Applied Policy Insight is Applied Policy’s monthly newsletter, published in the interest of sharing both our insights into healthcare policy and a little more about ourselves, as a team and as individuals.
READ THE FEBRUARY 2026 ISSUE OF APPLIED POLICY INSIGHT
In the February 2026 issue of Insight, Emma Hammer observes that recent drug pricing deals and CMS initiatives reflect an active policy agenda, though many details have yet to be clarified. Annie Tuttle examines the ACCESS model, and we share our comment letter to CMS outlining an option for incorporating the use of existing data to improve Medicare Advantage.
READ THE JANUARY 2026 ISSUE OF APPLIED POLICY INSIGHT
The January 2026 issue of Insight features analysis of the 340B Drug Pricing Program from Stephanie Lomas, Emma Hammer, and Caitlyn Bernard Shreve; examines the MAHA Elevate, GUARD, GLOBE, and BALANCE models; and highlights a new white paper on using federal tax incentives to strengthen domestic production of pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and other essential healthcare products.
READ THE DECEMBER 2025 ISSUE OF APPLIED POLICY INSIGHT
In the December 2025 edition of Insight, Dr. Bill Rogers examines how skin substitutes came to represent 15% of drug spending under traditional Medicare, Simay Okyay provides an update on the RID CBP, and Caitlyn Bernard considers how the Trump Administration is pursuing Most Favored Nation pricing for prescription drugs in Medicaid through the GENEROUS Model.
READ THE NOVEMBER 2025 ISSUE OF APPLIED POLICY INSIGHT
In the November 2025 edition of Insight, Sabrina Luther discusses how medical food may—or may—not fit in the Trump Administration’s upcoming definition of ultra-processed foods, Caitlyn Bernard provides a summary of the Physician Fee Schedule final rule for CY 2026, and Annie Tuttle looks into the growing interest in establishing governance guidelines for the use of AI in healthcare.
READ THE OCTOBER 2025 ISSUE OF APPLIED POLICY INSIGHT
In the October 2025 edition of Insight, Meghan Basler considers could be one of the most substantial downward adjustments in recent years under the current home health payment framework, Simay Okyay McNutt looks at the history of Medicare’s consideration of obesity, and we welcome Cheryl Powell as a Vice President for Health Policy.
READ THE SEPTEMBER 2025 ISSUE OF APPLIED POLICY INSIGHT
In the September 2025 edition of Insight, Brittany La Couture examines the paradox in QPP, Meghan Basler analyzes what the WISeR model may signal for prior authorization in fee-for-service Medicare, and Simay Okyay considers the pending decision on the RID Competitive Bidding Program.
READ THE AUGUST 2025 ISSUE OF APPLIED POLICY INSIGHT
In the August 2025 edition of Insight, Emma Hammer provides a detailed look at where federal agencies stand in the implementation of President Trump’s Executive Order 14273: Lowering Drug Prices by Once Again Putting Americans First. We also consider the dawn of a new Health Technology Ecosystem and explain how Applied Policy helps clients respond to federal requests for information.
READ THE JULY 2025 ISSUE OF APPLIED POLICY INSIGHT
In the July 2025 edition of Insight, CMO Bill Rogers reflects upon the integration of advanced medical imaging into clinical practice during his career. We look at the first month of the FDA’s Elsa program, examine how states are addressing facility fees, and introduce Brittany La Couture, our new Vice President.
READ THE JUNE 2025 ISSUE OF APPLIED POLICY INSIGHT
In the June 2025 edition of Insight, President and CEO Jim Scott explains the importance of our commitment to Improving Lives. Emma Hammer presents a summary of the White House budget and Sabrina Luther considers the Trump administration’s efforts to reduce the use of animal testing in science and medicine. Medicare & Medicaid Services.
READ THE MAY 2025 ISSUE OF APPLIED POLICY INSIGHT
In the June 2025 edition of Insight, President and CEO Jim Scott explains our commitment to Improving Lives. Emma Hammer presents a summary of the White House budget and Sabrina Luther examines the Trump Administration’s move away from animal testing in science and medicine.
READ THE APRIL 2025 ISSUE OF APPLIED POLICY INSIGHT
In the April 2025 edition of Insight, Sampat Nidadavolu discusses the importance of Minimum Life Requirements in durable medical equipment, Caitlyn Bernard describes how Applied Policy is able to offer such rapid analysis of federal rules, and our Dr. William Rogers begins a series on reimbursement. Plus: a look at how presidents since George W. Bush have shaped healthcare information technology policy through executive orders.
