ML Strategies

Earlier this year, ML Strategies offered an overview of the Governor’s FY2015 budget proposal. Now that the House of Representatives has passed its version of the FY 2015 spending plan, we provide an update on the budget process and an overview of the budget timeline.

While it has been several years since the apex of federal clean energy funding, the Administration continues to utilize its executive authority – leveraging existing agency programs and initiatives to develop, commercialize, and deploy clean energy technologies both domestically and internationally.

Recent surveys offer revealing insights into voter attitudes in the northeast U.S. toward state policies that expand the use of clean and renewable energy. There is also intriguing data about voters’ willingness to pay for those policies.

Increasing the minimum wage and reforming the unemployment insurance (“UI”) system in Massachusetts are the two major employment issues facing the 2013–2014 Legislature, which comes to a close on July 31, 2014.

As the budget process heats up on Beacon Hill, ML Strategies will issue periodic updates regarding the process and politics that will shape this year’s budget. We begin by providing an overview of the budget timeline and a brief analysis on the budget process.

Industry stakeholders were generally surprised to recently learn that health plans offered on the health care exchanges may not be considered “federal health care programs” and therefore may not be subject to certain fraud and abuse laws.

Because of the prolonged government shutdown, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) may encounter delays in promulgating final payment rules that would otherwise be effective January 1, 2014.

Funding for Medicare and Medicaid is mandatory, meaning it is not subject to annual appropriations that lapse during a shutdown.

In today’s challenging health care environment, Charitable Patient Assistance Programs (Charitable PAPs) have emerged to meet the needs of nearly 30 million Americans that are underinsured and have difficulty paying out-of-pocket medical costs.

In today’s challenging health care environment, Charitable Patient Assistance Programs (Charitable PAPs) have emerged to meet the needs of the nearly 30 million Americans that are underinsured and have difficulty paying out-of-pocket medical costs.

In today’s challenging health care environment, Charitable Patient Assistance Programs (Charitable P.A.P.s) have emerged to meet the needs of the nearly 30 million Americans who are underinsured and have difficulty paying out-of-pocket medical costs.

In today’s challenging health care environment, Charitable Patient Assistance Programs (Charitable PAPs) have emerged to meet the needs of the nearly 30 million Americans who are underinsured and have difficulty paying out-of-pocket medical costs.

In today’s challenging health care environment, Charitable Patient Assistance Programs (Charitable PAPs) have emerged to meet the needs of the nearly 30 million Americans that are under-insured and have difficulty paying out-of-pocket medical costs.

In today’s challenging health care environment, nearly 30 million Americans suffering from various chronic and life-threatening illnesses are underinsured and have difficulty paying their out-of-pocket medical costs.

The Obama Administration released its proposed Fiscal Year 2014 budget on April 10th. The 244-page document outlines the President’s spending priorities for the coming fiscal year.

In first days of 113th Congress, the House approved bipartisan legislation, hinting at possible increased cooperation on health care issues

The on again, off again nature of federal funding for human embryonic stem cell (hESC) research has created a great deal of uncertainty for academic scientists, major research medical centers, venture capital investors, biotechnology companies, and state legislatures and economic development officials.

The 188th Massachusetts Legislature began the 2013 – 2014 legislative session on January 2. This alert identifies the key public policy issues that will likely emerge in the current session and offers insight into their possible implications.