Trump nominates Susan Monarez as CDC director

By Dave Muoio - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) acting Director Susan Monarez, Ph.D., is being tapped to fill the role in a permanent capacity. Word on Monarez’s nomination was first reported Monday by CBS and later corroborated by other new outlets. It was later confirmed by Trump in an announcement post on Truth Social. Read Full Article…

HVBA Article Summary

1. Monarez’s Nomination Marks a Strategic Shift: After the Trump administration's initial pick, Dr. Dave Weldon, withdrew over his controversial vaccine views, Dr. Monarez emerged as a less polarizing nominee, beating out other front-runners like Dr. Michael Burgess and Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo.

2. A Break from Tradition: Monarez brings a unique background to the CDC director role, holding a Ph.D. rather than an M.D., and coming from a national security and research agency background rather than within the CDC itself—offering deep experience in pandemic preparedness, AI ethics, and health policy across federal agencies.

3. Political and Public Health Tensions Ahead: Monarez's confirmation will be the first requiring Senate approval due to a 2022 law change and is expected to be contentious, particularly around vaccine policy—an issue that derailed Weldon's nomination and remains politically charged amid ongoing outbreaks and the involvement of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Senate confirms Makary as FDA chief with agency cuts, return-to-office in force

By Zachary Brennan - The Senate on Tuesday voted 56-44 to confirm Johns Hopkins researcher Marty Makary as FDA commissioner, putting him in charge of the agency amid ongoing staffing cuts and a broader Trump administration focus on battling chronic disease. Read Full Article… ^{_{(Subscription required)}}

HVBA Article Summary

1. Makary Confirmed as FDA Chief with Bipartisan Support: Despite deep political divisions, Democratic Senators Maggie Hassan, Jeanne Shaheen, and Dick Durbin joined Republicans to confirm Makary as the new FDA Commissioner, signaling bipartisan urgency around FDA leadership.

2. Leadership Transition Amid Agency Challenges: Makary assumes leadership during a period of transition at the FDA, facing staff turnover, including the exits of CDER chief Patrizia Cavazzoni and deputy commissioner Namandjé Bumpus, along with pressure to accelerate drug approvals without compromising scientific rigor.

3. Policy Signals and Political Dynamics: While offering few specifics, Makary criticized the FDA’s two-trial standard and pledged to revisit key issues such as abortion drug safety reviews and staffing cuts. He’ll also navigate a complex relationship with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who plans to probe controversial areas like childhood vaccines and obesity treatments.

UnitedHealthcare 'Pushing' Boundaries of Medicare Fraud, Republican Says

By Suzanne Blake - A Republican lawmaker has gone after UnitedHealthcare over its Medicare plan, calling the insurance company the "worst offender" in the industry. North Carolina Republican Representative Greg Murphy on Fox Business on Monday discussed Republicans' efforts to reduce Medicare and Medicaid fraud, saying that UnitedHealthcare was "pushing" the boundaries of Medicare fraud. Read Full Article…

HVBA Article Summary

1. Growing Scrutiny of Medicare Advantage: With more than 32 million Americans enrolled—half the Medicare-eligible population—Medicare Advantage is under bipartisan scrutiny. Lawmakers like Rep. Chris Murphy have raised concerns that insurers, especially UnitedHealthcare, are exploiting legal gray areas by inflating diagnoses to receive higher federal payments, calling such behavior a "scam" and morally questionable.

2. Backlash Against UnitedHealthcare: UnitedHealthcare has come under fire in the wake of CEO Brian Thompson’s murder, facing intensified public and legal criticism over its Medicare Advantage practices. Allegations include using error-prone AI to deny care, unauthorized marketing calls, and systemic claim denials—all contributing to growing distrust in how private insurers manage senior healthcare.

3. Congressional and Public Response: Lawmakers are increasingly alarmed by the financial and ethical implications of Medicare Advantage. Although the program is popular among seniors due to added benefits and lower out-of-pocket costs, critics argue that private insurers are prioritizing profit over patient outcomes—prompting renewed calls in Congress for oversight and potential reform to protect both seniors and taxpayer dollars.

Supreme Court to hear case challenging no-cost screening requirements

By Kristen Beckman - The U.S. Supreme Court will consider whether insurance companies must continue covering the full cost of preventive health services under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) next month when it hears oral arguments in Braidwood Management vs. Becerra. Read Full Article… ^{_{(Subscription required)}}

HVBA Article Summary

1. Challenge to Preventive Care Mandate: Plaintiffs argue that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) requirement to cover certain preventive services—like HIV prevention, HPV vaccination, and STD counseling—violates their rights. The 5th Circuit Court agreed, ruling that the mandate tied to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendations is unconstitutional.

