The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced significant policy shifts in alignment with executive orders (EOs) issued by President Trump. The agency rescinded prior guidance on gender-affirming care and released new directives emphasizing biological sex definitions. These actions reflect the administration’s position that there are only two sexes—male and female—and seek to align federal policies with this perspective…. (Colocho, February 20, 2025) #Affordable Care Act, #Health Equity, #Pediatrics, #Privacy, #Public Health

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently announced updated jurisdictional thresholds and a revised filing fee schedule for reporting transactions under the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Act, effective February 10, 2025 (press release). Under the Clayton Act, the FTC is required to adjust HSR thresholds annually based on changes in the gross national product. Beginning February 10th, the minimum size of the transaction… (Eisen, January 13, 2025) #Costs, #Hospitals

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the HHS Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2026 final rule (fact sheet) – a wide-ranging rule affecting Marketplaces, qualified health plans in the individual and small group markets, as well as requirements for agents, brokers, web-brokers, direct enrollment entities, and assisters. The final rule also includes provisions that impact… (Llamas, January 13, 2025) #Affordable Care Act

President Trump signed an Executive Order (EO) to expand access to in vitro fertilization (IVF) (fact sheet). Executive Order The EO directs the Domestic Policy Council (DPC) to develop a list of policy recommendations to “protect IVF access and aggressively reduce out-of-pocket and health plan costs for such treatments.” It prioritizes “addressing any current policies, including those that require legislation,… (Llamas, February 19, 2025) #Women’s Health

Newly confirmed Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) Brooke Rollins sent a letter to state, Tribal, territory, and local government partners to share her principles for USDA nutrition programs and encourage states to act as policy incubators. Secretary Rollins asks states to pilot creative solutions to “long-ignored problems” although the letter does not specify these problems. Republicans have previously supported using pilot programs to… (McClurg, February 18, 2025) #Nutrition