Health Care Matters Newsletter
Get the latest from Coral Health Advisors with our weekly rundown on public health, health care trends, and policies.

Health Care Matters | March 14, 2025
Explore the latest in Health Care Matters, where we break down key developments shaping the health care landscape. In this edition, the Health Policy Tracker covers the delayed Medicare payment fix in budget negotiations and CMMI’s decision to end eight payment models by 2025. We also highlight policy strategies to transition community health centers into value-based payment.

Health Care Matters | February 21, 2025
Read about the latest developments in health policy, including RFK Jr.’s reversal on his vaccine pledge to Senator Cassidy, the expanding layoffs at the U.S. Health Department affecting Medicare and the FDA, and the ongoing budget reconciliation process as policymakers navigate FY 2025 funding and health care priorities.

Health Care Matters | February 7, 2025
Read about the Senate panel advancing RFK Jr. for HHS Secretary, Trump’s early executive actions aligning with Project 2025, Medicare Advantage’s 50 million prior authorizations in 2023, the trade-offs in MSSP benchmarks, the spillover effects of the CMS Innovation Center, patient health care priorities, and policy strategies for addressing administrative and prescription drug costs.

Health Care Matters | January 31, 2025
Learn about the latest health policy shifts, from executive orders reshaping regulations to Senate scrutiny of RFK Jr.’s leadership, as well as warnings from hospital executives on the impact of proposed Medicaid and ACA cuts. Hear why some believe shrinking Medicaid could improve it, the benefits of hospital therapy dogs, and key takeaways from the CY 2026 Medicare Advantage and Part D Proposed Rule.

Health Care Matters | January 24, 2025
Explore CMS's progress on accountable care goals, Medicare drug price negotiations, and key insights from the JPM San Francisco Conference. Plus, see what CMS leaders are saying about their challenges and achievements and catch the latest episode of the Tradeoffs podcast featuring reflections from Biden's Medicaid director.

Health Care Matters | January 17, 2025
Explore how health systems, hospitals, and vendors are leveraging AI to boost efficiency and savings, and dive into key updates like Aetna’s lawsuit against private-equity radiologists under the No Surprises Act and GLP-1's growing role in whole-person primary care. We’re also reading about successor models, CMS Innovation Center pathways, Biden health care regulations, and the future of advanced payment models. Plus, join HCTTF in celebrating a decade of advancements in value-based care.

Health Care Matters | January 10, 2025
Concerns over UnitedHealth Group's Medicare Advantage practices, systemic issues in the health care industry, and Americans' declining perceptions of overall health care quality. Upcoming events like the Virtual Value-Based Payment Summit, the launch of TMaH model, and the regulatory implications of recent legal decisions on medical AI.

Health Care Matters | January 3, 2025
Upcoming health care trends, policy updates, new laws affecting Medicare, health care start-ups, and state health care initiatives. New value-based care resources, the financial impact of health equity initiatives, and key findings from national health expenditure reports.

Health Care Matters | December 20, 2024
The collapse of a government funding agreement, CMS initiatives like the Innovation in Behavioral Health Model and the Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM), along with the CMS Health Equity Conference proposal submissions and insights on health care challenges from the Tradeoffs podcast.

Health Care Matters | December 13, 2024
The No Surprises Act implementation, Medicaid funding cuts, and rural hospitals' struggles with Medicare Advantage plans. Also issues in nursing home quality oversight, updates from the CMS Innovation Center, and new leadership at NAACOS.

Health Care Matters | December 6, 2024
Post-election policy updates, Senate minority leadership elections, and cabinet nominations. Medicare rule proposals, reports on the 340B Drug Pricing Program, key takeaways from the CY2025 Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule, and an upcoming in-person event on accountable care.

Health Care Matters | November 22, 2024
National Rural Health Day, innovative strategies for overcoming barriers, and financial issues faced by rural hospitals. As well as, post-election policy updates, Medicaid/CHIP approvals in five states, ongoing concerns about ghost networks in health insurance, and new insights into value-based care and specialty integration.

Health Care Matters | November 15, 2024
The implications of Republican control in government post-election, updates on Trump's cabinet nominations, insights into the ACO REACH model's 2023 financial performance. As well as upcoming health policy events, rural health transformation initiatives, and a tribute to health care leader Jeff Micklos.

Health Care Matters | November 08, 2024
Post-election coverage, how recent outcomes may shape health care policies under a second Trump administration. Newly released Medicare rules, upcoming health policy events, and a lighthearted break from policy updates.

Health Care Matters | November 01, 2024
The the Medicare Shared Savings Program saved Medicare $2.1 billion in 2023, the Affordable Care Act reduced the uninsured rate without increasing spending. An event on Medicare and Medicaid integration and new health equity resources.

Health Care Matters | October 25, 2024
Lawsuits by UnitedHealth Group, Humana, and Centene against CMS over Medicare Advantage star ratings, the financial implications of potential rating drops, and trends from the NAACOS Fall 2024 Conference,

Health Care Matters | October 18, 2024
The CMS's initiative for accountable care by 2030, the settlement involving the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association related to antitrust claims. The importance of strategic reforms and improvements to enhance competition and provider reimbursements in the health care sector.

Health Care Matters | October 11, 2024
CMS’ evaluation of the Acute Hospital Care at Home initiative, 2024 Physician Compensation Survey, and Vice President Kamala Harris' proposal to expand Medicare to include long-term home care services. As well as, the unmet needs among low-income Medicare Advantage beneficiaries and a racial health equity progress report.

Health Care Matters | October 4, 2024
Congress's unfinished health care priorities, concerns over Medicare Advantage plans facing lower star ratings, and new resources on value-based care and ACO success strategies. As well as, upcoming funding opportunities for state-based health care cooperatives.

Health Care Matters | September 27, 2024
Congress passes a stop-gap spending bill to avert a government shutdown, the Senate holds Steward Health Care's CEO in criminal contempt, insights on the U.S. health care system's performance, Medicare Advantage bonus payments, and a podcast on private equity acquisitions in hospices.