August 22, 2025

Medicare Advantage star ratings have sparked litigation after methodology changes led to lower scores. In one case, a judge rejected Elevance’s claim that CMS misapplied rounding rules, upholding ratings that will cost the insurer an estimated $375 million next year, while other insurers have also sued over declining ratings.

Since taking office, the Trump administration has prioritized restricting non-citizens’ access to public benefits, particularly healthcare, despite undocumented immigrants already being ineligible for federally funded programs like Medicaid, CHIP, Medicare, or ACA coverage. Recent actions, including data-sharing with DHS and the passage of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” have further narrowed eligibility, cutting off groups such as refugees, asylum seekers, and trafficking survivors from many healthcare services.

Judge Reed O’Connor ruled that CMS exceeded its authority when it tried to cap broker payments beyond base compensation and ban contracts that reward steering seniors to certain plans. CMS’ intent was to protect beneficiaries — ensuring seniors choose plans best suited for their needs, rather than those that pay agents the most.

Kennedy ordered HHS to cancel mRNA contracts, arguing the vaccines “fail to protect effectively against upper respiratory infections like COVID and flu.” But researchers note mRNA’s proven value in pandemic response and its broader potential as a drug development platform — particularly in cancer. Harvard’s Jonathan Kagan sees federal investment in mRNA as similar to past government backing of nuclear and physics research, which helped secure U.S. scientific leadership during the Cold War.

Employers’ rising healthcare costs—fueled by GLP-1 demand, cancer care, and mental health needs—signal mounting pressure on payers to deliver more transparent, cost-effective benefit solutions.