During the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee hearing, Democrats discussed guardrails for artificial intelligence (AI) use in healthcare and legislative solutions that would use technology to...more
3/9/2026
/ Artificial Intelligence ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Congressional Investigations & Hearings ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Digital Health ,
Electronic Medical Records ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Health Information Technologies ,
Healthcare Fraud ,
Information Blocking Rules ,
Medicaid ,
Medicare ,
Proposed Rules ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Section 340B ,
Senate Committees
Following this weekend’s events in Iran, congressional attention will center on votes related to war powers and US military engagement in the region, likely reshaping the floor schedule to prioritize national security and...more
3/3/2026
/ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) ,
Congressional Committees ,
Congressional Investigations & Hearings ,
Congressional Oversight ,
Digital Health ,
Health Care Providers ,
Healthcare Fraud ,
MACPAC ,
Medicaid ,
Medicare ,
Medicare Advantage ,
MedPAC ,
National Security ,
Public Health ,
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Senate HELP Committee holds surgeon general nomination hearing. Casey Means, MD, testified before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) as the nominee for US surgeon general....more
3/2/2026
/ Appropriations Bill ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Congressional Committees ,
Cybersecurity ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Federal Funding ,
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ,
Health Care Providers ,
Healthcare ,
Healthcare Fraud ,
HRSA ,
New Legislation ,
Prescription Drugs ,
Public Health ,
Senate Confirmation Hearings
President Trump is set to deliver the State of the Union address on Tuesday at 9:00 pm EST, with Virginia Governor Spanberger confirmed to deliver the Democratic response....more
2/24/2026
/ Congressional Committees ,
Cybersecurity ,
Drug Pricing ,
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ,
Government Shutdown ,
Healthcare Reform ,
Healthcare Workers ,
New Legislation ,
Nominations ,
Organ Transplant Centers ,
Presidential Nominations ,
SCOTUS ,
Senate Committees ,
Senate Confirmation Hearings ,
Tariffs ,
Trump Administration
Senate HELP Committee Chair Cassidy releases report on FDA reform. The report reflects Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chair Cassidy’s (R-LA) priorities for the modernization of the US Food and...more
2/23/2026
/ Artificial Intelligence ,
Biologics ,
Biosimilars ,
Clinical Trials ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ,
International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) ,
Medicaid ,
Medical Devices ,
No Surprises Act (NSA) ,
Regulatory Reform ,
SCOTUS ,
Senate Committees ,
Tariffs
Since the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) within the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued an annual rule, called the Notice of Benefit and...more
2/19/2026
/ Affordable Care Act ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Comment Period ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Enrollment ,
Federal Health Insurance Exchanges ,
Final Rules ,
Health Insurance ,
Insurance Agents ,
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) ,
Open Enrollment ,
Proposed Rules ,
Public Health Insurance Marketplace ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Rulemaking Process
Both the House and Senate are in recess this week, for the first time this year. Despite that, negotiations continue on fiscal year (FY) 2026 funding for the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which is the only federal...more
2/18/2026
/ Appropriations Bill ,
Congressional Committees ,
Congressional Investigations & Hearings ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
Federal Budget ,
Federal Funding ,
Government Shutdown ,
Health Insurance ,
Healthcare Fraud ,
Healthcare Reform ,
Public Health ,
Trump Administration
Senate committees continue to examine fraud in federal and state programs. Discussions spanned social services, public benefits, and immigration-related enforcement....more
2/16/2026
/ Affordable Care Act ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Congressional Committees ,
Congressional Investigations & Hearings ,
Fraud ,
Healthcare Fraud ,
Healthcare Reform ,
HRSA ,
Medicaid ,
Medicare ,
New Legislation ,
Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) ,
Prescription Drugs ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Proposed Rules ,
Section 340B ,
Senate Committees
