Billy Wynne

Senate Democrats Call on CMS to Halt WISeR Model A group of 18 Senate Democrats, led by Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR), Special Committee on Aging Ranking Member Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), sent a letter requesting that the Trump Administration halt the Wasteful and Inappropriate Service…

President Trump and HHS Team Announce the Autism Action Plan; Trump Aligns With New ACIP Perspective on Other Vaccine Issues President Trump and senior officials at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a set of updates related to autism. Autism is a major priority of Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F.…

Members Continues to Grapple with Federal Preemption of State AI Laws The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet held a hearing titled “AI at a Crossroads: A Nationwide Strategy or Californication?” to examine whether federal action should set a uniform baseline for AI or whether states should continue to…

Commissioners Examine Medicaid’s Role in Supporting Justice-Involved Youth The Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) convened a session focused on Medicaid’s role in supporting health care transitions for justice-involved youth (JIY). MACPAC has been conducting work to better understand the unique needs and challenges of youth involved in the juvenile justice system and…

Commission Discusses Forthcoming Updated Analysis of Utilization and Spending on Behavioral Health The Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) held a session to provide a background of behavioral health in Medicaid and the state Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), setting the stage for a forthcoming claims data analysis. The session highlighted the prevalence…

Agency Finalizes MA Provider Directory Requirements for Medicare Plan Finder Beginning January 1, 2026 The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a second Contract Year (CY) 2026 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage (MA) program and Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program (Part D), Medicare Cost Plan Program, and Programs of All-Inclusive…

Health Subcommittee Examines Legislation to Increase Seniors’ Access to Breakthrough Medical Technologies Today, the Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee convened a hearing to consider policies to enhance seniors’ access to breakthrough medical technologies. Overall, there was bipartisan support for the bills examined, with most of the discussion focused on the Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer…

House Subcommittee Reviews Tax-Exempt Status and Accountability of Nonprofit Hospitals The House Ways and Means (W&M) Subcommittee on Oversight convened a hearing to discuss the tax-exempt status of hospitals. Lawmakers and witnesses discussed concerns about whether current IRS requirements and reporting mechanisms sufficiently ensure that hospitals deliver meaningful services to their communities, especially in rural…

Dr. Monarez Defends Vaccines and Her Integrity; Describes Political Influence at CDC The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a hearing with former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) leaders to discuss recent events at the CDC and implications for child health. The witnesses included the former CDC Director, Dr. Susan Monarez, and Dr. Debra Houry,…

Agency Recommends CMS Revise Budget Neutrality Policy for Section 1115 Demonstration Waivers The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report highlighting increased federal Medicaid spending and recommending revisions to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) budget neutrality policy. Section 1115 demonstrations allow states to test new ways of delivering care under the condition that…