The Medicare Payment Advisory Committee (MedPAC) convened a session on a new workplan on ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs). MedPAC staff presented on the volume of services, payment, recent regulatory changes, and ASC ownership. Commissioners responded positively to the proposed workplan, and Chair Amol Navathe, University of Pennsylvania, stated he intends to revisit this topic in January as part of the ASC status… (Marceno, September 4, 2026) #Ambulatory Surgical Centers, #Costs

The Medicare Payment Advisory Committee (MedPAC) convened a session to describe preliminary analysis of the use of post-acute care (PAC) services by beneficiaries in fee-for-service (FFS) and Medicare Advantage (MA). Staff presented the initial findings of descriptive analyses of MA and FFS PAC utilization, lengths of stay, and PAC “pathways” linking different settings. The findings presented today were not adjusted for beneficiary… (McClurg, September 4, 2026) #Home Health, #Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities, #Medicare Advantage, #Post-Acute Care, #Skilled Nursing Facilities

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) convened a session to examine emerging challenges in the Medicare Part D program and potential policy directions for addressing recent spending growth. Staff emphasized that Part D continues to perform well on several measures, including high enrollment and beneficiary satisfaction, broad plan choice, and high generic utilization. At the same time, the Inflation Reduction… (Colocho, September 3, 2026) #Biosimilars, #Medicare Part D, #Prescription Drugs

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) convened a session to discuss a draft of its annual context chapter on Medicare payment policy, planned for inclusion in the March 2027 Report to Congress. The presentation focused on health care spending trends, beneficiaries’ ability to afford care, and provider consolidation. Staff highlighted rapid growth in national health care and Medicare spending; the shift from Part… (Testa, September 3, 2026) #Cost-Sharing, #Costs, #Hospitals, #Medicare Advantage, #Medicare Part D, #Medigap, #Physicians, #Post-Acute Care, #Quality

Reps. Greg Landsman (D-OH), Buddy Carter (R-GA), Kim Schrier (D-WA) and Tom Barrett (R-MI) introduced the Doctors Not AI Act, which aims to ensure that health care professionals, not artificial intelligence (AI) are responsible for benefit determinations under group health plans and health insurance issuers offering group or individual health insurance coverage (press release). Specifically, the bill requires group health… (Slifer, September 1, 2026) #Coverage Decisions

President Trump announced that nine additional pharmaceutical manufacturers have agreed to most favored nation (MFN) pricing agreements. These companies include Alcon, Astellas Pharma, BeOne Medicines, BridgeBio, CSL, Kyowa Kirin, Sun Pharma, Teva Pharmaceuticals, and UCB. During the press conference, President Trump once again called upon Congress to codify the MFN agreements so that they may remain permanent under future presidencies…. (Slifer, August 31, 2026) #Drug Pricing, #Prescription Drugs