Government: Page 3
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Fired CDC director says RFK Jr. aims to change childhood vaccine schedule
Susan Monarez told senators at a hearing Wednesday that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pushed her out for refusing to rubber-stamp changes.
By Delilah Alvarado • Sept. 17, 2025 -
How to reform Medicare’s physician fee schedule to reprioritize primary care
America’s primary care chassis is crumbling, and how Medicare pays physicians is partially to blame. Expanding value-based payment arrangements could be the answer, experts say.
By Rebecca Pifer • Sept. 17, 2025 -
GOP bill extends telehealth flexibilities, sidesteps ACA subsidies
The continuing resolution would preserve virtual care flexibilities through Nov. 21. But it makes no mention of extending more generous financial assistance for people who buy plans on the ACA exchanges.
By Emily Olsen • Sept. 17, 2025 -
House lawmakers scrutinize nonprofit hospitals’ tax-exempt status
Republicans pushed for more oversight, or complete removal, of nonprofits’ tax-exempt status. Democrats warned restrictions could cause hospital closures.
By Susanna Vogel • Sept. 17, 2025 -
Democrat governors urge Congress to extend ACA subsidies
Eighteen blue state governors are warning of a looming affordability cliff for millions of Americans if lawmakers allow generous financial assistance to expire at the end of this year.
By Rebecca Pifer • Sept. 16, 2025 -
CMS opens applications for Rural Health Transformation Fund
States have been anticipating more details about the program since July. Now, they will have until Nov. 5 to submit applications for a piece of the $50 billion pie.
By Susanna Vogel • Sept. 16, 2025 -
A key CDC panel meets this week to discuss vaccines. Here’s what to know.
A two-day meeting could prove an inflection point in HHS Secretary Kennedy’s efforts to overhaul U.S. vaccine policy, as hand-picked advisers are set to vote on guidelines for measles, hepatitis B and COVID shots.
By Delilah Alvarado • Sept. 15, 2025 -
FTC warns healthcare companies about restrictive noncompete contracts
Chair Andrew Ferguson has sent letters to large healthcare employers and staffing firms asking them to review their employment contracts as the FTC pursues targeted enforcement of illegal noncompetes.
By Rebecca Pifer • Sept. 11, 2025 -
Wyden urges FTC to investigate Microsoft over Ascension cyberattack
The influential senator argued the technology giant delivered “dangerous, insecure software” to the health system that contributed to a massive cyberattack last year.
By Emily Olsen • Sept. 11, 2025 -
340B incentivizes hospital-clinic M&A, drives higher health spending: CBO
The nonpartisan scorekeeper’s report reinforces longstanding concerns about the 340B drug discount program, including that it incentivizes behaviors that increase health costs for federal and private payers.
By Rebecca Pifer • Sept. 10, 2025 -
CMS issues guidance on cuts to Medicaid state-directed payments
The guidance is meant to give states more time to meet requirements laid out in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
By Susanna Vogel • Sept. 10, 2025 -
AHA accuses drug companies of colluding to impose 340B rebate plans
The hospital lobby wants the Trump administration to investigate Johnson & Johnson, Eli Lilly, Sanofi, Novartis and Bristol Myers Squibb, citing the suspicious timing of their 340B rebate proposals.
By Rebecca Pifer • Sept. 9, 2025 -
FTC drops Biden-era noncompete ban but promises continued enforcement
Industries “plagued by thickets of noncompete agreements” will soon see warning letters from the agency, its chairman said Friday.
By Ryan Golden • Sept. 8, 2025 -
House Republicans probe CVS for alleged HIPAA violation
In June, CVS sent a mass text to pharmacy customers in Louisiana urging them to contact their representatives to oppose a PBM reform bill. That may have been illegal, two Republican congressmen say.
By Rebecca Pifer • Sept. 8, 2025 -
States unprepared to implement Medicaid work requirements: report
Implementing work requirements should be a “multi-year project,” researchers said, but states have just until next year to prepare.
By Susanna Vogel • Sept. 8, 2025 -
At Senate hearing, lawmakers express dissatisfaction with RFK Jr.’s vaccine moves
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced criticism Thursday even from Republican lawmakers over changes to federal vaccine policy as well as a leadership crisis at the CDC.
By Delilah Alvarado , Jonathan Gardner • Sept. 4, 2025 -
HHS expands access to catastrophic plans ahead of premium pain on ACA exchanges
The move will give more Americans a coverage alternative with low monthly premiums come November’s open enrollment, but could come at the expense of people who remain in standard Affordable Care Act plans.
By Rebecca Pifer • Sept. 4, 2025 -
Renal denervation gets strong backing from cardiologists ahead of Medicare coverage decision
Doctors told the CMS that more patients need access to the procedure, with one calling it the start of a new era in hypertension management.
By Susan Kelly • Sept. 4, 2025 -
CMS tweaks AHEAD all-payer model for states
The model will now run for one additional year and require providers to assume more downside risk.
By Rebecca Pifer • Sept. 4, 2025 -
HHS threatens crackdown on information blocking
The HHS says it will commit new resources to targeting and punishing providers, health IT companies and other groups found information blocking, though the pledge is scarce on details.
By Rebecca Pifer • Sept. 4, 2025 -
Lawmakers scrutinize AI’s role in prior authorization, mental healthcare in House hearing
Witnesses said that more oversight is needed to help the industry overcome a “foundational trust deficit” currently blocking uptake of artificial intelligence in healthcare.
By Susanna Vogel • Sept. 4, 2025 -
UnitedHealthcare, Humana are gaming Medicare Advantage risk adjustment, analysis finds
The research from the Alliance for Community Health Plans adds to existing evidence that major insurers are unfairly profiting from MA’s risk adjustment system, driving billions of dollars in unnecessary costs.
By Rebecca Pifer • Sept. 3, 2025 -
DOJ sues ProMedica Health for ‘non-existent, grossly substandard’ care at nursing homes
The government alleges executives at ProMedica pressured four facilities to increase admissions and cut staffing, even while patient care deteriorated.
By Susanna Vogel • Sept. 3, 2025 -
Medicare saved record $2.4B from largest accountable care program last year
ACOs are also improving in quality, according to the CMS data. Still, the Medicare Shared Savings Program has struggled with waning provider buy-in.
By Rebecca Pifer • Sept. 3, 2025 -
Over 1,000 HHS workers call for RFK Jr. to step down
The letter cites turmoil at the CDC, which is reeling from the firing of Director Susan Monarez and the departure of at least four high-level leaders last week.
By Rebecca Pifer • Sept. 3, 2025