What will be DOGE’s impact on CMS?

In a statement today, CMS confirmed that Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has been given access to CMS payment systems: CMS has two senior Agency veterans – one focused on policy and one focused on operations – who are leading the collaboration with DOGE, including ensuring appropriate access to CMS systems…

Trump Executive Orders Explained

How has President Trump’s recent executive orders reshaped the US healthcare system? Below, I summarize the healthcare-related Executive Orders that were released this week: ACA premium subsidies will be reduced: Trump rescinded Biden’s executive order that led to longer enrollment periods for Affordable Care Act plans in most states. In short, in 2021, temporary subsidies…

Trump, RFK Jr. and Vaccines

The Washington Post reports on a meeting between President-elect Trump, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and a number of CEOs of pharmaceutical firms. When the topic turned to vaccines, the discussion was not about banning the products, the three people said. Kennedy spoke about the need for better study of the vaccine dosing schedule for newborns…

What is an HRA-IIHIC?

President Trump wants to allow more people be able to purchase lower cost health plans. Most of the media has focused on plans to make it easier to purchase short-term plans and association health plans. However, a recent final rule is also making it easier to use pre-tax dollars to fund premiums for individual health…

Experts debate Trump drug pricing policies

What will Trump’s “favored nation” policy do to drug prices and innovation? How will 340B reforms affect the price hospitals charge for drugs? Myself and my colleague Jim Baumgardner weigh in with our thoughts in an article in FormularyWatch. “US drug prices will certainly fall. However, prices outside the US will rise,” Jason Shafrin, PhD,…