Today, in a 6-3 decision on U.S. v. Skrmetti, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld Tennessee’s 2023 law (S.B. 1) banning access to gender-affirming care for minors, marking the first time the Court has ruled directly on the constitutionality of a state law targeting transgender medical care. The law had been challenged by families of transgender youth and a physician who argued it violated the… (Eisen, June 18, 2025) #Health Equity

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%;