2. AMA’s Defense of Preventive Coverage: The American Medical Association and other medical groups filed a Supreme Court amicus brief supporting the ACA's mandate, emphasizing that free preventive care saves lives, improves public health, and reduces disease burden through early detection and intervention.

3. Potential Health Impact if Ruling Stands: Research shows that losing no-cost coverage would reduce preventive screenings, leading to increased cases and deaths from conditions like colorectal cancer. Millions risk losing access to screenings for breast, lung, and colon cancer, potentially worsening outcomes and increasing healthcare costs.

Alabama Senate passes bill regulating pharmacy benefit managers

By Alander Rocha - The Alabama Senate Thursday passed a bill creating new regulations on reimbursements and fees pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) charge to pharmacies. SB 252, sponsored by Sen. Bill Beasley, D-Clayton and called the “Community Pharmacy Relief Act,” seeks to address concerns from independent pharmacies over reimbursement rates and business practices that critics say have driven many out of business. Read Full Article…  

HVBA Article Summary

1. Senate Unanimously Passes Bill Targeting PBM Practices: In response to widespread pharmacy closures, the Alabama Senate voted 32-0 (with one abstention) to pass a bill imposing new restrictions on pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), including minimum reimbursement rates, a ban on certain fees, and a requirement to pass 100% of manufacturer rebates to health plans.

2. Independent Pharmacies Struggling Under PBM Pressure: Lawmakers, including retired pharmacist Sen. Beasley, highlighted how PBMs’ control over pricing and reimbursement has led to the closure of nearly one drugstore per week, criticizing the industry for steering patients to PBM-owned mail-order pharmacies and failing to deliver promised cost savings.

3. Compromise Reached on Implementation Date: While an amendment to delay key provisions until 2026 was rejected, lawmakers agreed to an October 1 effective date. Supporters emphasized that the bill would not raise consumer costs and marked a bipartisan effort to protect local pharmacies and improve transparency in drug pricing.

Report: Healthcare unaffordable for many New Yorkers, most worried about future costs

By Anastassia Gliadkovskaya - More than two-thirds of New Yorkers experienced at least one healthcare affordability burden in the past year, and 4 in 5 worry about affordability in the future, a new survey found. The survey, by the Community Service Society of New York and Altarum, reached more than 1,400 adults in New York state. Read Full Article…

HVBA Article Summary

1. Cost Barriers and Disparities in Care Access: Two-thirds of respondents reported delaying or skipping healthcare due to cost, with particularly high rates among people in households with disabilities (76%) and communities of color. Even higher-income individuals—those earning over $100,000—expressed significant concern about healthcare affordability.

2. Broad Support for Government Action and Policy Reform: Most respondents want government intervention to address rising healthcare costs, protect coverage for preexisting conditions, and improve Medicare access. Proposed legislation like the Fair Pricing Act—aimed at creating payment transparency and cost efficiency—has strong public backing, despite opposition from hospitals.

3. Widespread Support for Cost-Containment Policies: Across political affiliations, respondents overwhelmingly supported reforms such as price caps on drugs like insulin, advance notice of drug price increases, and the ability to switch insurers more easily. Most also favored requiring consistent pricing for routine services and establishing an independent body to monitor healthcare spending.

Benefit managers are prioritizing financial wellness support in 2025

By Alyssa Place - Nearly 80% of employees are living paycheck to paycheck, leaving benefit managers no choice but to incorporate robust financial wellness benefits into their offerings to lighten the burden. Today, just a third of employers offer a financial wellness program, according to research from the Employee Benefit Research Institute. Read Full Article…  ^{_{(Subscription required)}}

HVBA Article Summary

1. Employers are expanding financial wellness benefits beyond retirement planning: Recognizing that many employees are facing urgent financial challenges, companies are going beyond traditional 401(k) support to help with pressing needs like healthcare costs, emergency savings, and budgeting education. These broader offerings aim to reduce financial stress and improve overall well-being.

2. Programs like those from Pepsi, Chime, and Canary provide personalized and empathetic support: Companies are implementing tailored solutions to meet employees’ unique financial situations, including global financial education programs, early access to wages, and confidential emergency grants. These initiatives are designed to be accessible, nonjudgmental, and responsive to real-life struggles.

3. Innovative platforms like FinFit and Banyan Software tackle systemic financial challenges: By offering tools like seamless loan repayment, high-yield savings accounts, and employee relief funds for medical or caregiving expenses, these platforms help employees manage both everyday finances and larger financial shocks, promoting long-term financial resilience.