The U.S. uninsured rate dropped to a record low of 8%, according to a new report from HHS, in today's bite-sized hospital and health industry news from the District of Columbia, Indiana, Maryland, and Texas.

• District of Columbia: The Biden administration on Tuesday released a new report that found that 5.2 million Americans have obtained health coverage since 2020, causing the U.S. uninsured rate to drop to a record low of 8% in Q1 2022. On Tuesday, President Joe Biden said the report's findings signal the success of his efforts to strengthen the Affordable Care Act (ACA). "This progress did not happen by accident," Biden said. "More than 35 million Americans are enrolled in Affordable Care Act related coverage—the highest total on record." The American Rescue Plan, which was put in place in early 2021, provided financial assistance to help ACA enrollees pay their premiums. In addition, many experts have attributed the drop in the uninsured rate to a provision implemented at the start of the pandemic that prevented most individuals from losing Medicaid coverage. However, that provision is set to end after the expiration of the Covid-19 public health emergency. (Sullivan, The Hill, 8/2)

• Indiana/Maryland: Elevance Health, previously known as Anthem, and physician enablement company Aledade have partnered to work with independent primary care physicians during their transition from fee-for-service models to value-based care payment models. The partnership will give independent providers who have Elevance Health's affiliated insurance plans access to Aledade's technology and in-person services to assist them during the transition to a value-based model. The partnership is part of Elevance Health's plan to work alongside providers and technology companies to assist clinicians while they navigate new payment models. (Devereaux/Tepper, Modern Healthcare, 8/2)

• Texas: Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) on Monday announced that he had tested positive for Covid-19, potentially complicating this week's Senate floor votes. "After dodging it for 2+ years I've tested positive for COVID-19," Cornyn wrote on Twitter. "I'm fully vaccinated and boosted, and doing fine," he added. This week, Senate Democrats are aiming to pass a multibillion-dollar climate, tax, and health care package, which was announced last week. However, Republicans will likely oppose the package unanimously. (Schonfeld, The Hill, 8/1)