Washington Watch

Carter J. Alleman, J.D.

More Details on Provider Relief Fund Reporting Requirements
On August 26, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released an additional list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Medicare providers regarding the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Provider Relief Fund and the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) payments. The FAQs provide guidance to providers on how to report provider relief fund payments, uninsured charges reimbursed through the Uninsured Program administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), and SBA Loan Forgiveness amounts. The FAQs also address that provider relief fund payments should not offset expenses on the Medicare Cost Report.

Supreme Court Schedules ACA Hearing
 The Supreme Court has scheduled its hearing on the Trump administration-backed challenge to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) for November 10, exactly one week after the presidential election. Its decision on the lawsuit is not expected to come until the spring. The Supreme Court has twice upheld the ACA in previous major challenges to the 2010 health care law.

2020 Party Platforms
The Republican National Committee (RNC) decided to forego adopting a new party platform until the 2024 Republican National Convention. The RNC adopted a resolution ruling any motion to amend the 2016 Platform or to adopt a new platform out of order.

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) released its party platform at the Democratic National Convention.