Health Care Policy Update – Weekly Wrap-up and What’s Ahead – January 21, 2025


When is Congress in session? House 2025 Calendar Senate 2025 Calendar

What’s Ahead: This Week

Hearings and Markups – 

  • Tuesday, January 21
  • Wednesday, January 22
    • House Ways and Means Committee, “Member Day Hearing on Matters Within the Committee’s Tax Jurisdiction.” Additional Information
    • Senate Budget Committee, “The Nomination of the Honorable Russell T. Vought, of Virginia, to be Director of the Office of Management and Budget.” Additional Information
  • Thursday, January 23
    • Senate Agriculture Committee, “Hearing to Examine the Nomination of Brooke Rollins, of Texas, to be Secretary of Agriculture.” Additional Information
    • Senate Finance Committee, “Hearing to Examine the Nomination of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to be Secretary of Health and Human Services.” Not yet formally announced.
  • Friday, January 24
    • Senate HELP Committee, “Hearing to Examine the Nomination of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to be Secretary of Health and Human Services.” Not yet formally announced.

Notable Policy Events –

  • Tuesday, January 21
    • HHS ASTP, “Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA) January 2025 Information Call.” Free, Virtual. Additional Information
  • Thursday, January 23 to Friday, January 24
    • Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC), “January 2025 Public Meeting.” Free, Virtual. Additional Information
  • Thursday, January 23
    • American Enterprise Institute (AEI), “The Future of the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit.” Free, Hybrid. Additional Information

Weekly Wrap-Up: Notable Health Care Developments from Last Week

President Trump Inauguration – On January 20, President Trump was sworn in as President and signed several executive orders (EO), including an EO which rescinds several executive actions by the outgoing Biden Administration, an EO establishing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), and an EO issuing a regulatory freeze. President Trump issued a similar regulatory freeze during his first term.

Medicare –

  • On January 15, HHS released an issue brief examining Medicare Part B enrollee use and spending on biosimilars between 2018 and 2023. Issue Brief Press Release
  • On January 16, HHS released a report, reviewing the associate impact of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA) on utilization and spending among older adult Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries who had a mental health disorder. Report
  • On January 17, CMS announced the selection of 15 additional drugs covered under Medicare Part D for price negotiations, which included diabetes and weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. Announcement Fact Sheet Drug Price Negotiation
  • On January 17, HHS published a report on behavioral health prevalence, utilization, and spending among older adult Medicare beneficiaries. Report
Medicaid –

  • On January 13, CMS awarded planning grants to promote continuity of care for people who have been incarcerated to 12 states and territories. The second application period for planning grants ends on March 17. Bulletin NOFO
  • Also on January 13, CMS published an article on Medicaid and CHIP, highlighting the Biden Administration’s accomplishments remaining challenges, and lessons learned. Article
  • Also on January 13, CMS announced the Connecting Kids to Coverage (CKC) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). The deadline for applicants is March 7. Bulletin NOFO
  • On January 15, CMS released the Medicaid and CHIP Core Set Data Dashboard. Bulletin Data Dashboard
  • Also on January 15, CMS released an updated State Health Official (SHO) letter and guidance on requirements for states to provide continuous eligibility to children. Bulletin SHO Letters and FAQs
  • Also on January 15, CMS released an informational bulletin on opportunities to improve HIV testing, prevention, and care delivery for Medicaid and CHIP beneficiaries. Bulletin Informational Bulletin
  • On January 16, CMS released a toolkit to help Medicaid agencies implement the Medicaid Advisory Committee (MAC) and Beneficiary Advisory Council (BAC) provisions of the Ensuring Access to Medicaid Services (CMS-2442-F) Final Rule. Bulletin Final Rule
  • Also on January 16, HHS released a report, which provided a descriptive analysis of postpartum health care use among the Medicaid population before and during the PHE, when the continuous enrollment condition was in effect. Report
  • On January 17, HHS released a report on spending and delivery of long-term services and supports (LTSS) between 2016-2019. Report
  • Also on January 17, HHS released a report, which examined national trends in telehealth service delivery to Medicaid and CHIP enrollees. Report

