Payments

Forthcoming rules mean debilitating conditions may not meet strict ‘severe and lifelong’ eligibility criteria, say disabled people’s organisationsHundreds of thousands of severely ill and disabled people making new claims will have their benefits cut if the government assesses that their condition might improve, charities have said.In April, the health element of universal credit – an extra payment for people assessed as too unwell to work or prepare for work – will be reduced to £50 a week and frozen for new claimants unless their condition is found to be terminal or severe and lifelong with no prospect of improvement. Continue reading...

• Health plans' reliance on downcoding programs to cut physician reimbursements prompts state-level reforms highlighted in AMA's March 27, 2026 State Advocacy Update. • These practices harm doctors' earnings and patient care quality, leading policymakers to intervene for fairer payment systems. • The update covers top advocacy stories from March 2026, emphasizing protections for physicians amid ongoing reimbursement battles.

• The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission released its March 2026 Report to Congress, recommending a 0.5% increase in physician payments above current levels. • This proposal aims to address payment updates for Medicare services amid ongoing discussions on healthcare financing sustainability. • The report influences federal policy decisions on Medicare reimbursement rates for physicians across the US.