In announcing its proposed changes to the Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule for 2027, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services justified the reduced reimbursement by pointing to rates paid by private insurers, which are on average 16% less than what the federal government pays.

The numbers come from the Urban Institute, which anticipates the erosion will vary state-by-state, depending on the speed of regulatory oversight.

Five beneficiaries of the safety-net healthcare program have sued with the support of the National Health Law Program. They are joined by prestigious industry lobbies, including the American Academy of Pediatrics.

The details come from the New York Times, whose reporters found that Sen. Roger Marshall, MD, (R-KS) sued patients for as little as $101 during his two decades working as an OB-GYN.

Close to two-thirds of Americans carrying medical debt, 64%, owe the money to hospitals, whether for inpatient, outpatient or ER services. 

The agency said $22 million will be sent to community-based initiatives to aid areas hit hardest by the opioid crisis. 

Any negotiations are currently in the early stages, sources told Reuters. If a deal closes, Waystar could be taken off the stock market and restructure itself as a private business. 

The White House said the money is an attempt to refund overpaid premiums, but it’s unclear how the 1 million recipients were selected and why they’re receiving a set $500.