Judge permanently blocks NIH’s plan to cap funding, setting up appeal battle

A district judge has again halted the agency’s unilateral plan to cut billions of dollars that support biomedical research, which has already created widespread disruption.

By Ben Unglesbee • April 7, 2025

RFK Jr. won’t appear before Senate panel this week

HELP committee chair Bill Cassidy, R-La., had invited the HHS secretary to testify April 10 on the sweeping layoffs of federal health workers Kennedy ordered last month. A hearing could still take place later. 

By Ned Pagliarulo • April 7, 2025

Senate advances budget blueprint as healthcare braces for Medicaid cuts

The Senate’s budget resolution calls for fewer spending cuts than its House counterpart overall but preserves the $880 billion target for reductions under the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

By Emily Olsen • April 7, 2025

Judge temporarily blocks $11B in public health funding cuts

A district court judge granted an emergency restraining order during a hearing Thursday, citing a “voluminous” list of harms documented by the plaintiffs.

By Susanna Vogel • April 7, 2025

Trump rejects Biden administration plan to let Medicare cover obesity drugs

The decision is a setback for GLP-1 drugmakers, though it's not entirely surprising given the Trump administration’s focus on curbing government spending.

By Rebecca Pifer • April 7, 2025

FTC lawsuit against PBMs can move forward after Ferguson rejoins case

The FTC chair had previously been recused from the lawsuit. But after consulting with ethics lawyers, Ferguson changed his mind so the case could move forward, he said on Thursday.

By Rebecca Pifer • April 4, 2025

Dr. Oz confirmed to lead CMS

Dr. Mehmet Oz, a physician and TV personality, will lead the agency during a turbulent time for federal health programs as the HHS lays off thousands of staffers and Republicans float potential cuts to Medicaid.

By Emily Olsen • Updated April 4, 2025

VA names 9 medical centers for Oracle EHR in 2026

The sites include four medical centers and their associated clinics in Ohio, three in Indiana, one in Kentucky and another site in Alaska.

By Emily Olsen • April 3, 2025

Healthcare, medtech industries brace for tariffs

Lobby groups like the American Hospital Association and AdvaMed have so far failed to get medical devices and critical supplies carved out from the Trump administration’s tariffs.

By Susan Kelly , Susanna Vogel • April 3, 2025

FTC pauses PBM litigation in win for Caremark, Express Scripts, Optum Rx

The FTC says it doesn’t have enough active commissioners to move forward after President Donald Trump fired two Democrats last month.

By Rebecca Pifer • April 3, 2025

ACA enrollment increase driven by growth in states won by Trump: KFF

Sign-ups for coverage on the Affordable Care Act exchanges have more than doubled since 2020. Enrollment was particularly concentrated in states won by President Donald Trump in last year’s election.

By Emily Olsen • April 2, 2025

‘A cruel April Fool’s joke’: HHS layoffs characterized by confusion, errors

The sweeping workforce reduction that began Tuesday was made worse by mistakes and poor communication, including directions for some CMS employees to contact a director who died last year.

By Rebecca Pifer • Updated April 2, 2025

‘Just goodbyes and crying’: CDRH hit in HHS mass layoffs

Teams working on communications and policy were cut from the agency on Tuesday, according to multiple FDA workers.

By Elise Reuter • April 2, 2025

HHS layoffs could imperil medical device cybersecurity, Democrats say

The Food and Drug Administration, which oversees medical devices, has 3,500 jobs on the chopping block — which could hinder cybersecurity oversight, Democrats said during a House subcommittee hearing.

By Emily Olsen • April 2, 2025

States sue Trump administration over $11B cuts to public health funding

A coalition of 23 states and Washington, D.C., sued the HHS on Tuesday, arguing the cuts put states “at greater risk for future pandemics and the spread of otherwise preventable disease."

By Susanna Vogel • April 2, 2025

HHS begins layoffs in chaotic fashion

The Trump administration told employees the cuts are necessary to improve efficiency. “I’m in shock,” one worker said.

By Rebecca Pifer • April 1, 2025

Lawmakers push for more oversight of organ donation amid reports of line skipping

Sens. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Ron Wyden, D-Ore., sent letters to HHS officials asking why a growing number of organs have been allocated out of order.

By Susanna Vogel • Updated April 2, 2025

Texas judge overturns FDA’s lab developed test regulation, siding with industry groups

The judge vacated the FDA’s final rule, which was strongly opposed by the laboratory industry, and remanded the matter to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

By Susan Kelly • April 1, 2025

Trump administration to shut down CMS, HHS minority health offices amid restructuring

Closing the offices will impact efforts to improve the health of underserved patients in the U.S. — and is probably illegal, according to experts.

By Rebecca Pifer • March 31, 2025

Peter Marks, FDA’s top vaccine official, resigns

In his resignation letter, Marks cited disagreement with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who he said pushed “misinformation and lies.”

By Ned Pagliarulo • March 29, 2025

‘Everything is word of mouth’: HHS employees face uncertainty in looming Trump layoffs

Many HHS department heads and employees were unaware of plans to fire some 10,000 employees until they were publicly announced Thursday, sources said.

By Sydney Halleman , Ned Pagliarulo , Rebecca Pifer • March 28, 2025

Advocacy groups say Medicaid cuts would be ‘catastrophic’

In a letter to Senate Majority Leader John Thune, hundreds of groups said the potential cuts would “shred our nation’s social safety net,” delaying access to care and ultimately driving up healthcare costs.

By Emily Olsen • March 28, 2025

HHS announces sweeping reorganization, including cuts of 10K workers

Along with shrinking the HHS’ workforce further, the reorganization announced Thursday will cut the department from 28 divisions to 15 and close five regional offices.

By Rebecca Pifer • Updated March 27, 2025

DOJ backs up providers in suit against Claritev

Claritev, formerly known as MultiPlan, is being accused of conspiring with insurers to lower reimbursement for providers. The DOJ agrees, filing a statement of interest in the consolidated suit against the cost management firm.

By Rebecca Pifer • March 26, 2025

Senate committee advances Dr. Oz to lead CMS

Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee criticized the physician and TV personality ahead of the vote Tuesday for avoiding questions about potential cuts to Medicaid.

By Emily Olsen • March 26, 2025