Insights: Healthcare

Medicare Advantage (DOJ/Brokers)

The DOJ has filed a False Claims Act (FCA) lawsuit against Aetna, Elevance, and Humana – as well as affiliated brokers eHealth, GoHealth, and SelectQuote – alleging they orchestrated a kickback scheme in which the insurers bribed the brokers to steer would-be Medicare Advantage (MA) beneficiaries exclusively into their policies. The complaint...

Medicare (Site Neutral)

The prospect of Medicare site neutral reforms has been simmering in the background of the reconciliation debate, but the issue has largely been sidelined as Republicans debate the breadth of their proposed Medicaid cuts. However, Republican leaders are increasingly struggling to balance the demands of moderates and conservatives regarding the...

Drug Pricing (MFN)

The White House has indicated that President Trump will issue an executive order (EO) – possibly as soon as next week – directing his administration to resurrect the Most-Favored Nation (MFN) drug pricing program seen during his first term. This comes on the heels of Trump pushing Congressional Republicans to consider including a Medicaid-focused...

The House Energy & Commerce (E&C) Committee is targeting next Wednesday (May 7) for a vote on its portion of Republican’s reconciliation (tax/spending) legislation. Ahead of that vote, there have been a variety of developments that will influence the scope and scale of the Medicaid cuts being considered by the committee.

Nutrition Policy/Food Safety

HHS Secretary Kennedy and FDA Commissioner Makary have announced a multipart plan to phase out eight petroleum-based food dyes from the U.S. food supply, citing potential links to health issues like ADHD and cancer in children.

Medicaid Provider Taxes

A proposed rule entitled “Preserving Medicaid Funding for Vulnerable Populations – Closing a Health Care-Related Tax Loophole” has appeared on the regulatory agenda for HHS/CMS and is currently at the Office of Management & Budget (OMB) for review before being released. Currently, nothing definitive is known of the proposed rulemaking aside from...