READ THE MARCH 2025 ISSUE OF APPLIED POLICY INSIGHT
In the March 2025 edition of Insight, we share insights and experiences from current and past Applied Policy interns, welcome Linda Rouse O’Neill as Vice President of Health Policy, and look at the differences between MedPAC and MACPAC. Plus: updates on telehealth flexibilities, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, and compounding pharmacies.
READ THE FEBRUARY 2025 ISSUE OF APPLIED POLICY INSIGHT
In the February 2025 edition of Insight, Applied Policy President and CEO Jim Scott reflects on the value of new approaches to existing and emerging challenges in the healthcare sector. We also look at the work of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, uncertainty over the future of telehealth flexibilities, and a policy pivot on AI.
READ THE JANUARY 2025 ISSUE OF APPLIED POLICY INSIGHT
Applied Policy Insight begins 2025 with a policy primer for the coming months. We discuss the budget reconciliation process, which Republicans will use to advance President-elect Trump’s economic agenda in Congress. We also consider the return of Schedule F and the restructuring of civil service positions and examine the visa programs that allow foreign-national physicians to work in the United States.
NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE
December 2024: How our commitment to saving lives has driven a record of success for clients, an analysis of the Part B drugs subject to inflation rebates for 2024, and a look at our 2024 stories with an eye toward changes under the second Trump administration.
November 2024: Possible changes in health policy under a new presidential administration in 2025; the implications of a forthcoming rule from HHS, the Departments of Labor and Treasury on copay accumulators and maximizers; and the future of CMS’s Best Price ‘Stacking’ proposal.
October 2024: The possibility of MAC consolidations, a summary of CMS’s education session on the Transitional Coverage for Emerging Technologies (TCET) pathway and the latest on another delay of PAMA implementation.
September 2024: An examination of compounding pharmacies and the anniversary of the two-midnight rule.
August 2024: The response of non-diabetes advocacy groups to MEDCAC’s consideration of diabetes devices, a look at states’ responses to healthcare issues, and a primer on patent thickets.
July 2024: The impact of recent Supreme Court decisions on healthcare policy and the launch of the Applied Policy podcast.
June 2024: The transformation of Medicare Part D with an examination of the new out-of-pocket cap and Medicare prescription payment and the challenges of realizing heat equity in extreme heat.
May 2024: The FDA’s final rule on LDTs, the TEAM model and value-based care, an opportunity to advise CMS on addressing prior authorization issues in the Medicare Advantage Program.
April 2024: Medicare and Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital programs, our visit to MedTrade, and the inaugural edition of our new column on artificial intelligence.
March 2024: A primer on CMS’s competitive bidding and the history of the Scribner shunt.
February 2024: FDA & CMS indicate alignment on regulatory approach to LDTs and the federal government’s strategies to protect American healthcare from cyberattacks.
January 2024: A primer on HCPCS and a look at the continuing threat of ransomware in healthcare.
December 2023: Physician licensing, credentialing, and privileging and look back at the year in healthcare policy.
November 2023: An explanation of CPT® in the second installment of our series on medical coding and an examination of the implications of underrepresenting Native Americans in medical research.
October 2023: The first installment of our series on ICD-10-CM, CMS’s implementation of the discarded drug refund program, and summaries of pertinent regulations.
September 2023: Challenges in risk adjustment, HHS’s use of AI, and summaries of CMS rules.
July/August 2023: Administrative Law Judges in the Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals, Prior authorizations and health equity
June 2023: Prior authorizations in Medicare Advantage, step therapy, health equity on Juneteenth, new team members
May 2023: Prior authorizations and the U.S. healthcare system, Unified Program Integrity Contractors, COVID reflections, and our new COO
April 2023: The debate over prior authorizations, the growing conversation over food as medicine, Applied Policy’s latest summaries
March 2023: When medicine gets it wrong, expanded coverage for continuous glucose monitors, CMS eliminates CMNs and DIFs
February 2023: The implications of a new Alzheimer’s drug, focus on Europe, 13 years of Recovery Audit Contractors
January 2023: Understanding CMS’s discarded drugs policy, the roots and implications of the United States’ pharmacy shortage, reconciling health equity and value based payments
December 2022: Sexual equality in clinical tests, a look at managed care organizations, and looking towards the end of the public health emergency