
ML Strategies
Viewpoints
Filter by:
Massachusetts Legislature Issues Net Neutrality Report, Recommends Legislation
April 9, 2018 | Alert | By Julie Cox, Maxwell Fathy
On March 23, 2018, the Special Senate Committee on Net Neutrality and Consumer Protection (the Committee) released a report recommending legislation aimed at ensuring net neutrality in Massachusetts.
Read more
MedPAC Recommends Significant Changes to MACRA
April 5, 2018 | Blog
In March, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) released its biannual report to Congress on matters affecting the Medicare program. MedPAC is an independent congressional agency that advises Congress on issues relating to Medicare.
Read more
Trends in 1115 Medicaid Waivers and Summaries of Each Pending Application
March 28, 2018 | Blog
As of March 2018, there are twenty-four Medicaid 1115 waivers pending CMS approval. Medicaid 1115 waivers, Research and Demonstration Projects, give states experimental, pilot, or demonstration projects likely to assist in promoting the objectives of Medicaid.
Read more
Join Mintz & ML Strategies for the 3rd Annual Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Industry Summit
March 22, 2018 | Blog
Mintz and ML Strategies will host the 3rd Annual Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Industry Summit on May 8, 2018! This year's summit will take place in Boston and we are thrilled to announce that Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker will be the keynote speaker.
Read more
ML Strategies Health Care Preview - Week of March 19th
March 19, 2018 | Blog
Congress has until Friday to finalize a government spending bill. Over the next couple of days it will decide whether to move forward with a number of consequential health care issues, market stabilization and drug pricing chief among them.
Read more
ML Strategies Health Care Preview - Week of March 12th
March 12, 2018 | Blog
This week, Congress returns to Washington with 11 days to finalize a government spending bill. Standing in the way are a number of unresolved health care issues, including drug pricing and market stabilization.
Read more
ML Strategies Health Care Preview - Week of March 5th
March 5, 2018 | Blog
Congress has three weeks to finalize an omnibus spending package. There are a number of issues that are expected to come up, including market stabilization and drug pricing, among other issues. There's also activity at the state level on Medicaid waivers and work requirements. We cover this and more in this week's preview.
Read more
ML Strategies Health Care Preview - Week of February 26th
February 26, 2018 | Blog
Congress is back in session and will begin its work in finalizing a final spending bill for fiscal year 2018. Both chambers are considering new ways to address the opioid crisis, and we should expect a renewed push around gun control and mental health.
Read more
Massachusetts Outlook: The Remainder of the 2017-2018 Legislative Session
February 14, 2018 | Advisory
With the end of the 2017-2018 legislative cycle fast approaching, Beacon Hill’s agenda for the coming months has begun to take shape. All major policymaking will need to be concluded by the end of formal sessions on July 31, and lawmakers have a long to-do list they hope to complete before that date.
Read more
ML Strategies Health Care Preview - Week of February 12th
February 12, 2018 | Blog
This week, the President's FY 2019 budget will be released, and the Administration will spend the next couple of weeks touting its goals. How this activity is received in Congress will play out in various committee hearings, as will issues like drug pricing, which the Administration is closely examining.
Read more
The Administration's Budget Proposal for FY2019
February 12, 2018 | Blog
Today, the White House released its FY 2019 budget proposal, outlining its policy priorities for the fiscal year. In health care, the President's budget focuses on prescription drug pricing and opioid funding.
Read more
The New Extender Timeline
February 8, 2018 | Blog
Based on the most up-to-date information on the budget deal, we have developed a new timeline for the major health care extenders. This new timeline is important because these provisions were once all tied together and now, they are not.
Read more
February 5, 2018 Continuing Resolution: Health Care Provisions
February 6, 2018 | Blog
Late Monday night (February 5, 2018), the House of Representatives released a continuing resolution to keep the government funded and running until March 23, 2018. This CR includes many health care related provisions, specifically many of the health care “minibus” riders. In the chart below we summarize major health care provisions in this CR specific to the health care minibus.
Read more
Governor Baker Files FY2019 Budget
January 30, 2018 | Alert | By Julie Cox, Steven Baddour, Daniel Connelly, Caitlin Beresin, Maxwell Fathy
On Wednesday, January 24, 2018, Governor Charlie Baker released a $40.9 billion budget proposal for FY2019. The plan, commonly referred to as House 2, is the fourth Baker has proposed since assuming office and increases spending by 2.6% over FY2018 levels.
Read more
Alcohol Task Force Releases Final Report
January 23, 2018 | Advisory | By Julie Cox, Steven Baddour, Maxwell Fathy
The Task Force that Massachusetts Treasurer Deborah Goldberg commissioned to review the alcohol industry in the Commonwealth issued its final report on December 27, 2017.
Read more
Recreation Marijuana Industry Forges Ahead Amid Enforcement Uncertainty
January 22, 2018 | Alert | By Julie Cox, Caitlin Beresin
The Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) voted in late December to approve draft regulations establishing the framework for the recreational marijuana industry of Massachusetts.
Read more
Massachusetts Health Care Update: Senate Bill, Medication Switching, and Opioids
November 20, 2017 | Alert | By Julie Cox, Caitlin Beresin, Maxwell Fathy
Massachusetts policymakers continue to debate health care reform proposals with important implications for industry stakeholders.
Read more
Draft Regulations on Employer Health Care Assessment Released
November 13, 2017 | Alert | By Julie Cox, Maxwell Fathy
The Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance has released draft regulations changing the existing Employer Medical Assistance Contribution (EMAC), creating a temporary supplemental contribution, and modifying the unemployment insurance rate schedule.
Read more
Massachusetts Lawmakers Hear Testimony on Non-Compete Legislation
November 6, 2017 | Alert | By Julie Cox, Maxwell Fathy, Sarah Engell
The Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development held a hearing on Tuesday, October 31 to receive testimony on the several bills introduced this session addressing the use of non-compete agreements in Massachusetts.
Read more
Massachusetts Senate Releases Comprehensive Health Care Legislation
October 19, 2017 | Advisory | By Brian Dempsey, Julie Cox, Steven Baddour, Daniel Connelly, Caitlin Beresin, Maxwell Fathy
On Tuesday, October 17, Massachusetts Senate leaders released comprehensive health care legislation containing a wide range of provisions significantly impacting industry stakeholders.
Read more