What We're Reading: Calif. Pushes Single-Payer; Slavitt's New Job; and Price Prods GOP

California Pursues a Single-Payer System

The Trump administration recently loosened restrictions on the use of the Affordable Care Act’s section 1332 waivers for states to receive funding, and California is taking advantage. According to US News & World Report, the state’s lawmakers will propose a single-payer system that covers all residents. The proposal would cover people regardless of their immigration status. Efforts to implement a single-payer system has been attempted in other states, recently, but have failed.

Slavitt’s Search for Bipartisan Health Solutions

The former acting administrator for CMS, Andy Slavitt, has taken on a role with the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) to work on healthcare issues. The Washington Post reported that Slavitt will be a senior advisor to the center. BPC’s Health Project is led by former Senate majority leaders Thomas A. Daschle (D-South Dakota) and Bill Frist (R-Tennessee). Avik Roy, president of the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity, is also a participant. Roy will present and sit on a panel at The American Journal of Managed Care^®’s ACO & Emerging Healthcare Delivery Coalition^®, which is being held May 4-5 in Scottsdale, Arizona. Learn more about the meeting.

Tom Price Tries to Unite GOP

Republicans have been divided on the GOP’s healthcare reform bill ever since it was released, but HHS Secretary Tom Price, MD, is trying to get them to all work together, according to the AP. The bill goes to the House Rules Committee, which is expected to make some changes to the American Health Care Act with an eye on securing votes to get it through the House. Although Price expects revisions to the bill, he believes it will address the president’s priorities for healthcare.