The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued an interpretive rule reaffirming that the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) generally preempts state laws that address broad areas of credit reporting, consistent with Congress’s intent to establish uniform national standards. The new interpretation replaces and formally withdraws a July 2022 interpretive rule that had taken a narrower view of FCRA preemption, which… (Colocho, October 28, 2025) #Costs, #Health Equity

A group of 28 Democratic senators led by Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) sent a letter calling on the Administration to immediately open “window shopping” ahead of Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace open enrollment. Typically, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) opens window shopping on October 25th or 26th the week… (McClurg, October 27, 2025) #Affordable Care Act, #Costs, #Health Insurance Exchanges

The Senate Special Committee on Aging held a hearing to discuss shoppable services and their effects on healthcare costs and outcomes. The hearing focused on ways that price transparency increases consumer choice and therefore introduces competition into the healthcare market. Across the board, members argued that a free-market model would lead to lower costs and higher quality care, especially for older… (Marceno, October 25, 2025) #Costs, #Pharmacy Benefit Managers, #Prescription Drugs, #Transparency

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) circulated a memorandum obtained by reporters saying that it cannot use contingency funds to pay for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in November and it cannot reimburse states that choose to make up the funding gap. About 42 million people nationwide currently rely on SNAP. Earlier this month, USDA directed states not to… (McClurg, October 24, 2025) #Nutrition

According to court filings, around 4,000 federal employees were laid off on October 10, following threats from the Trump Administration and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russ Vought to continue reductions-in-force (RIFs) during the shutdown, in an effort to pressure Democrats to sign onto the Republican-led continuing resolution and end the government shutdown. Judge Susan Illston of the… (Eisen, October 23, 2025) #Workforce

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a hearing to examine the growth of the 340B Drug Pricing Program. A representative from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) spoke to recommendations to improve the program and a representative from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) spoke to the recent report highlighting growth in the 340B program between 2010 and… (Slifer, October 23, 2025) #340B, #Community Health Centers, #Hospitals, #Prescription Drugs

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released an operational guide for providers and suppliers impacted by the Wasteful and Inappropriate Service Reduction (WISeR) model. The Innovation Center’s WISeR model will implement technology-enabled prior authorization in Traditional Medicare for a select set of services to help providers steer beneficiaries to safer, higher value care and reduce fraud and waste. Model participants will be… (McClurg, October 23, 2025) #Health Information Technology, #Program Integrity

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released guidance to states that the agency is updating its interpretation of section 1903(v) of the Social Security Act, which sets the conditions for federal funds to be used for the treatment of an emergency medical condition for non-citizens who are not eligible for full Medicaid benefits. Under statute, emergency Medicaid is… (Marceno, October 1, 2025) #Health Equity, #Immigration, #Insurance Coverage

The Senate Special Committee on Aging released a report titled “Protecting Seniors’ Access to Essential Medications: Securing the Foreign Generic Pharmaceutical Supply Chain” (press release). This follows two Committee hearings on the national security and public health crisis caused by America’s dependence on foreign-made generic drugs and their ingredients. The report focuses on the following problems related to generic drugs:… (Slifer, October 21, 2025) #Generic Drugs, #Prescription Drugs, #Public Health

The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI/Innovation Center) released a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for the second cohort of the Innovation in Behavioral Health Model (IHPP Summary). Previously, Michigan, New York, Oklahoma, and South Carolina were selected to participate in the model’s first cohort of states. Other materials with information about the model including an infographic, a fact sheet,… (Marceno, October 17, 2025) #Care Coordination, #Delivery Reform, #Mental and Behavioral Health