The Veterans Health Administration (VHA), part of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), is the nation’s largest integrated health system. The agency, which serves approximately 9.1 million veterans annually, has long been at the forefront of telehealth adoption, providing remote services across numerous clinical specialties. This investment paid off during the COVID-19 pandemic, when […]
Read MoreOn October 6, 2025, The Health, Medicine & Society Program of the Aspen Institute hosted Public Health Grand Rounds with Dr. Mehmet Oz, Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Following initial remarks, Dr. Oz was interviewed by Bertha Coombs, CNBC Senior Health Care Reporter, to discuss the direction of the agency […]
Read MoreOn October 23, 2025, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a hearing to examine the growth and operation of the 340B Drug Pricing Program. The hearing focused on oversight, financial impacts, patient benefit, and provider practices. Witnesses included William B. Feldman, MD, DPhil, MPH, a physician and health policy researcher at the […]
Read MoreOn September 18 and 19, 2025, the Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) held a virtual public meeting. Sessions included: Summary of P.L. 119-21, An Act to Provide for Reconciliation Pursuant to Title II of H. Con. Res. 14; Background on Work and Community Engagement Requirements in Medicaid; Panel […]
Read MoreOn September 18, Applied Policy attended a briefing on prior authorization in Medicare Advantage (MA) hosted by Georgetown University’s Medicare Policy Initiative. The event featured industry leaders and policy experts, including Jeannie Fuglesten Biniek (Associated Director of Program on Medicare Policy, KFF), Neil Patil (Senior Research Fellow and Policy Director, Medicare Policy Initiative), and Rodrigo […]
Read MoreOn September 4 and 5, 2025, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) held a virtual public meeting. Sessions included: Medicare payment operations and improving payment accuracy; Oversight needed to ensure Medicare’s sustainability: A report from the Government Accountability Office; Context for Medicare payment policy; The association between changes in Medicare Advantage enrollment and hospital finances. […]
Read MoreOn September 9, 2025, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) published a report, Growth in the 340B Drug Pricing Program, analyzing trends in drug purchases made through the 340B Drug Pricing Program between 2010 and 2021. The report provides background on the program and examines drug purchases through the program, factors driving program spending growth, and […]
Read MoreApplied Policy attended the Virtual Value-Based Payment Summit from September 3–5, 2025, part of the Heritage VBC Conference Series. Produced by Global Health Care, LLC and sponsored by Heritage Provider Group, the summit brought together policymakers, health system leaders, and innovators to discuss the future agenda for value-based care (VBC) at the Center for Medicare […]
Read MoreFor forty years, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has shaped national standards for preventive care. Yet, many patients—and even some healthcare professionals—are unfamiliar with its role. A June Supreme Court ruling, coupled with speculation about potential membership changes, has drawn new attention to the influence this small panel exerts over clinical practice and […]
Read MoreOn Monday, August 4, 2025, the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), in coordination with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Commerce (DOC), hosted a listening session titled Turning Insights Into Action to Reduce Drug Prices. As part of implementing President Donald Trump’s Executive Order […]
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