The House Committee on Appropriations convened a markup of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Related Agencies Bill for fiscal year (FY) 2026 (text; summary; report language). A summary of key nutrition, rural development, and FDA provisions is included at the end of our full markup summary. The bill was favorably forwarded to the House with a vote of 35-27. What… (McClurg, June 25, 2025) #Budget, #Food and Drug Administration, #Nutrition, #Rural Health

The Congressional Research Service issued a report presenting Congress with a broad overview of regulatory options and policy considerations for artificial intelligence (AI). The report outlines how U.S. federal efforts have so far focused on agency-specific oversight, voluntary industry commitments, and the exploration of whether new authorities are needed. CRS contrasts the U.S. approach with international models, noting that while… (Colocho, June 24, 2025) #Budget, #Costs, #Health Information Technology

Pursuant to President Trump’s Executive Order Lowering Drug Prices by Putting Americans First, today, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announced that it has updated its award terms to require HRSA-funded health centers to provide insulin and injectable epinephrine to low-income patients at or below the price paid by the center through the 340B Drug Pricing Program. Whereas during President… (Slifer, June 24, 2025) #340B, #Community Health Centers, #Prescription Drugs

A group of health insurance plans announced a series of voluntary commitments to simplify, reduce, and streamline prior authorization. The changes will apply across markets, including commercial coverage, Medicare Advantage, and Medicaid managed care. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will release a list of the insurance plans that made the commitments and some additional details later this summer. The plans… (McClurg, June 23, 2025) #Health Information Technology, #Medicare Advantage

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the 2025 Marketplace Integrity and Affordability Final Rule, which includes a number of policies intended to address improper enrollments in Marketplace coverage and reduce improper federal spending on advanced premium tax credits (APTCs) (press release; fact sheet). What it is. The final rule revises standards relating to APTC eligibility criteria and… (Llamas, June 23, 2025) #Affordable Care Act, #Insurance Coverage

Today, in a 6-3 decision on U.S. v. Skrmetti, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld Tennessee’s 2023 law (S.B. 1) banning access to gender-affirming care for minors, marking the first time the Court has ruled directly on the constitutionality of a state law targeting transgender medical care. The law had been challenged by families of transgender youth and a physician who argued it violated the… (Eisen, June 18, 2025) #Health Equity

Senior Democrats on the House Energy & Commerce (E&C) Committee sent a letter to Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy Jr. probing about the errors that were discovered in the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission’s assessment of the factors underlying childhood chronic disease (Impact summary). After the Administration released the assessment and widely lauded… (McClurg, June 18, 2025) #Chronic Diseases, #Nutrition, #Public Health

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the Commissioner’s National Priority Voucher (CNPV) program, a new initiative designed to expedite the drug approval process for companies that align with U.S. national health priorities (FAQ). Unlike traditional review timelines of 10–12 months, the CNPV allows eligible applications to be reviewed in just 1–2 months. These vouchers will be granted to drug… (Colocho, June 17, 2025) #Prescription Drugs

the Senate Finance Committee released its budget reconciliation text. The text primarily focuses on President Trump’s priority tax policy changes, but includes the Senate’s proposed changes to Medicaid, which largely mirror the House Reconciliation bill (press release; section-by-section; one-pager). Key Health-Related Provisions:  Includes the House proposal to implement work requirements for certain Medicaid enrollees beginning in 2026 Keeps the House proposal to stop… (Marceno, June 16, 2025) #Costs, #Coverage Decisions, #Drug Pricing, #Insurance Coverage, #Physicians

The Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) released its March 2025 Report to Congress, with (1) transitions of care for children with special health care needs; (2) access to residential treatment for youth with behavioral health care needs (3) beneficiary access to medications for opioid use disorder; (4) understanding the Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly; and… (Marceno, June 12, 2025) #Dual Eligibles, #Mental and Behavioral Health, #Opioids