Another health insurer sues over Affordable Care Act payouts

The Federal Headlines is a daily compilation of the stories you hear discussed on the Federal Drive.

• Blue Cross Blue Shield has joined the growing number of health insurers who are unhappy with the Department of Health and Human Services. The Wall Street Journal reported BCBS is suing the federal government for paying only part of the $147 million owed to it under an Affordable Care Act program that was supposed to limit financial risks insurers face under the law. The suit follows a similar action filed last month by Highmark Health’s insurance arm, and one in February by Health Republic Insurance Company. (Wall Street Journal)

• Robert Cardillo, Director of the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, has named St. Louis the official selection for the Next NGA West Campus. Four sites were proposed overall. In the Record of Decision the agency said the city held an advantage over other options in flexibility and vision of the future for NGA. (Next GNA West)

• Two agencies have combined forces hoping to end veteran homelessness. The departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development have awarded nearly $38 million in rental assistance for veterans without homes. It’s being provided through the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program. HUD says more than 5,200 veterans are currently homeless. (HUD)

• A group of 22 senators said it wants the Department of Health and Human Services to give more people access to medicated assisted therapy for treating opioid addiction. Opioids reduce the intensity of pain signals reaching the brain and affect those brain areas controlling emotion. A recently proposed rule by HHS would raise the patient cap for the program from 100 to 200, but the Senators said they want to see that number go up to 500. They said raising it to only 200 won’t have a big enough effect on the marketplace to make the main medication buprenorphine a viable option for others.  (Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass)

• The Air Force said it is concerned that its shrinking and aging fleets won’t be able to stop well-coordinated attacks in the future. A new study commissioned by the branch’s chief of staff projected the Air Force could lose air superiority by 2030 to emerging threats with advanced fighter aircraft, sensors, and weapons. (Time.com)

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