The House Committee on Agriculture held a hearing with the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) Brooke Rollins to discuss the priorities and initial actions of the Trump Administration for agriculture and nutrition programs. Most of the hearing centered on farm and agricultural issues but some members spoke with the Secretary about USDA nutrition programs, especially the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Key… (McClurg, June 12, 2025) #Nutrition

The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies held a hearing to review the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 budget request for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) with NIH Director, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya. Senators from both parties expressed deep concern over the Trump administration’s proposed 40% cut to NIH’s budget, delays in grantmaking, and… (Eisen, June 10, 2025) #Budget, #Clinical Labs, #National Institutes of Health, #Workforce

The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) released its budget reconciliation text. The text primarily focuses on education but also includes provisions that fund cost-sharing reduction payments and affect graduate loans for medical students (press release; section-by-section; one-pager).   Health-Related Provisions: Cost-Sharing Reduction Payments. Sec. 87001 appropriates funding for cost-sharing reduction payments for plan years beginning January 1, 2026, except… (Llamas, June 11, 2025) #Affordable Care Act, #Hospitals, #Insurance Reform, #Physicians

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released a detailed report estimating how the surge in immigration that began in 2021 affected state and local budgets in 2023. The nonpartisan agency found that while the influx of immigrants boosted revenues through taxes, it also raised spending on essential services, resulting in a net fiscal cost. Using both direct and broader potential measures,… (Colocho, June 10, 2025) #Budget, #Costs, #Health Equity, #Insurance Coverage, #Public Health

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released the fiscal year (FY) 2026 Congressional Justification for the new Administration for a Healthy America (AHA). The Trump Administration proposed the creation of AHA to focus on chronic disease, preventive care, mental health and substance use services, environmental health, diet, and workforce. AHA would combine programs from the Office of the Assistant Secretary for… (McClurg, June 10, 2025) #Budget, #Community Health Centers, #Graduate Medical Education (GME), #Health Equity, #Mental and Behavioral Health, #Prevention, #Primary Care, #Public Health, #Telehealth, #Workforce

Today, Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the removal of all 17 members of the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP). ACIP makes recommendations about the safety, efficacy, and clinical need of vaccines. Secretary Kennedy emphasized that the Biden Administration appointed all 17 of the members, including 13 in 2024, in order to prevent the… (McClurg, June 9, 2025) #Public Health

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) released a report evaluating how states are using the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Payroll-Based Journal (PBJ) Staffing Data Reports and related guidance to oversee and enforce federal staffing standards in nursing homes. The report assesses early implementation efforts from November 2022 through April… (Eisen, June 9, 2025) #Long-Term Care, #Skilled Nursing Facilities

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) issued a Request for Information (RFI) to gather public input on the development of a comprehensive NIH Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy. The strategy will guide NIH efforts to harness AI for biomedical research, public health, and clinical care, with a particular focus on addressing chronic disease, a top priority for the Department of Health… (Colocho, June 5, 2025) #Chronic Diseases, #Grants, #Health Information Technology, #National Institutes of Health, #Prevention

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), through its Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) convened a high-level roundtable on cell and gene therapy (CGT), bringing together leading scientists, clinicians, federal officials, and patient advocates. Moderated by CBER Director Dr. Vinay Prasad, the session featured prominent experts including Dr. Catherine Bollard, Dr. Crystal Mackall, Dr. Fyodor Urnov, and Dr. Michelle… (Colocho, June 5, 2025) #Costs, #Drug Pricing, #Food and Drug Administration, #National Institutes of Health, #Pediatrics, #Therapy

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report demonstrating findings that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) lacks a coordinated, national approach for diagnostic testing related to infectious diseases with pandemic potential. HHS leads federal efforts through agencies such as the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention… (Eisen, June 4, 2025) #COVID-19, #Prevention