This week, congressional attention will be mainly on funding for the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for fiscal year (FY) 2026, which is set to expire this Friday....more
2/10/2026
/ Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Congressional Committees ,
Congressional Investigations & Hearings ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
Drug Pricing ,
Federal Funding ,
Fraud ,
Government Shutdown ,
Health Insurance ,
Healthcare ,
Healthcare Fraud ,
Physicians ,
Prescription Drugs ,
Regulatory Oversight
Congress passed a package that funds the US Department of Health and Human Services through fiscal year 2026 and includes health extenders and additional bipartisan health policies....more
2/9/2026
/ Appropriations Bill ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Drug Pricing ,
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ,
Government Shutdown ,
Healthcare Fraud ,
Medicaid ,
Medicare ,
National Institute of Health (NIH) ,
Prescription Drugs ,
Section 340B ,
Senate Committees ,
Telehealth ,
Trump Administration
Late last week, the Senate passed a modified version of the government funding minibus, H.R. 7148, that passed the House the week before. The Senate-modified bill includes full fiscal year (FY) 2026 funding for five...more
2/3/2026
/ Appropriations Bill ,
Congressional Committees ,
Continuing Resolution ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
Federal Funding ,
Government Shutdown ,
Healthcare Fraud ,
Medicaid ,
Medicare ,
National Institute of Health (NIH) ,
New Legislation ,
Senate Committees
Partial government shutdown seems likely. Senate Democrats, Republicans, and the White House are working to find a resolution to funding for the US Department of Homeland Security....more
2/2/2026
/ Appropriations Bill ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Congressional Committees ,
Department of Education ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Executive Orders ,
Federal Student Loans ,
Generic Drugs ,
Government Shutdown ,
Medicare Advantage ,
Medicare Part D ,
Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) ,
Prescription Drugs ,
Proposed Rules ,
Substance Abuse ,
Supply Chain
Last week, the House passed the 2026 Consolidated Appropriations Act, which includes the fiscal year 2026 appropriations bill for Labor-Health and Human Services (HHS) and a host of key healthcare extenders....more
1/27/2026
/ Appropriations Bill ,
Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
Federal Funding ,
Government Agencies ,
Government Shutdown ,
MACPAC ,
Medicaid ,
Medicare ,
Medicare Advantage ,
New Legislation ,
Prescription Drugs ,
Senate Committees
Congressional leaders release FY 2026 Labor-HHS minibus and health package. On January 20, 2026, congressional appropriators released the 2026 Consolidated Appropriations Act, working to ensure that government funding does...more
1/26/2026
/ Affordable Care Act ,
Appropriations Bill ,
Congressional Committees ,
Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Government Shutdown ,
Health Insurance ,
Healthcare ,
Healthcare Fraud ,
Healthcare Reform ,
Medicaid ,
Medicare ,
Medicare Advantage ,
National Institute of Health (NIH) ,
New Legislation ,
Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) ,
Telehealth
Early on January 20, 2026, the House Appropriations Committee released the 2026 Consolidated Appropriations Act, which includes the last of the 12 fiscal year (FY) 2026 appropriations bills: Labor-Health and Human Services...more
1/21/2026
/ Appropriations Bill ,
Congressional Committees ,
Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Federal Budget ,
Federal Funding ,
Government Shutdown ,
Health Insurance ,
Healthcare Fraud ,
Healthcare Reform ,
Hospitals ,
Medicaid ,
Medicare ,
New Legislation ,
Telehealth
Negotiations on APTCs hit speed bump. The release of a Senate bipartisan compromise on the Affordable Care Act enhanced advanced premium tax credits (APTCs) was delayed amid ongoing discussions....more
1/19/2026
/ Abortion ,
Affordable Care Act ,
Appropriations Bill ,
Artificial Intelligence ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Claims Processing Systems ,
Congressional Committees ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Federal Funding ,
Fraud ,
Health Insurance ,
Healthcare Fraud ,
Healthcare Reform ,
Medicare ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Reproductive Healthcare Issues ,
Tax Credits ,
Telemedicine
Last week, the House passed a three-year clean extension of the enhanced advanced premium tax credits (APTCs), which expired December 31, 2025. While 17 Republicans supported the bill, it appears to be dead on arrival in the...more
1/13/2026
/ Affordable Care Act ,
Appropriations Bill ,
Bipartisan Agreement ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Congressional Committees ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Health Insurance ,
