The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a second Contract Year (CY) 2026 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage (MA) program and Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program (Part D), Medicare Cost Plan Program, and Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) final rule to finalize the format of provider directories for Medicare Plan Finder. Additional… (Slifer, September 18, 2025) #Health Information Technology, #Insurance Reform, #Medicare Advantage

Today, the Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee convened a hearing to consider policies to enhance seniors’ access to breakthrough medical technologies. Overall, there was bipartisan support for the bills examined, with most of the discussion focused on the Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act and the Ensuring Patient Access to Critical Breakthrough Products Act of 2025…. (Slifer, September 18, 2025) #Coverage Decisions, #Medical Devices, #Prevention, #Public Health

The House Ways and Means (W&M) Subcommittee on Oversight convened a hearing to discuss the tax-exempt status of hospitals. Lawmakers and witnesses discussed concerns about whether current IRS requirements and reporting mechanisms sufficiently ensure that hospitals deliver meaningful services to their communities, especially in rural and underserved areas. Democrats also highlighted the impact of proposed federal health care policy changes… (Eisen, September 16, 2025) #Hospitals, #Rural Health

The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a hearing with former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) leaders to discuss recent events at the CDC and implications for child health. The witnesses included the former CDC Director, Dr. Susan Monarez, and Dr. Debra Houry, who was the Chief Medical Officer at the CDC until she resigned when Dr. Monarez was fired…. (McClurg, September 17, 2025) #Pediatrics, #Prevention, #Program Integrity, #Public Health, #Transparency

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report highlighting increased federal Medicaid spending and recommending revisions to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) budget neutrality policy. Section 1115 demonstrations allow states to test new ways of delivering care under the condition that they remain “budget neutral,” meaning federal spending cannot exceed what it would have been under traditional Medicaid…. (Eisen, September 17, 2025) #Health Equity, #Waivers

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for the Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program. Congress’s recent budget reconciliation package included the Rural Health Transformation Program as a compromise to address concerns about the impact of the bill on rural hospitals and providers. The program will invest $50 billion in rural hospitals at… (Marceno, September 15, 2025) #Grants, #Hospitals, #Public Health, #Quality, #Rural Health, #Workforce