦ In public remarks made Feb. 11, CMS Administrator Seema Verma hinted at possible regulatory changes to prior authorization. Verma says CMS has received more than 2,000 comments on the subject of prior authorization, and held 35 “listening sessions” with stakeholders. On the legislative side, insurers have expressed concern about a bill that would standardize prior authorization in the Medicare Advantage program (HPW 9/30/19, p. 4). Read Verma’s remarks at https://go.cms.gov/2UOeXcx.
✦ In one of the largest investments to date in managing the social determinants of health, CVS Health Corp. invested $67 million in affordable housing over the course of 2019, according to a recent press release. Housing insecurity and other social factors have a well-documented effect on health outcomes and cost of care (HPW 1/20/20, p. 1). CVS said its investments helped to create more than 2,200 affordable homes with supportive services for people across 24 cities in six states. Read more at https://prn.to/39ALWW6.
