Government: Page 10
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FTC moves to block Edwards’ JenaValve acquisition
Edwards Lifesciences and JenaValve said they remained committed to completing the deal and would defend the case in court.
By Susan Kelly • Aug. 7, 2025 -
ACA plans want to hike premiums by median of 18% next year: KFF
The KFF’s projection is steeper than an older analysis that relied on less complete data. It’s the largest increase that ACA insurers have asked for in more than five years as payers brace for membership turmoil.
By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Aug. 7, 2025 -
HHS abandons mRNA vaccine research
One vaccine expert called the move, which cancels some $500 million in messenger RNA research contracts, a “giant step backward for science.”
By Delilah Alvarado • Aug. 6, 2025 -
"Government Accountability Office Building" by kafka4prez is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
Trump administration illegally axed NIH grants, government watchdog says
The Government Accountability Office can file a lawsuit in an attempt to restore the grants. However, the agency has not opted to do so during the second Trump administration.
By Susanna Vogel • Aug. 6, 2025 -
More urban hospitals dually classifying as rural under Medicare: study
Dually classifying allows urban facilities to benefit from rural health programs, even as many rural facilities struggle financially and are at high risk of closure, researchers wrote.
By Emily Olsen • Aug. 6, 2025 -
States sue to stop ‘unconstitutional pressure campaign’ on gender-affirming care
A coalition of 16 states and Washington, D.C., argue the Trump administration is trying to ban gender-affirming care for minors without going through Congress.
By Susanna Vogel • Aug. 5, 2025 -
Trump administration finalizes health IT rule on prior authorization, electronic prescribing
The regulation should enable workflow automation to limit paperwork burdens on providers, regulators said.
By Emily Olsen • Aug. 1, 2025 -
CMS finalizes inpatient payment rate increase for 2026
Medicare finalized inpatient pay rates that are slightly higher than those proposed in April. Hospital groups were pleased with the increases, but said they were still inadequate.
By Sydney Halleman • Aug. 1, 2025 -
Trump administration to pilot 340B rebate model next year
The pilot is a significant departure from the current model, which gives hospitals upfront discounts for some drugs. Hospitals say 340B is a lifeline, while drugmakers say hospitals have abused the program.
By Susanna Vogel • Aug. 1, 2025 -
Trump administration launches health data sharing initiative
More than 60 companies, including Amazon, Google, UnitedHealth and Epic, have pledged to participate in the initiative, which the CMS said would “deliver results” early next year.
By Emily Olsen • July 31, 2025 -
PBM markets lack competition, new paper finds
The American Medical Association’s research, which found that local PBM markets are highly concentrated, is more fuel for critics of the powerful drug middlemen.
By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • July 31, 2025 -
Medicare Part D premiums likely to increase next year
The average monthly bid submitted by insurers for 2026 prescription drug plans increased 33% from last year, according to data released by the CMS.
By Emily Olsen • July 30, 2025 -
Judge halts Arkansas law forcing PBMs to sell pharmacies
U.S. District Judge Brian Miller agreed with pharmacy benefit managers that the state’s law may violate the Constitution in granting their request for a preliminary injunction.
By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • July 30, 2025 -
Retrieved from Vinay Prasad on May 08, 2025
Vinay Prasad, controversial FDA official, abruptly departs agency
Prasad's exit ends a tumultuous tenure during which he led a reworking of agency guidelines on COVID vaccines and his office got embroiled in controversy over a Duchenne gene therapy.
By Ben Fidler • July 29, 2025 -
FTC seeks comment on gender-affirming care, weighs enforcement options
The agency said it could use the comments to penalize medical professionals providing gender-affirming care. Scrutiny from the Trump administration has already caused several providers to halt the services for minors.
By Susanna Vogel • July 29, 2025 -
Top medical association warns RFK Jr. not to overhaul preventive services task force
The health secretary reportedly wants to fire all 16 members of the task force that advises insurers on what services they have to cover under the Affordable Care Act. The American Medical Association thinks that’s a bad idea.
By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • July 28, 2025 -
Trump administration releases AI adoption plan
While the plan rarely mentions healthcare, it is one of the administration’s first steps to set federal policies, which experts say is important to safely deploy the technology in the sector.
By Emily Olsen • July 25, 2025 -
UnitedHealth confirms it’s under investigation by DOJ
The company said it was complying with criminal and civil investigations from the Justice Department into its Medicare program.
By Sydney Halleman • July 24, 2025 -
A ‘bastardized’ program: GOP lawmakers eye Medicare Advantage reform
In a hearing this week, Republican legislators appeared open to changing the privatized Medicare program — once a GOP darling that’s fallen out of favor amid concerns about prior authorizations, care denials and profiteering.
By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • July 23, 2025 -
10M people will lose insurance due to GOP policy law: CBO
The final tally from the nonpartisan budget scorekeeper estimates the law will decrease federal healthcare spending by $1.1 trillion over the next decade.
By Emily Olsen • July 23, 2025 -
Democrat senators warn Medicaid cuts could worsen rural hospital cybersecurity
Funding cuts enacted in the GOP’s massive tax law will push cash-strapped rural providers to deprioritize cyber preparedness, according to Sens. Ron Wyden and Mark Warner.
By Emily Olsen • July 22, 2025 -
ACA health plan premiums could spike in 2026: report
Insurers are requesting a median premium increase of 15% for 2026 as they grapple with policy uncertainty for plans on the exchanges, according to an analysis from KFF and the Peterson Center on Healthcare.
By Emily Olsen • July 22, 2025 -
Humana refiles Medicare Advantage star ratings suit
Humana is taking a second bite at the apple to improve its sunken MA stars, filing an edited complaint with a Texas court on Monday. The insurer also announced plans to pare back its prior authorization policies.
By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • July 22, 2025 -
States sue Trump administration over ACA eligibility, enrollment rule
The lawsuit argues the rule would drive up the number of uninsured and saddle states with increased healthcare expenses.
By Emily Olsen • July 21, 2025 -
Civil monetary penalties against Medicare Advantage, Medicare drug plans rising, CMS data shows
Civil monetary penalties against payers for improperly delaying or denying coverage, hitting members with higher cost sharing than allowed and other issues have already surpassed $3 million this year.
By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • July 18, 2025