The administration released its budget proposal on February 12, 2018. As expected, the proposal includes a number of changes related to health care. The budget plan revives the Affordable Care Act (ACA) repeal, with a proposal similar to the Graham Cassidy Heller Johnson bill. Specifically, the budget plan proposes a staged repeal and replace, with the replace being a block grant program for states.

Last week, the PCG Boston Office volunteered to facilitate sessions at City Year Boston's Mid-Year Summit focusing on Life After City Year (LACY). PCG staff led 245 corps members through a session on Networking 101 and participated in the 18-Minute Networking exercise with other professionals from around Boston. .

On February 20, 2018, the Department of the Treasury (Treasury), the Department of Labor (DOL), and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) jointly promulgated a proposed rule on Short-Term, Limited-Duration Insurance (STLDI) plans. The proposed regulatory changes seek to carry out the directions given in Executive Order 13813, “Promoting Healthcare Choice and Competition Across the United States,” to expand access to STLDI plans. STLDI plans are excluded from the definition of individual health insurance coverage and, therefore, are not required to meet the coverage and consumer protection requirements of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

On February 9, 2018, President Trump signed H.R. 1892, the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018.  The new law reauthorizes federal funding for many health programs, modifies scheduled reductions in Medicaid disproportionate share hospital (DSH) allotments to states, tightens third party liability (TPL) billing requirements, and updates requirements affecting Medicare Advantage plans, accountable care organizations (ACOs), and providers’ adoption of telehealth.