The Wall Street Journal reports tonight that

The Trump administration made a $916 billion coronavirus relief offer to Democrats, opening yet another front in the multi-track effort to reach an agreement in talks that rank-and-file lawmakers have been leading in the final weeks of the year. The proposal, announced in a brief statement by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, came after Democrats rejected an effort by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) to narrow the scope of a coronavirus relief bill by excluding aid for hard-hit state and local governments prioritized by Democrats and liability protections sought by Republicans. 

The President’s proposal reportedly includes $600 per person direct payments. The FEHBlog will be surprised if the COVID-19 relief bill negotiations are unsuccessful, but it would be hardly be the first time that Congress surprises the FEHBlog.

Also according the Wall Street Journal, the House of Representatives tonight passed the FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act by a veto proof 335-78 margin. As the FEHBlog noted last week this bill includes goodies for federal employees. Federal News Network identifies policy winners and losers in this must pass bill which now goes over to the Senate.

Federal News Network columnist Mike Causey touts the FEHBlog’s personal favorite health plan design the high deductible health plan with health savings account (“HSA”). Mr. Causey aptly describes the HSA as a “Roth IRA on steroids” because and HSA is triple tax favored — tax exempt on the way in and out and grows tax free while in the account. The Federal Benefits Open Season ends on Monday December 14.

Fierce Healthcare informs us that

The FDA has released its internal review documents ahead of the closely watched COVID-19 vaccine advisory committee meeting scheduled for Thursday [December 10] —and they bode well for Pfizer and partner BioNTech’s prospects for securing a quick emergency use authorization (EUA). The FDA meeting briefing, published (PDF) on Tuesday, confirmed the efficacy and safety profile of Pfizer and BioNTech’s BNT162b2, reiterating that the shot was 95% effective at preventing COVID-19 after two doses with no serious safety concerns.

The Moderna vaccines turn before this panel occurs one week later on December 17.

Healthcare Dive reminds us that

Hospitals are readying for Jan. 1, [2021] when they expect they will have to publicly disclose the negotiated prices they reach with insurers for services performed inside their facilities — barring any intervention from a federal appeals court. [Such intervention in the FEHBlog’s humble opinion, is highly unlikely.]

The policy requires hospitals to share two streams of information. First, hospitals will have to share a machine-readable format of its negotiated prices with every insurer and every insurance product — a sizable pool of information. 

Then they will also have to prepare a list of 300 “shoppable services.” A total knee replacement would be a good example. It’s a procedure a consumer likely has time to plan and prepare for, unlike an emergency surgery due to an accident or failing health. The idea is to provide the price information so consumers can shop around for the best deal. 

The FEHBlog attended the second day of the American Bar Association’s Washington Health Law Summit (“WLS”). It’s worth noting that every panelist (six or seven in total) who has opined on the outcome of the Supreme Court’s California v. Texas case on the ACA’s constitutionality shares the FEHBlog’s opinion that the Supreme Court will preserve the ACA expect perhaps for the individual mandate which Congress effectively repealed in 2017.

The FEHBlog listened to three hours of discussion about behavioral telehealth and artificial intelligence during the WLS. It turns out that two types of healthcare AI exist admin AI and operational AI. AI can be assistive to the user’s decision making or can yield autonomous decisions. The Food and Drug Administration oversees the AI devices and the operational devices typically are used with imaging procedures. The FDA has approved two autonomous operational AI devices. The radiologists however has doubts about those devices.

The most interesting thing that the FEHBlog heard during this discussion was a remark from a Doctors on Demand speaker that telehealth companies are facing challenges in filling provider slots for psychiatrists and psychologists because of the enormous demand for mental health telemedicine. That’s a good thing. He noted that the explosion in telehealth use in 2020 is principally due to the government permitting a doctor or psychiatrist licensed in state A to treat a telehealth patient in state B.

The other speakers added that healthcare providers were quick to pick up on telehealth due to the licensing flexibilities and Medicare equivalent payments. They expressed their understanding that telehealth changes the personal dynamics between doctors and patients. Patients feels more in charge in a tele heath setting than they do in the office setting, and providers get social determinants of health data from seeing where the patient lives.