WASHINGTON—Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is set to significantly cut the size of the department he leads, reshaping the nation’s health agencies and closing regional offices, according to documents viewed by The Wall Street Journal. Kennedy is set to announce Thursday the planned changes, which include axing 10,000 full-time employees spread […]

House Energy and Commerce Chair Brett Guthrie is turning his attention to potential changes to Medicaid provider taxes and state-directed payments as a way to generate savings in reconciliation. Why it matters: Lawmakers are starting to look at less controversial options to overhaul the safety net program. But although these steps might not trigger coverage losses, […]

Trump health officials are defending the Biden administration’s decision to reject three drugmakers’ changes to how safety net providers can get discounts under the 340B drug program. Why it matters: A motion in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia yesterday marked the first time the new administration has weighed in on the program, which covers more […]

A concise breakdown of key healthcare developments in Washington, DC this week.   Government Funding Update Shutdown Deadline: This Friday, March 14 at 11:59 PM ET House GOP Proposal: Speaker Mike Johnson introduced a seven-month continuing resolution (CR) through September 30, 2025 Key Health Provisions: Extends funding for Community Health Centers, National Health Service Corps, […]

Speaker Mike Johnson has ruled out some of the biggest potential cuts to Medicaid for Republicans’ party-line package to enact President Donald Trump’s agenda. The House has targeted at least $880 billion in savings from the Energy and Commerce Committee, a task that is expected to require significant reductions to Medicaid spending. That has spurred significant concern […]

With a little more than three weeks to go, chances are dimming to revive the health care package that fell out of the year-end funding deal and add it to the next spending package. Why it matters: Long-delayed measures that would overhaul PBM business practices, target drug company “patent thickets” and start to address Medicare hospital spending […]

House Republicans from competitive districts are raising concerns about the prospect of large Medicaid cuts — and are pointing to recent comments from President Trump to reinforce their case. Why it matters: House GOP leaders’ hopes of passing a reconciliation package could be sunk with two defections, assuming Democrats are unified in opposition. But it will […]

Introduction Congress is currently considering budget resolutions in both the House and Senate to establish spending and revenue frameworks for fiscal year 2025 through fiscal year 2034. These resolutions will guide the development of legislation that will be advanced using the budget reconciliation process, which allows for expedited passage of certain fiscal policies. The primary […]

The House Budget Committee just released its budget resolution for Fiscal Year 2025, laying out a Republican-led fiscal blueprint aimed at advancing tax cuts, spending reductions, and debt management over the next decade. While the resolution does not contain specific policy changes, it provides broad fiscal targets and reconciliation instructions to House committees, directing them […]

Republicans say work requirements are the most likely Medicaid change in a reconciliation bill, though a conservative push for deeper cuts could force more changes to the safety net program. Why it matters: Medicaid is caught in the middle as House Republicans debate the extent of budget cuts, with conservatives pushing for as much as $2.5 trillion in spending […]