What We’re Reading: Order on Abortion Medicine, Emergency Contraception; California and Insulin; CMS Rule Announcement

Biden to Sign Executive Order on Abortion Access

President Joe Biden will be signing an executive order that would keep abortion medication and emergency contraception available, protect patient privacy, and expand legal options for people seeking these services. He is also Attorney General Merrick Garland and White House counsel to provide pro bono attorneys, bar associations, and public interest organizations to help with legal representation to those in need of these services in cases of legal challenges, including the right to travel out of state. The order comes after pressure from the Democratic party for action to be taken by the president after Roe v Wade was overturned.

Newsom Announces Low-Cost Insulin Production

Governor Gavin Newsom of California announced the state will be producing its own low-cost insulin, with $100 million of the state budget going toward making insulin at cost. The $100 million will be split, with half going toward the development of low-cost insulin and the other half going toward a California-based manufacturing facility. The state budget announcement is part of a nationwide call to cap insulin prices, with a bipartisan bill on capping insulin prices expected to be voted on in the coming months.

CMS Proposes Rule to Cut Payments to Doctors

A new rule proposed by CMS would cause some doctors to get a small decline in Medicare payments. The rule proposed a fee schedule conversion factor of $33.08 for each relative unit, which determines how Medicare payments to doctors are formulated. This would be a slight decline from the 2022 factor of $34.61. CMS is also looking to expand its dental coverage to include dental exams and treatment before an organ transplant. They will also expand behavioral health services, such as opioid treatments and paying clinical psychologists and social workers as part of a primary care team.