Senior Democrats on the House Energy & Commerce (E&C) Committee sent a letter to Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy Jr. probing about the errors that were discovered in the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission’s assessment of the factors underlying childhood chronic disease (Impact summary). After the Administration released the assessment and widely lauded… (McClurg, June 18, 2025) #Chronic Diseases, #Nutrition, #Public Health

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the Commissioner’s National Priority Voucher (CNPV) program, a new initiative designed to expedite the drug approval process for companies that align with U.S. national health priorities (FAQ). Unlike traditional review timelines of 10–12 months, the CNPV allows eligible applications to be reviewed in just 1–2 months. These vouchers will be granted to drug… (Colocho, June 17, 2025) #Prescription Drugs

the Senate Finance Committee released its budget reconciliation text. The text primarily focuses on President Trump’s priority tax policy changes, but includes the Senate’s proposed changes to Medicaid, which largely mirror the House Reconciliation bill (press release; section-by-section; one-pager). Key Health-Related Provisions:  Includes the House proposal to implement work requirements for certain Medicaid enrollees beginning in 2026 Keeps the House proposal to stop… (Marceno, June 16, 2025) #Costs, #Coverage Decisions, #Drug Pricing, #Insurance Coverage, #Physicians

The Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) released its March 2025 Report to Congress, with (1) transitions of care for children with special health care needs; (2) access to residential treatment for youth with behavioral health care needs (3) beneficiary access to medications for opioid use disorder; (4) understanding the Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly; and… (Marceno, June 12, 2025) #Dual Eligibles, #Mental and Behavioral Health, #Opioids

Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR) and other Senate Democrats announced over a dozen bills to strengthen Medicaid and make investments in the program. The Ranking Member criticized the House passed reconciliation bill, stating that it fails to meaningfully address waste, fraud and abuse and cuts benefits for enrollees. Senate Democrats also highlighted recent data from the Congressional… (Marceno, June 12, 2025) <span style="font-size:90%;

Today, Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Ranking Member Bernie Sanders (I-VT) issued a request for information (RFI) on the potential impact of the House budget reconciliation bill for healthcare providers and the American people (press release). Ranking Member Sanders seeks input from healthcare providers across the country, including hospitals, rural health clinics, community health clinics, individual… (Marceno, June 12, 2025) #Costs, #Coverage Decisions, #Program Integrity

The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health held a hearing to assess vulnerabilities in the U.S. health care supply chain and to explore bipartisan solutions for enhancing domestic production of medical supplies and pharmaceuticals. While lawmakers agreed on the urgent need to reduce reliance on foreign sources, they differed on the approach. Republicans emphasized national security and praised the… (Eisen, June 11, 2025) #Generic Drugs, #Prescription Drugs, #Workforce

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