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Washington returns after a long weekend dealing with the fallout of President Trump’s last-minute decision to halt consideration of his nominee for Director of National Intelligence and his signing of an agreement to end the war with Iran. Vice President Vance arrived in Switzerland on Sunday to lead the next round of negotiations with Iranian officials with the goal of brokering an interim deal addressing Tehran’s nuclear program. Meanwhile, federal health care officials are working on reviewing some of their past work, and Congress continues its work on some familiar items even as the midterms grow ever closer. So, let’s get into it. Welcome to the Week Ahead!
The Administration
Hopefully, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) officials tasked with managing the Medicare Advantage (MA) star ratings system enjoyed their time off because they are gearing up to recalculate the 2026 Star ratings and 2027 Quality Bonus Payments (QBP). A federal judge recently ruled that the agency relied on improper data and failed to follow the appropriate regulatory process for adding measures in determining the star rating for Clover Health. The real pressure is on insurers seeking a reconsideration of their QBP ratings, as they must notify CMS of their intent to resubmit a bid or to opt out of resubmission by 11:59 PM Pacific Daylight Time on June 22, 2026.
Meanwhile, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) is taking another look at the impacts of the No Surprises Act. Specifically, CBO is considering how the independent dispute resolution (IDR) process may have had unanticipated impacts. According to the agency, published reports have indicated that providers are winning over 80% of cases that move through the process and are being awarded much higher payments than expected. As a result, CBO is requesting additional research that uses more recent data to understand network participation, pricing, and ownership structure trends. CBO is also looking for research on the arbitrators’ decision-making process and how health care markets continue to evolve. This call for research is the latest in the struggles that have plagued both the Biden and Trump administrations when it comes to implementing the No Surprises Act. Being able to get the balance right would be a win for the administration, but it could easily intensify the fighting between providers and insurers.
The Senate
President Trump is scheduled to attend Wednesday’s Republican Steering Committee lunch, where he is expected to continue to champion the SAVE America Act. His appearance on the Hill comes at a time when tensions are running high with the lapse of FISA and concerns about the Iran talks.
Eyes are turned to Louisiana, as voters head to the polls to cast their ballots in the Senate primary runoff. On the Republican side, voters have the choice between Rep. Julia Letlow (R-LA-5) and state Treasurer John Fleming. Not on the ballot is Senator and HELP Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy (R-LA), who came in 3rd in the May primary. His loss will leave a health leadership hole. However, Rep. Letlow, backed by President Trump and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy, has embraced the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) mantra, so health care has continued to feature heavily in this race. If Rep. Letlow wins, it would be a big win for the MAHA movement.
Health Care Hearings This Week
- June 24: Senate Indian Affairs Committee nomination hearing to consider Mark Cruz to be Director of the Indian Health Service
- June 24: Joint Economic Committee hearing on combatting health care fraud
The House
The Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act (H.R. 3514) has reached 290 cosponsors, which now allows for it to be considered outside of the standard Committee process. This longtime bipartisan bill proposes reforms for prior authorization under Medicare Advantage plans. We are still expecting the bill to follow the Committee process as a courtesy based on our conversations on the Hill. Regardless of whether the bill goes to Committee or not, this is a milestone for a bill that has lingered despite strong bipartisan support.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee’s work will take center stage this week. Chair Guthrie (R-KY) and Ranking Member Pallone (D-NJ) are expected to announce a successful bipartisan agreement on legislation surrounding children’s online safety. Thresholds for parental consent on data collection of minors have been lowered and mandatory disclosures when children interact with AI tools. The bill is expected to move through the lower chamber quickly. The Committee’s Oversight Subcommittee will convene June 25 to examine with testimony from Minnesota’s Medicaid Director, continuing House Republicans’ focus on fraud in federal health programs.
There You Have It
The World Cup is ongoing, and the United States has secured its spot in the round of 32 with its win against Australia. How do you think the US is stacking up? Let us know. Make it a great week!
