The President released his Administration’s fiscal year 2023 proposed budget today. Here are links to OMB’s budget website and a Roll Call overview of the proposal.
Here is OPM’s budget wishlist (Budget at 130):
- Amend administration of tribal FEHB enrollment system
- Expand family member eligibility under FEDVIP (presumably increasing the age limit for eligible children from 22 to 26)
- Expand FEDVIP to tribal employees
- Expand FEHB to tribal colleges and universities.
OPM also released the agency’s FY 2022 to FY 2026 strategic plan today. Here is a link to OPM’s lookbook on that plan. The lookbook (p. 9) identifies one current agency priority goal related to the FEHBP (out of six in total)
Improve customer experience by making it easier for Federal employees, annuitants, and other eligible persons to make more informed health insurance plan selection. By September 30, 2023, complete user-centered design and develop a minimum viable product for a new, state-of-the-art FEHBP Decision Support Tool that will give eligible individuals the necessary information to compare plan benefits, provider networks, prescription costs, and other health information important to them and their families.
In other government reports, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued
the 2021-2030 National Health Expenditure (NHE) report, prepared by the CMS Office of the Actuary, that presents health spending and enrollment projections for the coming decade. The report notably shows that despite the increased demand for patient care in 2021, the growth in national health spending is estimated to have slowed to 4.2%, from 9.7% in 2020, as supplemental funding for public health activity and other federal programs, specifically those associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, declined significantly.
From the Omicron and siblings front —
- The Centers for Disease Control posted a new “Quarantine and Isolation Calculator — A tool to help determine how long you need to isolate, quarantine, or take other steps to prevent spreading COVID-19.”
- The Institute for Clinicial and Economic Review issued an evidence report on four Covid outpatient treatments, including the Pfizer and Merck Covid pills.
This Evidence Report will be reviewed at a virtual public meeting of the Midwest CEPAC (Midwest England CEPAC) on April 12, 2022. The Midwest England CEPAC is one of ICER’s three independent evidence appraisal committees comprising medical evidence experts, practicing clinicians, methodologists, and leaders in patient engagement and advocacy.
Register here to watch the live webcast of the virtual meeting.ICER’s evidence ratings for the treatments reviewed include:
Sotrovimab delivers at least a small net health benefit when compared to no active treatment, with the possibility of a substantial net health benefit (“B+”).
[Merck’s] Molnupiravir is at least comparable to no active treatment, with the potential of a small net health benefit (“C+”).
[Pfizer’s] Paxlovid delivers at least a small net health benefit when compared to no active treatment, with the possibility of a substantial net health benefit (“B+”).
Fluvoxamine is at least comparable to no active treatment, with the potential of a small net health benefit (“C+”).
From the health equity front, Health Leaders Media reports
Despite willingness to address social drivers of health, two-thirds of physicians report inadequate time or ability to act, according to a new survey report.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Nearly all physicians reported that at least one social driver of health affected the health outcomes of all or some their patients.
Financial instability (34% of patients) and transportation problems (24% of patients) were the top two social drivers of health experienced by physicians’ patients.
A solid majority of physicians (80%) reported that addressing social drivers of health is essential to improve health outcomes and decrease healthcare costs.
From the Rx coverage front, the FEHBlog noticed today that GoodRx has added a telehealth option to its website.