Marketplaces –

  • On January 13, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report detailing the implementation of a premium subsidy offered to workers who lost jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Full Report Highlights
  • On January 14, CMS published an article on the ACA marketplaces, highlighting the Biden Administration’s accomplishments, remaining challenges, and lessons learned. Article
  • On January 15, CMS released the HHS Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2026. Fact Sheet Final Rule

Payment & Delivery System Models –

  • On January 15, CMS published an article on the CMS Innovation Center, highlighting the Biden Administration’s accomplishments, remaining challenges, and lessons learned. Article
  • Also on January 15, HHS released an issue brief examining the impact of alternative payment models on Medicare spending and quality. Issue Brief Press Release
  • Also on January 15, CMS announced participation in accountable care organization (ACO) models in 2025, including the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP), ACO REACH, ACO Primary Care Flex, and the Kidney Care Choices (KCC) Model. As of January 2025, 53.4 percent of Traditional Medicare beneficiaries are in an accountable care relationship with a provider. Press Release
  • On January 16, CMS published three articles on the CMS Innovation Center on the Quality Pathway strategic initiative; financial benchmarks; and its decarbonization efforts. Quality Article Benchmarking Article Decarbonization Article

Public Health Prevention, Preparedness, Surveillance – 

  • On January 13, FDA Commission Califf published a blog, reflecting on COVID-19 vaccines and remaining concerns on vaccine uptake. Blog
  • On January 14, the White House published a report on the Administration’s roadmap for pandemic preparedness and response. Report
  • On January 16, HHS announced it intends to provide $211 million to accelerate and enhance platform capability for emerging infectious diseases. Press Release
  • On January 17, HHS announced approximately $590 million in funding to accelerate the development of mRNA-based pandemic influenza vaccines. Press Release

Health IT, Privacy, & Digital Health –

  • On January 13, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announced notice of funding opportunities (NOFOs) for the Regional Telehealth Resource Center (RTRC) Program and the National Telehealth Resource Center (NTRC) Program. Applications are due April 14, 2025. NTRC NOFO RTRC NOFO
  • Also on January 13, HHS issued the 2024 Office of the Secretary Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Trust Fund (OS-PCORTF) Annual Report, which details the data infrastructure accomplishments of multi-agency projects on topics including maternal health, substance use disorder, and intellectual and developmental disabilities. Press Release Report
  • On January 14, HHS ASTP published Draft United States Core Data for Interoperability (USCDI) v6 and proposed to add six new data elements. Draft USCDI v6
  • On January 15, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) released three telemedicine rules: a final rule on buprenorphine treatment via telehealth, a final rule that exempts Veteran Affairs practitioners from special registration requirements, and a proposed rule to create a special registration process for providers prescribing controlled substances via telehealth. Buprenorphine Final Rule Continuity of Care Final Rule Special Registrations Proposed Rule
  • On January 19, National Coordinator for Health Information Technology Tripathi published a blog, highlighting the Biden Administration’s accomplishments. Blog
Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Policy – 
  • On January 13, HHS issued a report detailing barriers to Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Diagnosis (ADHD) in adults. Press Release Report
  • On January 14, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released an issue brief on Black youth suicide and the role state leaders can play to address this issue. Issue Brief Press Release
  • On January 15, SAMHSA released updated national behavioral health crisis care guidance. Guidelines Model Definitions Press Release
  • On January 16, SAMHSA released fact sheets for individuals dealing with grief and loss, for transition age youth, and a toolkit for implementing Individual Placement and Support (IPS), a supported employment model for people with mental illness. Grief Fact Sheets IPS Tool Kit Transition Age Youth
  • On January 17, CMS and FDA published an article in Stat News, reviewing the recently established payment for digital mental health treatments (DMHT). Article DMHT
  • Also on January 17, the Departments of Labor, HHS, and Treasury (tri-agencies) issued its 2024 report to Congress on the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) enforcement and implementation. 2023 Enforcement Fact Sheet Report Press Release
  • Also on January 17, a large employer organization filed a lawsuit against the tri-agencies’ MHPAEA final rule. Case Final Rule

