Another Group of Republican Legislators Asks Gov. Stitt to Hold Back on Managed Care
On Thursday, nine state senators sent Governor Stitt a letter urging the administration to change course on managed care. The letter argued that managed care would not save the state money and would send money out of the state. The concerns echo a letter sent last week by twenty-five Republican state representatives and one Republican state senator who wrote a letter to the governor opposing managed care.
Deadline to Submit Comments to OHCA on Managed Care is February 3
The Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA) is seeking approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for an 1115 waiver to transition the state's Medicaid program to managed care. The waiver also seeks to waive retroactive eligibility for most enrolled adults, with the exception of pregnant women and individuals enrolled in the Aged, Blind and Disabled (ABD) eligibility group. View the notice of public comment for more information.
HRSA Delays Implementation of 340B Insulin and EpiPen Pricing Rule
Yesterday afternoon, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
published a notice in the Federal Register officially delaying the effective date on the 340B pricing rule for community health centers. The effective date was originally January 22, but it has been delayed by 60 days—the maximum time allowed under the White House order "to give Department officials the opportunity for further review and consideration of new regulations.” The rule is viewed as likely to be rescinded within the next 60 days, but the if it is not, it can be pushed back further again. Thank you to everyone who submitted comments on this rule and advocated for health centers!
CMS Rule Change Lets Physicians Prescribe Buprenorphine Without Waiver
New federal guidance announced on January 15 will allow most physicians to prescribe buprenorphine for opioid use disorder without a waiver. The move by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) eliminates the eight-hour “X-waiver” course physicians were required to complete by the Drug Enforcement Agency before prescribing buprenorphine treatment. Physician assistants, nurse practitioners and other approved advanced practice nurses will still need to obtain an X waiver before prescribing buprenorphine for the treatment of opioid use disorder.
View more information.