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!