CMS released its proposed rules for the 2023 Medicare Advantage and Part D plan year, in today's bite-sized hospital and health industry news from Maryland and New York.

• Maryland: CMS on Thursday released its proposed rules for the 2023 Medicare Advantage and Part D plan year. In the proposed regulations, CMS included several updates to increase its oversight of health plans, which include measures to better supervise providers' compliance with medical loss ratio requirements, as well as increased oversight of third parties that help beneficiaries select and enroll in plans. In addition, CMS included updated regulations surrounding information requests related to Medicare Advantage prior authorization policies. CMS also proposed several policies on special needs plans and pharmacy cost calculations for beneficiary cost-sharing. All comments on the proposed rule are due no later than March 7. (AHA News, 1/7)

• New York: New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) on Wednesday announced a $10 billion investment plan to support the health care workforce. In her announcement, Hochul said that the investment will help grow the workforce by 20% in the next five years. The plan will allocate $2 billion to support health care wages, $2 billion for retention bonuses, $500 million for cost-of-living adjustments for human services workers, and $2 billion for capital infrastructure and improved lab capacity. In addition, Hochul's plan will include initiatives for educating and training workers in underserved areas, as well as bolstering home care. The initiatives include improved training capacity for medical institutions, direct financial support for health care workers, loan forgiveness programs, and easier credit transfers between the City University of New York and the State University of New York. (Sim, Modern Healthcare, 1/6)

• New York: The office of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) on Sunday confirmed that she had tested positive for Covid-19. Ocasio-Cortez joins several other lawmakers who have also recently tested positive for Covid-19, including Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.), who contracted the virus late last month. According to a statement from Ocasio-Cortez's office, "She is experiencing symptoms and recovering at home. The Congresswoman received her booster shot this [f]all, and encourages everyone to get their booster and follow all CDC guidance." (Saric, Axios, 1/9)