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Week in Washington 07/31/25

Congress With Congress on recess there hasn’t been a great deal of progress on a budget deal. However, one issue that continues to surface is the extent to which enhanced premium tax credits for Marketplace enrollees should be renewed. Politico reported that Senate Democrats are considering putting that as a condition for approving a budget ... Read more

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Events & More

Adapting for Success in a Changing Healthcare Landscape

EARLY BIRD ENDS TONIGHT!

As new federal priorities unfold –particularly for Medicare, Medicaid, and the ACA Marketplace– healthcare stakeholders must anticipate and adapt to dramatic changes in funding, regulatory requirements, and technological advancements. At HMA’s annual conference you will join with industry leaders to discuss new directions in payment and financing of publicly funded healthcare programs, community-level strategies designed to meet the needs of special populations, tailwinds driving the expanding universe of digital health policies, and innovations to strengthen access to behavioral health services. Join us for thought-provoking conversations that will prepare you to navigate the rapidly changing healthcare landscape.

Register now!

Newsworthy Findings

CVS Health Hikes 2025 Profit Outlook As Aetna Insurance Business Improves

CVS Health raised its 2025 forecast based on strong performance in its pharmacy business and improvements in its insurance unit during the second quarter

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Editor's Note
Earlier this year, CVS announced Aetna would exit the individual business under the Affordable Care Act's exchanges in 2026 in a move to improve business performance.

Susan Monarez Confirmed As CDC Director

Susan Monarez, Ph.D., was confirmed by the Senate as the director of the CDC, ending a four-month period without a permanent leader, and will navigate challenges including workforce and budget cuts while supporting the administration's health vision.

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Editor's Note
This confirmation marks a significant leadership change at the CDC, with Monarez expected to address both internal agency challenges and broader public health issues under the current administration.

Trump Administration Launches Health Data Sharing Initiative

More than 60 companies, including Amazon, Google, UnitedHealth and Epic, have pledged to participate in the initiative, which the CMS said would “deliver results” early next year.

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Editor's Note
The framework aims to be "visionary," prioritizing patient access to claims, explanations of benefits, and prior authorizations—while also emphasizing fast response times to data queries. In a parallel effort to modernize the patient experience, 11 health systems have committed to eliminating the need for paper medical history forms, seeking to “kill the clipboard.”

Medicare Part D Premiums Likely to Increase Next Year

The average monthly bid submitted by insurers for 2026 prescription drug plans increased 33% from last year, according to data released by the CMS.

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Editor's Note
The jump in Medicare Part D bids reflects broader trends in rising healthcare costs, particularly driven by increased pharmacy spending on high-cost medications like GLP-1s. In response, CMS plans to revise the Part D Premium Stabilization Demonstration to help keep premiums level and provide enrollees with more predictable coverage options.

HHS will Demo Drugmakers' 340B Rebate Model in Limited Pilot Program

The Trump administration is accepting applications for a pilot program to demo rebates for 340B drugs, aiming to reduce abuse of the subsidy program by replacing traditional upfront discounts with post-purchase payments coordinated by drug manufacturers.

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Editor's Note
This pilot program aims to address concerns from both covered entities and manufacturers, ensuring accountability and transparency while potentially saving billions in costs.

Bonus Article

Just for Fun

Math Joke

Why did the obtuse angle go to the beach?

Prior Week

Q: Why won’t Goldilocks drink a glass of water with 8 pieces of ice in it?

A: It’s too cubed.

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