HHS budget would rise to $1.1 trillion and encourage states to expand Medicaid

The White House has proposed increasing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ budget to $1.1 trillion. The proposal calls for modifying the “Cadillac tax” on expensive health plans so it would not apply to employers in states with especially high insurance prices, includes a new competitive bidding system for private Medicare Advantage health plans, and earmarks $500 million for treating serious mental illnesses.