After three appearances at congressional committees last week, US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kennedy will testify in front of four additional committees this week....more
4/21/2026
/ Appropriations Bill ,
Budget Reconciliation ,
Congressional Committees ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Federal Budget ,
Final Rules ,
Medicare Fraud ,
National Institute of Health (NIH) ,
Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) ,
Public Health ,
Rural Health Care Providers ,
Telehealth ,
Vaccinations
Congress’ two-week recess has officially ended, with the House returning tomorrow and the Senate back in session today. Both chambers are returning to full agendas, with attention focused on budget hearings, ongoing...more
4/14/2026
/ Appropriations Bill ,
Budget Reconciliation ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Congressional Committees ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
Federal Budget ,
Government Agencies ,
Healthcare Fraud ,
Healthcare Reform ,
Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Medicare ,
Proposed Rules ,
Public Health ,
Regulatory Oversight
Even with both chambers in recess this week, congressional attention remains focused on funding the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The House is expected to take up the Senate-passed DHS funding measure, which...more
4/6/2026
/ Appropriations Bill ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Customs and Border Protection ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
Federal Funding ,
Final Rules ,
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Medicaid ,
Medicare ,
Medicare Advantage ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Regulatory Oversight
Both chambers will be in session this week, although congressional attention will likely be focused on activity related to funding the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS)....more
3/24/2026
/ Appropriations Bill ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Congressional Committees ,
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
Federal Budget ,
Final Rules ,
Government Agencies ,
Health Care Providers ,
Healthcare ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Medicare ,
Medicare Advantage ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Senate Committees ,
Senate Confirmation Hearings
The House will be back in town on Tuesday after severe weather delayed its return. The House will have a busy week with multiple health hearings, while the Senate will largely be focused on Sen. Markwayne Mullin’s (R-OK)...more
3/17/2026
/ Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
Health Insurance ,
Healthcare ,
Healthcare Costs ,
Healthcare Fraud ,
Healthcare Reform ,
Hospitals ,
Medicaid ,
Medicare ,
National Institute of Health (NIH) ,
New Legislation ,
Physicians ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Senate Confirmation Hearings
It will likely be a slow healthcare week in Washington, DC. The House is out of session this week, and while the Senate is in session, most of its attention will be on immigration-related hearings, pending nominations, and...more
3/10/2026
/ CBO Report ,
Congressional Budget Office ,
Congressional Committees ,
Congressional Investigations & Hearings ,
Federal Budget ,
Health Insurance ,
Healthcare ,
Healthcare Costs ,
Healthcare Fraud ,
Healthcare Reform ,
Medicaid ,
Pharmaceutical Industry ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Senate Committees ,
Senate Finance Committee ,
Supply Chain
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
The record-breaking government shutdown ended last week with the passage of a continuing resolution to fund the government through January 30, 2026. This week, both chambers are back for one of the few remaining in-session...more
11/18/2025
/ Affordable Care Act ,
Appropriations Bill ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Continuing Resolution ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Government Shutdown ,
Health Insurance ,
Healthcare ,
Medicaid ,
Medicare ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Senate Committees ,
Senate Finance Committee ,
Tax Credits ,
Telehealth
On November 9, 2025, the Senate voted to proceed to consideration of a continuing resolution (CR) through January 30, 2026, that includes three full-year appropriations bills for fiscal year (FY) 2026 and additional...more
11/11/2025
/ Affordable Care Act ,
Appropriations Bill ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Continuing Resolution ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Federal Budget ,
Federal Funding ,
Government Shutdown ,
Health Care Providers ,
Health Insurance ,
Healthcare ,
Healthcare Reform ,
Low-Income Issues ,
Medicare ,
Military Contracts ,
Public Health ,
SNAP Program ,
Trump Administration ,
Veterans
In last week’s Preview, we said this week would be one to watch for movement on the shutdown because of a few important dates. On November 1, 2025, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace open enrollment began, where...more
The US government shutdown has now lasted nearly one month, marking it as the longest full shutdown in US history, surpassing the previous record held by the partial shutdown of 35 days in 2018 – 2019. As the shutdown...more
This week will prove a key inflection point in the government shutdown. On November 1, 2025, the shutdown will pass the one-month mark. November 1 is also the date the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will run out of...more
We are 20 days into the government shutdown, making this the longest full shutdown in US history (the 35-day shutdown in 2018 – 2019 was partial). Pressure to end the shutdown grows as more federal employees and programs...more
10/21/2025
/ Affordable Care Act ,
Continuing Resolution ,
Federal Employees ,
Federal Funding ,
Government Shutdown ,
Health Insurance ,
New Legislation ,
Open Enrollment ,
Premiums ,
Public Health Insurance Marketplace ,
Senate Committees ,
SNAP Program ,
Tax Credits ,
Trump Administration ,
USDA
It’s a short work week in Washington, DC, given the Monday federal holiday, and the week is shaping up to be short on progress as well. The government has been shut down for 13 days, and both sides continue to dig in their...more