News Briefs

✦ The U.S. Senate on March 18 narrowly confirmed Xavier Becerra, the current California attorney general, as the new secretary of HHS, prompting a slew of statements from health care industry trade and interest groups congratulating Becerra. For example, Matt Eyles, president and CEO of America’s Health Insurance Plans, said in a statement that AHIP looks forward to working with Becerra “to protect and build upon the Affordable Care Act to expand health coverage for all Americans, address the underlying cost of health care, and eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in medical care.” Becerra himself tweeted that “I’m honored and humbled by today’s vote in the Senate. Thank you. I’m ready to get to work at @HHSgov.” Visit https://bit.ly/3lzZyYD.

✦ Letters sent to Arkansas and New Hampshire officials this week confirmed that the Biden administration is formally revoking their “community engagement” waivers, which condition Medicaid eligibility for a subset of beneficiaries upon employment status. The Supreme Court on March 29 was planning to hear oral arguments related to the Trump administration’s approval of Medicaid work requirements in both states, but earlier this month removed the hearing from its docket, suggesting that previous rulings striking down work requirements could stand. View the Arkansas letter at https://bit.ly/30XShsh.

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