Prescription Drugs & Health Innovation –

  • On January 14, the Federal Trade Commission published its second interim staff report on pharmacy benefit managers. Press Release Report
  • On January 16, HHS released an issue brief examining the effect of market entry on generic drug prices. Issue Brief Press Release

Non-Medical Drivers of Health –

  • On January 13, HHS released a fact sheet on its Postpartum Maternal Health Collaborative. Fact Sheet
  • On January 16, the FDA issued a proposed rule requiring front-of-package nutrition labels on most packaged foods. Comments are due May 16. Constituent Update Fact Sheet Press Release Proposed Rule
  • Also on January 16, HHS OCR and a nonprofit teaching hospital entered into a Voluntary Resolution Agreement (VRA), which aims to improve maternal health outcomes for Black, Latina, and other maternal patients of color. Press Release VRA

Health Systems & Health Care Workforce – On January 15, HHS announced a $60 million investment to expand hours of operation at 125 community health centers. Awardee List Press Release

Misc. –

  • On January 15, HHS issued a report on consolidation and private equity in health care markets. Press Release Report
  • On January 17, HRSA announced key technology and governance advances in its Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Modernization initiative. Announcement OPTN Modernization Initiative
Legislative Activity
Introduced Legislation –
  • On January 14, Rep. Carter (R-GA) and six cosponsors introduced the Healthcare Freedom and Choice Act (H.R. 379), which would rescind the Biden Administration rule limiting short-term, limited-duration insurance to four months. Bill Text Press Release
  • On January 16, Rep. Brecheen (R-OK) and seven cosponsors introduced the Healthy SNAP Act (H.R. 479), which would require the Secretary to designate food and food products to be made available under the supplemental nutrition assistance program. Press Release
  • Also on January 16, Reps. Connolly (D-VA), Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Mfume (D-MD), and Bacon introduced the Saving the Civil Service Act (H.R. 492), which would prohibit the establishment of schedule F of the excepted service. Bill Text Press Release
  • Also on January 16, Rep. Dingell (D-MI) and 21 bipartisan cosponsors introduced the Medicare Hearing Aid Coverage Act (H.R. 500), which would remove the exclusion of Medicare coverage for hearing aids and examinations. Press Release
  • Also on January 16, Reps. Smith (R-NE) and Sewell (D-AL) introduced the Critical Access Hospital Relief Act (H.R. 538), which would remove the 96-hour physician certification requirement for inpatient critical access hospital services. Press Release
  • Also on January 16, Reps. Steube (R-FL), Larson (D-CT), Smith (R-NE), Boyle (D-PA), Van Duyne (R-TX), and Davis (D-NC) introduced the Chiropractic Medicare Coverage Modernization Act (H.R. 539), which would provide Medicare coverage for all physicians’ services furnished by doctors of chiropractic within the scope of their license. Press Release
  • Also on January 16, Reps. Van Duyne (R-TX), Crenshaw (R-TX), and Meuser (R-PA) introduced the HSA Modernization Act (H.R. 548), which would modernize health savings accounts. Bill Text Press Release
  • Also on January 16, Rep. Wittman (R-VA) introduced the Veteran’s Choice Accountability Act (H.R. 554), which would expand veteran access to non-VA medical care. Bill Text Press Release
  • Also on January 16, Sens. Cassidy (R-LA), Hassan (D-NH), Warnock (D-GA), and Young (R-IN) introduced the Connected Maternal Online Monitoring (MOM) Act (S. 141), which would identify and address barriers to coverage of remote physiologic devices under State Medicaid programs to improve maternal and child health outcomes for pregnant and postpartum women. Bill Text Press Release