Congress granted President Trump’s wish, just in time for his 80th birthday, by sending him the immigration enforcement reconciliation legislation he’s been asking for. Now, President Trump has a new wish, a third reconciliation package to include defense funding and the SAVE America Act. However, Congressional Republicans have differing views on the likelihood of making this wish come true. So, let’s get into it. Welcome to the Week Ahead!
The Administration
The grace period for hospital price transparency is over, according to a notice published on social media by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). According to the notice, HHS has sent warning letters to over 500 hospitals for noncompliance with price transparency requirements since enforcement went into effect on April 1, 2026. The notice and warning letters make it clear that the administration is trying to show that they are making strides in improving health affordability. However, it’s not clear from the notice what additional steps will be taken by the administration to ensure compliance.
On June 8, the District of Massachusetts vacated the Trump administration’s $100,000 fee on new H-1B applications as an unlawful tax. The administration appealed this, and it has been temporarily stayed until a ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit. That stay is conditioned on the administration filing a motion to stay no later than June 18, 2026. Whether this fee remains in place has implications for the health care workforce, as many foreign-born physicians, who often fill critical gaps in the health care system, rely on the H-1B visa pathway.
The Senate
Reconciliation 3.0 is off to a rocky start in the Senate as Republican leadership disagrees on whether it is possible at all. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) shared that he remains open to the possibility, especially for additional military funding. On the other hand, Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins (R-ME) and Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee Chair Mitch McConnell (R-KY) are more skeptical about 3.0, cautioning officials not to rely on a 3rd package to supplement lower funding levels during the normal appropriations process.
In non-reconciliation news, the first stage of the Democratic health care working groups has concluded. The three groups, focused on long-term care, health insurance, and prescription drugs, finished holding their open office hours and will next move to releasing Requests for Information and position papers on their topics according to our conversations on the Hill. These working groups are important to watch for what Democratic leaders may be looking to do if they retake the Senate in November.
Health Care Hearings This Week
The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee is scheduled to consider several health care bills on June 17, spanning from organ transplants and drug competition to reauthorizing public health programs, most of which have House companions. Surprisingly absent from the list is S. 4189, the INSULIN Act, which would cap the monthly cost of insulin at $35 for patients with commercial insurance and was reportedly going to be included But don’t count it out yet, bill sponsor Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) recently announced that the legislation has reached the 60-vote threshold for passage.
Also on the docket for June 17, the Senate Aging Committee will be holding a hearing on China’s impact on seniors’ health, finances, and security with Commissioners from the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission. The Committee has already held multiple hearings on the security of the pharmaceutical supply chain and the dangers of reliance on foreign countries, including China. Based on this, we expect the topic to come up again at the upcoming hearing.
The House
The House is out until after the Juneteenth holiday, but Republican conversations about Reconciliation 3.0 are still happening. Measures targeting fraud in public health programs are still being viewed as a pay for by some members. However, House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee Chair Morgan Griffith (R-VA-9) told reporters that health care systems “need to adjust to the changes we’ve already made.” And then there are concerns from moderates and those in tight races about doing anything that could be seen as limiting access to benefits so close to the November midterms.
There You Have It
It was an exciting weekend for sports fans, as the NBA Finals and the Stanley Cup finals crowned their winners. Here at Chamber Hill Strategies, we have strong opinions about which games we preferred to tune in to. So, have you been watching hockey, basketball, or both? Let us know. Make it a great week!
On June 10, 2026, the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee held a hearing to examine proposals to improve price transparency in the health sector. These proposals included publishing pricing lists for health insurers and hospitals, requiring additional information in Medicare Advantage encounter data, and reporting related to ownership of health care facilities. There was strong bipartisan support for steps to increase price transparency and interest in understanding the impacts of such proposals on patients and employers. Concerns were also raised about the effects of consolidation and private equity involvement in the health care sector.
