Insights: Policy

Medicare Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Reimbursement

CMS released the FY27 Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Prospective Payment System (PPS) proposed rule. The agency is proposing a 2.4% net payment rate increase – comprising a 3.2% SNF market basket update minus a 0.8% productivity adjustment – projected to result in an $888m aggregate boost in payments next fiscal year.

The Trump administration announced its long-awaited Sec. 232 tariffs on pharmaceutical products. On a related front, the U.S. and UK announced a deal that allows UK-made drugs enter the U.S. tariff-free for at least three years in exchange for the UK spending more on drugs. While not referenced in its announcement on pharma tariffs last week, it...

Hospital Competition/Pricing

There has been a gradual intensification of concerns/action around hospital pricing, which is manifesting at both the federal (FTC/DOJ, Congress) and state levels. In recent days, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has announced the creation of a new Healthcare Task Force, focused investigations and enforcement actions around competition and...

Energy, Infrastructure

Energy Infrastructure/Permitting Reform

Congressional permitting negotiations have again begun to pick up momentum, with concern about rising electricity costs related to data center usage serving as a new catalyst for action. Permitting reform is intended to facilitate more rapid build out of infrastructure in the oil/gas, renewables, and mining sectors, as well as the electricity...

Alternative Assets

Department of Labor (DOL) Secretary Chavez-DeRemer recently indicated that a proposed rule allowing for alternative assets in 401ks will soon be released. The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) this week completed its review of the proposed rule, which is the final stage of the regulatory process, suggesting that it could be...

President Trump for the first time has expressed interest (subtly/modestly) in Republicans passing partisan reconciliation legislation after signaling disinterest multiple times over the last six months. In addition, Senate Majority Leader Thune (R-SD) expressed more overt openness to pursuing reconciliation legislation than he has previously....