The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) released a final research plan on interventions for tobacco cessation in adults. This research plan incorporates feedback from the draft plan issued in February 2025, and aims to assess the effectiveness and potential harms of various tobacco cessation methods, including their impact on different populations (Impact Health summary). The main aim of the… (Colocho, July 21, 2025) #Affordable Care Act, #Coverage Decisions, #Mental and Behavioral Health, #Prevention, #Public Health, #Tobacco, #Wellness

At the request of ranking Democrats on the House and Senate health and budget committees, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) assessed how two hypothetical policy changes – a 10 percent permanent reduction in National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding and a nine-month increase in FDA review times for new drug applications (NDAs) – would affect the development of new drugs…. (Colocho, July 21, 2025) #Biosimilars, #Drug Pricing, #Food and Drug Administration, #Prescription Drugs, #Public Health

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) hosted a webinar office hour to describe and answer questions about the new Wasteful and Inappropriate Service Reduction (WISeR) Model. WISeR will implement technology-enabled prior authorization in Original Medicare for a select set of services to help providers steer beneficiaries to safer, higher value care and reduce fraud and waste. This webinar provided… (McClurg, July 18, 2025) #Demonstration Programs, #Health Information Technology, #Program Integrity

The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) held a hearing on July 17, 2025, to discuss employment benefits for independent workers. The hearing focused on four pieces of proposed legislation to address accessibility, portability, and security of these benefits: Unlocking Benefits for Independent Workers Act (S._) Modern Worker Empowerment Act (S._) Association Health Plans Act (S._) Independent Retirement Fairness… (Ray, July 17, 2025) #Coverage Decisions, #Insurance Coverage

The Department of Justice (DOJ) released guidance to implement President Trump’s Executive Order No. 14224, which establishes English as the official language of the United States (press release). This directive revokes President Clinton’s Executive Order 13166, which had previously mandated multilingual access to federal programs for individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP). The DOJ’s new guidance prioritizes English in all… (Colocho, July 17, 2025) #Health Equity, #Health Information Technology, #Public Health, #Social Determinants of Health

In its June 27, 2025 decision in Trump v. CASA, Inc., the U.S. Supreme Court significantly curtailed the authority of federal courts to issue nationwide injunctions – court orders that prevent the federal government from enforcing laws or policies against individuals who are not parties to a lawsuit. The decision stemmed from litigation over an executive order limiting birthright citizenship… (Colocho, July 16, 2025) #Health Equity, #Social Determinants of Health

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the Calendar Year (CY) 2026 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Payment System proposed rule (press release, fact sheet). What it is. CMS’ wide-ranging proposed rule affects payments to approximately 3,500 hospitals paid under the OPPS, including hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs) and 6,100 ASCs, beginning on… (Slifer, July 15, 2025) #340B, #Ambulatory Surgical Centers, #Hospitals, #Quality, #Transparency

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) hosted a webinar to introduce the Rapid Cycle Innovation Program (RCIP), a voluntary initiative where CMS model participants (like ACO REACH, KCC, and PC Flex ACOs) can vote on and/or host rapid randomized controlled trials (RRCTs) to test specific care delivery strategies aimed at improving model performance and patient outcomes. Slides from… (Colocho, July 15, 2025) #Accountable Care Organizations, #Health Information Technology, #Hospice, #Prevention

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the calendar year (CY) 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) proposed rule (press release; fact sheet; MSSP fact sheet; which addresses an array of policies under Medicare Part B and the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) Quality Payment Program (QPP). What it is. CMS’ major proposed rule affects payments to physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants,… (McClurg, July 14, 2025) #Care Coordination, #Demonstration Programs, #Drug Pricing, #Health Equity, #Physicians, #Prevention, #Primary Care, #Program Integrity, #Quality, #Telehealth

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a hearing focused on cybersecurity challenges in the health care sector. Witnesses emphasized critical concerns including the termination of the Critical Infrastructure Partnership Advisory Council (CIPAC), the looming expiration of the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015, uncertainty surrounding the Biden-era HIPAA Security Rule update, and the implications of recent… (Colocho, July 14, 2025) #Health Information Technology, #Privacy, #Transparency