OPENING STATEMENTS
- Subcommittee Chairman Morgan Griffith (R-VA-9)
- Subcommittee Ranking Member Diana DeGette (D-CO-1)
- Full Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie (R-KY-2)
- Full Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-NJ-6)
WITNESS TESTIMONY
- Carol Skenes, Chief of Staff, Turquoise Health – Testimony
- Shawn Gremminger, President and Chief Executive Officer, National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions – Testimony
- Benedic Ippolito, PhD, Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute – Testimony
- Christopher Whaley, PhD, Associate Director of the Center for Advancing Health Policy through Research and Associate Professor of Health Services, Policy and Practice, Brown University School of Public Health – Testimony
- Sophia Tripoli, MPH, Senior Director of Health Policy, Families USA – Testimony
LEGISLATION BEING CONSIDERED
- H.R.___, to require hospitals, surgical centers, labs, and imaging providers to post prices and require health plans to disclose negotiated rates, cost-sharing estimates, and PBM spread pricing
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H.R. ___, to require hospitals post prices on the walls
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H.R. ___, to require health insurance issuers to publish overhead costs and claim payments
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H.R. ___, to require displaying of claim denial rates by insurers
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H.R. 5582, to provide for hospital and insurer price transparency
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H.R. 9117, to require health plan administrators to disclose pricing and payment data to plans, and to require itemized explanations of benefits and patient bills
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H.R. ___, to require the inclusion of certain information in Medicare Advantage encounter data
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H.R. ___, to require mandatory reporting with respect to certain health-related ownership information
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H.R. ___, to limit the compensation that may be paid to agents and brokers by Medicare Advantage organizations
MEMBER DISCUSSION
Consolidation and Ownership
Concerns were raised about how consolidation and private equity ownership can affect health pricing. Subcommittee Vice Chair Diana Harshbarger (R-TN-1) asked what was driving higher prices, to which Mr. Whaley responded that consolidation was the greatest factor. Full Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-NJ-6), and Reps. Kim Schrier (D-WA-8) and Marc Veasey (D-TX-33) were curious about why transparency in ownership was important. Mr. Whaley highlighted that when ownership is opaque, it can be extremely difficult for researchers to understand the impacts of consolidation, especially when single transactions are often small but greatly increase market power. Ms. Tripoli also commented that understanding ownership can help researchers and regulators better understand perverse incentives, such as upcoding.
Impacts of Price Transparency
Members showed bipartisan interest in understanding the potential impacts of price transparency legislation. Democratic members, such as Subcommittee Ranking Member Diana DeGette (D-CO-1) and Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-TX-25), commented that price transparency is important but does not directly affect affordability for patients, especially in emergency situations. Ranking Member DeGette and Rep. Ruiz were curious whether the witnesses believed price transparency legislation would reduce patient costs. Ms. Tripoli shared that price transparency would be much more useful for employers and health plan purchasers than individual patients and highlighted reinstating the Advance Premium Tax Credits as more impactful for addressing health care affordability. Subcommittee Chairman Morgan Griffith (R-VA-9) hospitals are sharing their pricing rates, but it is difficult for patients to understand due to the level of complexity.
Multiple Republican members, such as Full Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie (R-KY-2) and Rep. Mariannette Miller Meeks (R-IA-1) were curious about how employers have leveraged price transparency data to lower costs for employees. Mr. Gremminger shared that employers can use the data to engage in innovative plan designs, such as tiered pricing strategies to encourage employees to go to facilities with lower costs. Mr. Whaley shared that employers use claims data to exclude high-priced facilities. Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL-12) asked about the current barriers to employers’ access to their claims data. Mr. Gremminger explained that plans will often only provide high-level data and charge large fees if an employer would like more granular data.
