The GAO has issued a report entitled "Medicaid: Financial Characteristics of Approved Applicants and Methods Used to Reduce Assets to Qualify for Nursing Home Coverage."

Based on a review of 10 state Medicaid Management Information Systems used to process claims and support program integrity efforts, the GAO has concluded that the effectiveness of these systems is not known.

The Obama Administration has announced a "hardship" exemption for certain individuals who have been notified that their individual health insurance policies have been cancelled and will not be renewed.

The Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) has just published its "annual" inflation update to civil monetary penalty amounts (CMP) in its regulations

Maximum civil monetary penalty (CMP) amounts that may be imposed by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

HHS has released its Spring 2014 Semiannual Regulatory Agenda, which outlines planned regulatory initiatives across the Department and in a wide range of policy areas.

HHS announced a $100 million Medicaid Innovation Accelerator Program to assist state health system reform efforts designed to improve health care while reducing costs.

On May 22, 2014, CMS announced the second round of funding under the State Innovation Models Initiative.

The Administration has posted its fall regulatory agenda listing major pending or planned regulatory actions and anticipated timing of rulemaking.

On January 2, 2014, HHS published a proposed rule to promote more consistent testing processes for "controlling health plans" (CHP) to enable these entities to better achieve and demonstrate compliance with HIPAA standards and operating rules.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Office of Inspector General (OIG) have proposed amendments to the regulations governing State Medicaid Fraud Control Units (MFCUs).

The Senate Finance Committee, which will actually vote on the nomination, has not yet announced a date for its hearing.

The HHS Office for Civil Rights has published a notice requesting information to inform implementation of section 1557 of the ACA, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability under certain health programs or activities.

The HHS Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion is soliciting public comment on the draft National Action Plan for Adverse Drug Event Prevention. The document focuses on the use of surveillance, prevention, incentives and oversight, and research to reduce adverse drug events.

HHS has released its spring 2013 semiannual agenda outlining planned regulatory initiatives across the Department and in a wide range of policy areas.

CMS is requesting proposals for Hospital Engagement Network contracts from qualified entities to work on reducing preventable hospital acquired conditions and readmissions.

The Advisory Panel on Hospital Outpatient Payment will be holding its first semi-annual meeting for 2015 on March 9-10, 2015.

On March 25, 2015, the House of Representatives approved (with no Democratic votes) H.Con.Res. 27, a budget resolution providing instructions to Congressional committees on the federal spending framework for FY 2016.

On July 10, 2015, the House of Representatives passed on a 344-77 vote the 21st Century Cures Act, H.R. 6, legislation intended to improve the drug and device development processes and expedite patient access to medical treatments.

The U.S. House of Representatives has approved by voice vote H.R. 1919, Safeguarding America’s Pharmaceuticals Act of 2013. H.R. 1919 is a bipartisan bill intended to improve drug distribution security and protect against counterfeit pharmaceuticals.