While DC is still digging the city out of one of the worst winter storms of the last decade, Congress is in a storm of its own. The government entered a partial shutdown on January 31 after the Senate passed an amended minibus. As we await House action, let’s get into it. Welcome to the Week Ahead!
The Administration
The anticipated launch of TrumpRx has gotten off to a rocky start. The platform, which will allow individuals to purchase prescription drugs at discounted rates, was supposed to launch on January 30, but is experiencing delays. While the administration has not given a reason, there has been speculation that deals with pharmaceutical companies are violating anti-kickback statute laws.
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kennedy reportedly said that TrumpRx will launch “probably in the next 10 days,” indicating optimism that the holdup will be addressed quickly.
Meanwhile, changes to the Medicare Advantage (MA) program in the proposed Calendar Year 2027 MA and Part D Advance Notice are causing alarm among stakeholders. Both AHIP and the Better Medicare Alliance hinted at possible benefits cuts should the rates be finalized as proposed. The Association of Community Health Plans expressed concerns about the impact to safety net plans. Even the American Hospital Association piled on, worrying that changes to the Star Ratings program could affect access to care. With comments due February 25, proponents are scrambling to change the minds of CMS officials.
The Senate
As if the Senate heard us wondering, discussions on a potential enhanced advance premium tax credit (APTC) deal have renewed. Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH) reportedly shared legislative text on a compromise extension bill with 4 Democratic colleagues and is awaiting responses. But time has run out for the request by Senate Majority Leader Thune (R-SD) to have a bipartisan deal by the end of January.
Health Care Hearings This Week
- February 3: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) hearing on modernizing the National Institutes of Health
- February 4: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing on Veteran health and healing through adaptive sports
The House
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA-04) may have thought he had finished FY26 funding, but it is back on his to-do list. With health care programs and health policy extenders taken care of in the Senate minibus, Johnson has to steer his caucus through a new vote strategy.
House Freedom Caucus members have previously stated that they will oppose a funding bill that does not include funding for the Department of Homeland Security. However, that was before President Trump endorsed the idea, and the Senate fell in line. The House Rules Committee meets February 2 to set up floor debate and passage.
The House Energy and Commerce Oversight Subcommittee will hold a hearing on February 3 to examine Medicare and Medicaid fraud. The Subcommittee has recently been investigating allegations of Medicare home health and hospice payment fraud in Los Angeles County as well as Medicaid fraud in Minnesota, so this hearing will be a prime opportunity for the Subcommittee majority to highlight those actions. While the hearing is timely, remember that the Oversight Subcommittee is not responsible for writing policy related to Medicare and Medicaid fraud. That’s up to the Health Subcommittee to determine any legislative activity in relation to the investigations.
There You Have It
We were on the edge of our seats watching the Grammys last night. Did your favorites win? Anyone you think got snubbed a la Bill Belichick? Let us know. Make it a great week!