Gaps in Price Transparency Reporting
There was bipartisan interest in understanding how to improve gaps in price transparency requirements currently in place. Rep. Troy Balderson (R-OH-12) asked how to improve the usability of current price data. Ms. Skenes shared that making the data more understandable to patients would be very helpful, as well as addressing the gaps in drug reporting and various ways insurance companies cost-share with patients. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI-6) was focused on understanding the gaps in ownership transparency. Ms. Tripoli stated that many smaller transactions do not meet the threshold for reporting, which makes them difficult to regulate and for intervention, if necessary. Rep. John Joyce (R-PA-13) asked the witnesses if enforcement for current price transparency measures was sufficient, to which both Mr. Whaley and Ms. Tripoli replied that it was not. Reps. Kat Cammack (R-FL-3) and Nick Langworthy (R-NY-23) wanted to understand what additional information could be beneficial to improving price transparency. Ms. Tripoli said that out-of-pocket spending and the quality of care could be beneficial, while Ms. Skene highlighted information on non-hospital entities and negotiated rates of care reimbursement.
It’s fraud week in the House with floor consideration of more than a dozen fraud-related bills. The House also needs to figure out what to do Reconciliation 2.0 after Senate Republicans scored a goal with the passage of the immigration and security bill. Senate Republicans can’t high-five too much after Senate Democrats were able to block the shot to extend past June 12 Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which will now be the focus for the week. On the health sidelines, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) and the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) are set to release their June 2026 reports to Congress. So, let’s get into it. Welcome to the Week Ahead!
The Administration
President Trump signed a new executive order directing federal agencies to implement the Schedule Policy/Career reclassification by June 10. The change will make federal employees with significant influence over policy at-will employees, making it easier to fire them without cause and reducing their rights to appeal termination. Some senior officials at the Health and Human Services Department (HHS) have already received notice of their reclassification and more notices are expected to follow. With HHS looking to bring on 12,000 more employees, the changes in the executive order may make it more difficult to fill these roles.
The Senate
Senate HELP Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy (R-LA) may have lost his Senate seat, but he’s not showing any signs of slowing down when it comes to advancing his health policy agenda. On June 3, Sen. Cassidy took to the Senate floor to call on the president to help move the senator’s health agenda, which includes increasing price transparency, expanding access to healthy foods, and giving money directly to patients. Chairman Cassidy has also promised a HELP Committee markup of bipartisan health bills, including S. 4189, which would expand the $35/month cap on the cost of insulin currently in place for Medicare beneficiaries to those with private insurance.
We are also seeing movement on the fiscal year 2027 (FY 27) appropriations process, even though Senate appropriators have yet to agree on topline numbers for FY27. The Senate Appropriations Committee is rescheduling the mark up of the FDA-Ag appropriations bill this week and holding hearings on the president’s budget request for other agencies.
The House
Health care transparency will be getting its time in the spotlight as the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee holds a legislative hearing focused on proposals to lower health care costs and increase health care transparency. The Committee is slated to consider 9 proposals ranging from publishing pricing lists for health insurers and hospitals to requiring additional information in Medicare Advantage encounter data and reporting related to ownership of health care facilities. We’ve also heard that concerns about the 340B Drug Pricing Program will be raised, specifically about how hospitals are spending the money generated from the rebate program.
Fraud is taking over the House floor, as various anti-fraud legislation is being considered. Multiple bills could have implications for health care programs, if passed, from creating a list of program areas presenting the greatest risk to federal funds to allowing for agency heads to pause and further review possibly fraudulent payments.
Our conversations on the Hill also indicate that the House Ways and Means Committee plans to markup health care legislation in June.
Other Health Care Hearings This Week
- June 9: House Education and Workforce Subcommittee on Workforce Protections hearing on Locum Tenes providers
- June 9: House Appropriations Full Committee markup on FY 27 HHS budget request
- June 12: House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Technology Modernization Subcommittee field hearing on delivery quality and modern health care to Michigan’s Veterans
There You Have It
Games for the World Cup kick off this week across 16 host cities. The United States will face Paraguay as its first challenger on June 12. Will you be tuning in? Let us know. Make it a great week!