Healthcare Fraud ,
Medicaid ,
Medicare ,
Medicare Advantage ,
Medicare Part D ,
MedPAC ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Tax Credits
Healthcare debate continues. The House passed an extension of the expired enhanced advanced premium tax credits, but it remains unclear what, if anything, will advance in the Senate, where bipartisan negotiations continue....more
1/9/2026
/ Affordable Care Act ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Drug Pricing ,
Health Care Providers ,
Health Information Technologies ,
Health Insurance ,
Health Insurance Exchanges ,
Healthcare ,
Healthcare Reform ,
Medicaid ,
Medicare ,
New Legislation ,
Pharmaceutical Industry ,
Prescription Drugs ,
Price Transparency ,
Proposed Rules ,
Trump Administration
2026 is here, and it is likely to be as busy as 2025. We start the year with a packed congressional agenda this month centered on potentially addressing the December 31, 2025, expiration of the Affordable Care Act (ACA)...more
1/6/2026
/ Affordable Care Act ,
Appropriations Bill ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Congressional Committees ,
Continuing Resolution ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Federal Budget ,
Federal Funding ,
Health Insurance ,
Healthcare Reform ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Medicaid ,
Medicare ,
New Legislation ,
Proposed Rules ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Tax Credits ,
Telehealth
House continues debate on healthcare legislation. Late last week, House Republican leadership unveiled their new healthcare proposal in the midst of ongoing debate on how to address the Affordable Care Act’s expiring enhanced...more
12/19/2025
/ Affordable Care Act ,
Artificial Intelligence ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Gender Identity ,
Health Insurance ,
Healthcare ,
Healthcare Reform ,
Medicaid ,
Medicare ,
New Legislation ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Proposed Rules ,
Public Health ,
Transgender
Senate votes on dueling healthcare bills. Although neither bill passed, some moderate House Republicans continue to try to find a path forward on the expiring enhanced advanced premium tax credits (APTCs), with Speaker...more
12/15/2025
/ ACIP ,
Affordable Care Act ,
Artificial Intelligence ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) ,
Congressional Committees ,
Executive Orders ,
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ,
Health Insurance ,
Healthcare Reform ,
Medicaid ,
Medicare ,
New Legislation ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Trump Administration
Republican leaders in the House released the text of their latest healthcare legislation, which would not extend the advanced premium tax credits (APTCs) that are set to expire on December 31, 2025....more
12/15/2025
/ Affordable Care Act ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Federal Funding ,
Gender Identity ,
Health Insurance ,
Healthcare ,
Healthcare Reform ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Medicaid ,
Medicare ,
New Legislation ,
Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) ,
Proposed Legislation
The biggest item on the agenda this week is continued discussion of the expiring enhanced advanced premium tax credits (APTCs). As part of the deal to reopen the government last month, Senate Majority Leader Thune (R-SD)...more
12/8/2025
/ Affordable Care Act ,
Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) ,
Congressional Committees ,
Government Shutdown ,
Health Insurance ,
Healthcare Costs ,
Healthcare Reform ,
Medicaid ,
Medicare ,
New Legislation ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Public Health Insurance Marketplace ,
Senate Committees ,
Tax Credits
Bipartisan talks on the soon-to-expire enhanced advanced premium tax credits (APTCs) are ongoing, and the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee held a hearing on healthcare affordability, but no bipartisan...more
12/8/2025
/ Affordable Care Act ,
Artificial Intelligence ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Digital Health ,
Drug Pricing ,
Health Insurance ,
Health Insurance Exchanges ,
Healthcare ,
Life Sciences ,
Long Term Care Facilities ,
Medicare Advantage ,
Medicare Part D ,
Organ Transplant Centers ,
Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) ,
Prescription Drugs ,
Proposed Rules
The end of the calendar year is a month away, and the continuing resolution under which Congress approved funding for most of the government ends on January 30, 2026....more
12/2/2025
/ Affordable Care Act ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Committee Meetings ,
Drug Pricing ,
Final Rules ,
Health Insurance ,
Healthcare ,
Healthcare Reform ,
Medicaid ,
Medicare ,
Medicare Advantage ,
New Legislation ,
Proposed Rules