Congressional:

Senate HELP Committee Advances Four Health Care Bills in Markup

On Thursday, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a markup on four bills: the Women and Lung Cancer Research and Preventive Services Act (S.1157); Tyler's Law (S.921); the Rural Hospital Cybersecurity Enhancement Act (S.2169); and the Protect Infant Formula from Contamination Act (S.272). The committee voted unanimously to advance all four bills. Read Mehlman’s markup summary here.

Republican Study Committee Releases Reconciliation 2.0 Framework

On Tuesday, the Republican Study Committee (RSC) released the “Making the American Dream Affordable Again” reconciliation framework for the next reconciliation bill. The RSC’s Reconciliation 2.0 Framework centers on three pillars: housing, health care, and energy. The framework proposes establishing a new, parallel option for individuals to purchase health insurance coverage through a separate marketplace, consistent with the provisions of the New Health Options Act and the MAHA Act; reform the existing Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidy structure through Health Freedom Accounts; implementing the provisions included within the Biosimilar Red Tape Elimination Act; and require health insurance companies and providers to disclose cash prices for medical care and disclose out-of-network access to low-cost providers, among other provisions. Read the press release here and the framework here.

Senator Grassley Releases Report on UnitedHealth’s Record of Risk Adjustment

On Monday, Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) released a majority staff report titled “How UnitedHealth Group Puts the Risk in Medicare Advantage Risk Adjustment.” The report found that UnitedHealth Group uses “aggressive tactics” to maximize Medicare Advantage risk scores. The report stated that "After a review of the records, this report provides evidence that shows UHG has turned risk adjustment into a major profit-centered strategy, which was not the original intent of the program.” Read the press release and report here. 

Notable Bills:

Senator Barrasso Leads Bipartisan Bill to Expand Access to Genetic Counseling

On Monday, Senators John Barrasso (R-WY), Peter Welch (D-VT), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), and Jacky Rosen (D-NV) introduced the Access to Genetic Counselor Services Act to expand Medicare coverage of genetic counseling services. The legislation would allow Medicare to cover genetic counseling services furnished by genetic counselors. Currently, genetic counselors are not directly reimbursed by Medicare for their services, even though the same services are covered when provided by other health care providers. Read the press release here and the bill here.

Executive Branch:

President Trump Unveils “The Great Healthcare Plan”

On Thursday, President Trump called on Congress to enact the Great Healthcare Plan. The plan proposes to lower U.S. healthcare costs by codifying most-favored-nation pricing and expanding access over the counter medicines. It aims to redirect government healthcare payments from insurers and intermediaries directly to individuals, giving them more control over purchasing coverage, and to lower premiums by appropriating the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) cost-sharing reduction subsidies. The proposal also includes measures to increase pricing transparency and accountability, such as requiring insurers to publish plain-language rate and coverage comparisons, claims denial rates, and provider prices. Additional provisions would end certain kickbacks in the system and require providers and insurers who accept Medicare or Medicaid to publicly post prices to help consumers avoid surprise costs. Read more on the plan here.

Secretary Kennedy Appoints Two OB-GYNs to CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices

On Tuesday, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced the appointment of two new members to the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). The new members are Dr. Adam Urato, Obstetrician and Gynecologist specializing in Maternal-Fetal Medicine, and Dr. Kimberly Biss, Obstetrician and Gynecologist in St. Petersburg, Florida. Read the press release here.

Marketplace 2026 Open Enrollment Period Report: National Snapshot

On Monday, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) reports that 22.8 million consumers have signed up for 2026 individual market health insurance coverage through the Marketplaces since the start of the 2026 Marketplace Open Enrollment Period (OEP) on November 1, 2025, 1.4 million fewer enrollees than during last year’s open enrollment. A Health and Human Services Department spokesman told The New York Times that the decline “is largely due to C.M.S. cracking down on fake and improper marketplace enrollments.” Read the press release here.