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

Yesterday, President Trump announced new actions aimed at reducing the cost and improving access to in vitro fertilization (IVF) and fertility care. This includes the third Most-Favored-Nation (MFN) agreement with EMD Serono, the manufacturer of a leading fertility drug. Third MFN Agreement: President Trump revealed a new MFN pricing agreement with EMD Serono, following similar deals with Pfizer (IHPP Summary)… (Eisen, October 16, 2025) #Drug Pricing, #Food and Drug Administration, #Women’s Health

In a special edition of the MLN Connects newsletter, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that it has directed Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) to hold all Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, ground ambulance transport, and Federally Qualified Health Center claims with dates of service on or after October 1, in anticipation of Congressional action. The agency says it… (Testa, October 16, 2025) #Ambulance, #Community Health Centers, #Physicians, #Telehealth

President Trump issued an executive order (EO) establishing new policies to centralize oversight of federal hiring decisions, limit workforce expansion, and ensure that staffing aligns with administration priorities (fact sheet). The EO tightens and formalizes control over the federal hiring process to preserve the substantial workforce reductions achieved earlier in President Trump’s second term, building on prior orders which have… (Colocho, October 15, 2025) #Public Health, #Workforce

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) sent a policy memorandum to states about the implementation of changes to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) work requirements in H.R. 1, which has now been made public. The memorandum reminds states that the changes were effective immediately upon signing of the bill on July 4th, and that states must update their screening… (McClurg, October 14, 2025) #Nutrition