The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a final rule that bars hospitals from providing gender-affirming care for children under the age of 18 as a Condition of Participation (CoP) in Medicare and Medicaid programs (press release). For purposes of the final rule, CMS uses the term “sex-rejecting procedures” to describe certain forms of gender-affirming medical care for… (Marceno, August 11, 2026) #Coverage Decisions, #Health Equity, #Public Health

The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH) is seeking nominations to the National Vaccine Advisory Committee (NVAC). NVAC comprises seventeen voting members with expertise in disease prevention through vaccine use and preventing adverse reactions, including two representatives of the vaccine manufacturing industry, physicians, members of parent organizations concerned with immunizations, representatives of state or local health agencies or… (Marceno, August 11, 2026) #Prescription Drugs, #Public Health

Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Chairman Mike Crapo (R-ID), along with Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA), introduced the bipartisan Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Act. Summary of Key Provisions According to estimates from CBO, the legislation would save taxpayers at least $45 billion. Key provisions include: Permanently increases mandatory funding for… (Llamas, August 10, 2026) #Insurance Coverage

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a new report describing the benefits and challenges of wearable technology for clinical decision-making. GAO assessed how clinicians use data from wearables such as glucose monitors and smart watches to diagnose and treat patients, and how artificial intelligence (AI) could expand what they achieve. GAO describes that wearables increase the amount of information available which could allow… (McClurg, August 10, 2026) #Health Information Technology

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Servies released a notice with comment period on its process to provide accelerated Medicare coverage through the Regulatory Alignment for Predictable and Immediate Device (RAPID) coverage pathway for new innovative technologies (press release, infographic). What is it. The RAPID coverage pathway is intended to provide accelerated Medicare beneficiary access to eligible Class II and… (Slifer, August 7, 2026) #Medical Devices

The Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee failed to advance Farm Bill reauthorization during a markup of the Agricultural Act of 2026. In addition to agricultural programs, the Farm Bill authorizes several important federal nutrition programs including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and rural development programs. The 2018 Farm Bill expired on September 30, 2023, but most of the programs were extended until… (McClurg, August 7, 2026) #Nutrition, #Rural Health