Newly hired federal employees are currently embarking on a monumentally important task, one with profound consequences for tens of millions of Medicare enrollees. Right now, there are few safeguards in place to ensure these new hires are free from conflicts of interest.
Newly hired federal employees are currently embarking on a monumentally important task, one with profound consequences for tens of millions of Medicare enrollees.
Right now, there are few safeguards in place to ensure these new hires are free from conflicts of interest. And with tens of billions of dollars in Medicare spending on the line, the temptation to select certain drugs based on personal financial considerations, rather than objective, transparent criteria, could prove overwhelming.
Martin has had an impressive career, but hardly one that could be described as nonpartisan or nonideological. For example, she spent three years at Waxman Strategies, a firm known to lobby on behalf of major hospital groups. This background raises several questions. Does Martin still hold any financial interest in Waxman Strategies or its clients? Does she plan to hire from her network of former colleagues and customers in the future?
Though federal officials are barred by law from working "personally and substantially" on issues in which they have a financial stake, prosecutors rarely pursue such violations, leaving it up to the agencies themselves to enforce the rules. Concerningly, CMS hasn't confirmed that it won't "outsource" its price-setting work to advocacy groups like the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review, as some activists are pushing the agency to do. ICER has been criticized for using QALY metrics when assessing drugs' therapeutic value.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
How a federal government shutdown may affect Social Security and MedicareLawmakers face a looming deadline to pass a spending bill to prevent a federal government shutdown. Here’s what that means for Social Security and Medicare.
Read more »
41 Products That Work So Well You May Start Singing “And I Will Always Love You”Once you try the Chom Chom pet hair roller, there's really no going back.
Read more »
Rep. Harriet Hageman Calls for Term Limits for Federal BureaucratsRep. Harriet Hageman on the Line Drive podcast called for term limits for federal bureaucrats as a way to tackle the administrative state.
Read more »
How to DelegateStrategies for handing off work — and why it’s harder than it may seem.
Read more »
Special Section: Health Care on the Hill: Medicare cuts jeopardize patient access“Health Care on the Hill: Medicare cuts jeopardize patient access” is a Special Advertising Supplement to The Washington Times.
Read more »
6 Pitfalls to Avoid When Choosing Medicare AdvantageOnly 3 in 10 Medicare beneficiaries shop around during open enrollment, according to a 2022 analysis from KFF, a health policy nonprofit - and only 1 in 10 Medicare Advantage enrollees voluntarily switch plans.
Read more »