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Industry Updates

This broad category includes articles concerning health insurance costs, carrier and health plan news, changing benefits technology, and surveys by the Kaiser Family Foundation and others on employee benefits.

FDA Offers to Trade Faster Drug Reviews for Lower US Prices

Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary said his agency may fast-track new drugs from pharmaceutical companies that “equalize” the cost of their medicines between the US and other countries, an unusual proposition from the regulator that’s long avoided contentious pricing debates. The comments, made in an interview on Bloomberg Television’s Wall Street Week with David Westin, offer insight into ...

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200% Drug Tariffs Loom As Trump Pushes Reshoring Of Pharma Manufacturing

The Trump administration is threatening to impose large tariffs on drugs imported into the United States, although they wouldn’t take effect for at least a year. “If they have to bring the pharmaceuticals into the country, the drugs and other things into the country, they’re going to be tariffed at a very, very high rate, like ...

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Judge Scraps Biden-Era Medical Debt Credit Reporting Rule

A federal judge in Texas reversed a Biden-era rule on Friday that permitted medical debt to be wiped from credit reports, according to court documents. U.S. District Judge Sean Jordan, a 2019 appointee of President Trump, said the rule by the previous administration exceeds the authority of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). The CFPB, an independent agency, finalized the rule in ...

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CMS Proposes 3.6% Pay Bump For Docs, Takes Aim At Chronic Conditions In Physician Fee Schedule

The Trump administration is proposing a pay bump for physicians in 2026, alongside new reforms that align with the agency’s Make America Healthy Again positioning. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released the proposed physician fee schedule on Monday evening, which would set the conversion factor, or the amount that Medicare pays per work ...

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HHS Rescinds Undocumented Immigrant Access To Federal Health Benefits

The Department of Health and Human Services has rescinded a policy from 1998 that gave undocumented immigrants access to certain federal health benefits, such as Head Start and mental health programs. Issued by President Bill Clinton, the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 was passed into law and deemed a major welfare ...

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Congress Revives Fight For Coverage For Wegovy And Other Weight-Loss Drugs

Members of the House have brought back efforts to pass the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act bill. The bill would have a direct effect only on Medicare Part D prescription drug plans: It would let the plans cover weight-loss drugs for obese people and for overweight people with weight-related health problems. The drug coverage provision does ...

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States Brace For Reversal Of ACA Coverage Gains Under Budget Bill

Many of those states fear that the additional red tape — especially requirements that would end automatic reenrollment — would have an outsize impact on their policyholders.

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Trump Signs Big Tax And Spending Bill Into Law As Industry Groups Decry Healthcare Cuts

President Donald Trump signed into law on July 4 his sweeping tax and spending package after the House secured the bill’s passage one day before in a 218-214 vote. The House vote ensured the healthcare industry-opposed package would be signed into law in line with the self-imposed July 4 deadline. Thomas Massie, R-Kentucky, Brian Fitzpatrick, ...

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Tax Law Signing May Lead To New Fight For PBM, HSA And HRA Changes

A legal analyst says conservative House Republicans may now press for health provisions left out of the final version of OBBBA.

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Centene Stock Sinks As Insurer Withdraws 2025 Guidance

Centene pulled back its guidance for the year after receiving an actuarial report suggesting its growth in the Affordable Care Act marketplaces will be lower than expected. The insurer said an analysis from Wakely predicted that market growth in 22 of its states will fall short of expectations, and “aggregate market mobility” in those regions ...

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