Express Scripts, Caremark, Optum Rx plan to appeal effort to block FTC lawsuit

The “Big Three” PBMs are kicking their suit up to the 8th Circuit and, in the meantime, are once again asking a Missouri district judge to halt the FTC’s administrative case against them.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Feb. 24, 2025

Medicaid cuts could worsen home care worker shortage: KFF

States have increased provider payment rates to address workforce shortages, but they may have to cut back if spending cuts hit Medicaid, according to the health policy researcher.

By Emily Olsen • Feb. 20, 2025

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Surprise Billing

Federal legislation banning surprise bills has hit a barrage of roadblocks, complicating efforts to protect consumers from unexpected out-of-network charges.

By Healthcare Dive staff

In FDA job cuts, experts see threat of far-reaching impact

"Any place that gets cut, it's going to have an impact, because there's not any spare personnel at FDA,” said former agency commissioner Robert Califf, of the layoffs.

By Jonathan Gardner , Delilah Alvarado • Feb. 20, 2025

Device industry scrambles as FDA job cuts cause delays

The cuts at the FDA’s device center could add “months, if not years” to the time it takes to bring products to market, an attorney said.

By Elise Reuter • Feb. 20, 2025

FTC case against Caremark, Express Scripts, Optum Rx can move forward, judge rules

A Missouri district court judge on Tuesday said stopping the FTC’s suit against the Big Three PBMs would be “against the public’s interest.” 

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Feb. 20, 2025

FTC retains stricter merger guidelines under Trump

FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson sent a memo to agency staff on Tuesday clarifying the Biden-era guidelines will remain in place — for now — in a setback for healthcare mergers.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Feb. 19, 2025

Trump administration slashes funding for ACA navigators

The CMS on Friday announced a record cut to funding for community groups that help consumers learn about and select ACA plans, suggesting President Donald Trump plans to once again chip away at the exchanges.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Feb. 18, 2025

RFK Jr. confirmed as HHS secretary

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a prominent vaccine critic, was confirmed Thursday by the U.S. Senate in a 52-48 vote to serve as the nation’s top health official.

By Emily Olsen • Feb. 13, 2025

GOP calls for $1.5T in cuts, much of which could come from healthcare

House Republicans unveiled their budget wish list last week, which directs the Energy and Commerce Committee — which oversees Medicare and Medicaid — to find $880 billion in savings.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Feb. 13, 2025

Trump administration healthcare executive orders hit snags in court

Although the directives to limit publicly available healthcare data and cut federal funding for medical research have been temporarily blocked by federal judges, providers face uncertainty as they await final rulings.

By Susanna Vogel • Feb. 12, 2025

Trump orders agencies to plan for ‘large-scale’ job cuts

While Trump’s executive order provides substantial power to Elon Musk’s DOGE effort, it’s not specifically targeted to health agencies like the FDA.

By Ned Pagliarulo • Feb. 12, 2025

How Trump’s trade fight could impact the medtech industry

Relocating manufacturing would require substantial capital investment, but the timespan for the president’s new tariffs is unclear, supply chain experts said.

By Susan Kelly • Feb. 12, 2025

Former FDA head Gottlieb calls for less regulation of certain AI tools

Scott Gottlieb supports a reversion to an earlier interpretation of the 21st Century Cures Act, which would exempt more types of clinical decision support software from the FDA’s premarket review process.

By Elise Reuter • Feb. 11, 2025

Nearly two-thirds of Medicaid beneficiaries already work: KFF

Most adults on Medicaid are employed, suggesting few beneficiaries wouldn’t meet a work requirement policy being considered by Republicans in Congress.

By Emily Olsen • Feb. 7, 2025

Providers sue Trump over gender-affirming care policies, purge of health information

Doctors groups signed on to lawsuits seeking to overturn policies that limit gender-affirming care for minors and remove some public-facing health information.

By Susanna Vogel • Feb. 6, 2025

Elon Musk’s DOGE gains access to CMS

The CMS said it’s working to find “opportunities for more effective and efficient use of resources in line with meeting the goals of President Trump.” The agency could be a big — and politically delicate — target for DOGE.

By Emily Olsen • Feb. 6, 2025

Preserving access, affordability are Americans’ top healthcare priorities: Gallup

Democrats and Republicans both want to see federal lawmakers address critical public health concerns. However, they were split on which concerns were most important.

By Susanna Vogel • Feb. 5, 2025

RFK Jr. secured support of key Republican with vaccine pledges

Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., whose “yes” vote advanced Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination as health secretary, said Kennedy promised to maintain a key CDC vaccine panel without change. 

By Delilah Alvarado • Feb. 4, 2025

RFK Jr. clears key hurdle on path to HHS secretary

A key Senate committee voted to advance Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination even after some legislators raised concerns about his previous vaccine stances and confusion surrounding programs like Medicare and Medicaid.

By Sydney Halleman , Delilah Alvarado , Jonathan Gardner • Feb. 4, 2025

Hospitals seek to intervene in J&J lawsuit against HHS to protect valuable drug discounts

340B Health and two safety-net hospitals want to help the government prove that drugmakers are required to give upfront discounts on 340B drugs.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Feb. 3, 2025

RFK Jr. fumbles Medicare basics during second confirmation hearing

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., nominee for HHS secretary, seemed unfamiliar with the massive insurance program during last week’s hearing, mistakenly saying Medicare Part A mainly paid for primary care or physicians.

By Emily Olsen • Jan. 30, 2025

Trump seeks to ban federal funding for youth gender-affirming care

Over half of U.S. states currently have laws banning or reducing access to gender-affirming care like puberty blockers for minors. Under the new directive, even more providers could stop offering treatments.

By Susanna Vogel • Jan. 30, 2025

RFK Jr. signals willingness to restrict abortion, despite prior stance

At a Senate hearing Wednesday, Democratic and Republican senators sought to tie Kennedy down on how he’d approach the issue as health secretary, if confirmed.

By Emily Olsen , Sydney Halleman , Delilah Alvarado • Updated Jan. 30, 2025

RFK Jr. appears confused about Medicaid, Medicare during confirmation hearing

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. incorrectly said that Medicaid was fully funded by the federal government and that Medicare is a fee-for-service program during a hearing in front of the Senate Finance Committee last week.

By Emily Olsen • Jan. 29, 2025

White House rescinds memo pausing federal funding following pushback

The Office of Management and Budget rolled back a memo halting federal funding that caused widespread confusion and alarm. But “this is NOT a rescission of the federal funding freeze,” Trump’s top press secretary said.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Jan. 29, 2025