Photo of Lena Zinner

Lena Zinner

Subscribe to Lena Zinner's Posts

Lena Zinner is an associate in the Corporate Practice Group in the firm’s New York office, and a member of the Healthcare Industry Team.

Contact:Read more about Lena Zinner

On May 15, 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) released a proposed rule, entitled “Preserving Medicaid Funding for Vulnerable Populations – Closing a Health Care-Related Tax Loophole” to address a financing loophole that allows states to shift more Medicaid costs to the federal government than intended (the “Proposed Rule”). If finalized as proposed, states that received CMS-approved waivers for state healthcare-related taxes within the last year—including California, New York, Michigan, and Massachusetts—would be required to modify or eliminate those state taxes immediately or risk losing federal matching funds for expenditures paid using those tax revenues. Comments from stakeholders are due by July 14, 2025.Continue Reading Proposed Rule on Medicaid Tax Waivers: CMS Moves to Close a Loophole Shifting Costs to the Federal Government

On April 4, 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) released the contract year (“CY”) 2026 final rule for the Medicare Advantage (“MA”) program, Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program (“Part D”), Medicare Cost Plan Program, and Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (the “Final Rule”). While CMS finalized several proposals of its Proposed Rule, it did not finalize many of its key proposals, including on anti-obesity medication (“AOM”) coverage, enhanced guardrails for artificial intelligence (“AI”), and various health equity related initiatives in MA and Part D.Continue Reading CMS Issues CY 2026 Medicare Advantage and Part D Final Rule

On November 26, 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) released the contract year 2026 proposed rule for the Medicare Advantage (“MA”) program, Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program (“Part D”), Medicare Cost Plan Program, and Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (the “Proposed Rule”). Likely one of the last significant Medicare reform initiatives of the Biden administration, the Proposed Rule incorporates many of the Administration’s broader policy priorities, focusing on equity, transparency, and modernization in healthcare delivery and oversight.Continue Reading Key Proposals from the CY 2026 Medicare Advantage and Part D Proposed Rule

On October 28, 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) announced the latest states to participate in the voluntary state total cost of care (“TCOC”) model: the All-Payer Health Equity Approaches and Development (“AHEAD”) Model. The initiative aims to curb healthcare costs and improve population health by allowing states to assume responsibility for their own healthcare systems. Specifically, the program holds states accountable for meeting state-specific Medicare targets, reducing cost growth, primary care investment, and advancing health equity principles. As of August 2024, Maryland, Vermont, Connecticut, Hawai’i, Rhode Island, and five downstate counties of New York have been selected to implement AHEAD.  Continue Reading CMS Continues to Plan AHEAD Amid Rising Healthcare Costs