Government: Page 10


  • The Federal Trade Commission emblem on the Constitution Center in Washington, D.C.
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    Laurel Deppen/Healthcare Dive
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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
  • Two men stand on the sidewalk outside of an insurance agency.
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    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
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    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 Aug. 7, 2025
  • A person in a business suit speaks at a lectern with a U.S. flag in the background.
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    Rebecca Noble via Getty Images
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    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 Aug. 6, 2025
  • U.S. Government Accountability Office
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    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
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    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 Aug. 6, 2025
  • A gavel rests on a pile of money wrapped with a stethoscope.
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    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
  • Doctor studies financial records.
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    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 Aug. 1, 2025
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    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 Aug. 1, 2025
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    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
  • A picture of Mehemet Oz sitting behind a table in a Senate hearing room.
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    Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    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 July 31, 2025
  • A man handing a prescription to a pharmacists
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    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 July 31, 2025
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    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 July 30, 2025
  • Flag blows outside state capitol building.
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    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 July 30, 2025
  • A smiling portrait of Vinay Prasad, the director of CBER, set against a sparkling light background.
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    Retrieved from Vinay Prasad on May 08, 2025
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    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
  • Ferguson and Holyoak join FTC
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    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
  • U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testifies before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions on Capitol Hill on May 14, 2025 in Washington, DC.
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    Anna Moneymaker / Staff via Getty Images
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    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 July 28, 2025
  • President Donald Trump speaks onstage.
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    Roy Rochlin / Stringer via Getty Images
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    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 July 25, 2025
  • DOJ antitrust, Trump nominee
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    Yin Yang via Getty Images
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    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 July 24, 2025
  • Sen. David Schweikert speaks during a Ways and Means subcommittee hearing.
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    Rebecca Pifer/Healthcare Dive
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    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 July 23, 2025
  • U.S. President Donald Trump, joined by Republican lawmakers, holds a gavel after signing the "One, Big Beautiful Bill" Act into law during an Independence Day military family picnic on the South Lawn of the White House on July 04, 2025 in Washington, DC.
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    Eric Lee / Stringer via Getty Images
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    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 July 23, 2025
  • Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore.
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    Drew Angerer/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    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 July 22, 2025
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    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 July 22, 2025
  • A gavel rests on a pile of money wrapped with a stethoscope.
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    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 July 22, 2025
  • A sign reading OBAMACARE hangs outside a storefront.
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    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
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    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 July 21, 2025
  • The HHS in DC
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    Alex Wong via Getty Images
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    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 July 18, 2025