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Krysten Thomas

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Krysten Thomas is an associate in the Corporate Practice Group in the firm's Washington, D.C. office and a member of the firm’s Healthcare Team.

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Over two years into the post-Dobbs era, women’s health is taking center stage in the presidential election. In Dobbs v. Jackson, the Supreme Court overturned protections relating to abortion established in Roe v. Wade. Since then, approximately half of the states across the country have enacted or revived laws that ban or significantly restrict access to abortion. This case and the resulting cascade of legal disputes and legislative battles have created a highly dynamic and precarious legal landscape for women’s health. As a result, providers are left uncertain of their rights and obligations. Women in anti-abortion states face challenges obtaining reproductive care and, if pregnant, other medical treatments unrelated to reproductive care, while hospitals and clinics in nearby states without such restrictions are grappling with overwhelming patient loads. Continue Reading Women’s Health on the Ballot in November: What the Election Could Mean for Reproductive Care and Beyond

On April 4, 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) issued the contract year 2025 (CY2025) Medicare Advantage and Part D final rule (the “Final Rule”). In addition to finalizing its CY2025 proposed rule, CMS also addressed several key provisions that remained from the CY2024 proposed rule. According to CMS’ Fact Sheet, the Final Rule builds on existing Biden-Harris Administration policies to strengthen protections and guardrails, promote healthy competition, and ensure Medicare Advantage and Part D plans best meet the needs of enrollees. The Final Rule also promotes access to behavioral health care providers, promote equity in coverage, and improve supplemental benefits.Continue Reading CMS Issues CY2025 Medicare Advantage and Part D Final Rule

On April 1st, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) announced its Medicare Advantage (“MA”) Capitation Rates and Part C and Part D Payment Policies for Calendar Year (“CY”) 2025. This announcement builds on the Advanced Notice of Methodological Changes for CY 2025 for MA Capitation Rates and Part C and Part D Payment Policies (“Advanced Notice”) that CMS released on January 31, 2024. Continue Reading CMS Announces Medicare Advantage and Part D Rates for CY 2025

On December 13, 2022, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) issued a proposed rule, titled Advancing Interoperability and Improving Prior Authorization Processes (“Proposed Rule”), to improve patient and provider access to health information and streamline processes related to prior authorizations for medical items and services. We provided key information about that proposed rule on our website here. Then, on January 17, 2024, CMS issued a final rule, titled CMS Interoperability and Prior Authorization (“Final Rule”), which affirms CMS’ commitment to advancing interoperability and improving prior authorization processes.Continue Reading CMS Finalizes its Proposal to Advance Interoperability and Improve Prior Authorization Processes

On November 6, 2023, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) released the contract year 2025 proposed rule for Medicare Advantage (“MA”) organizations and Part D sponsors (the “Proposed Rule”). The Proposed Rule covers an array of regulatory topics including the Star Ratings program, marketing and communications, agent and broker compensation, health equity, dual eligible special needs plans (“D-SNPs”), utilization management, network adequacy, and access to biosimilars.Continue Reading CMS Promotes Competition, Transparency, Health Equity and More in the CY2025 Medicare Advantage and Part D Proposed Rule