The CFPB wanted medical debt to be left off credit reports. That's changed under Trump

By Vanessa Romo - David Deeds is in financial trouble, and he's hoping a federal court in Texas can help get him out of it. Deeds, who is 62 and owes tens of thousands of dollars in medical debt from cancer treatment, is involved in a complicated lawsuit filed by credit industry groups over the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's medical debt rule. Read Full Article…

HVBA Article Summary

1. The CFPB’s medical debt rule is under legal review: Finalized in January, the rule was designed to remove $49 billion in medical debt from credit reports and affect an estimated 15 million Americans. Since then, the CFPB under new leadership has joined a lawsuit arguing the rule exceeds the agency’s authority and that Congress should determine whether medical debt can be excluded from credit reports. A federal judge is expected to rule by mid-June on whether to vacate the rule, which would delay or prevent its implementation.

2. Legal and advocacy groups present opposing views on the rule’s process and impact: Consumer advocacy organizations argue that the rule followed a thorough rulemaking process, supported by healthcare and industry stakeholders and informed by research on how medical debt relates to creditworthiness. Opponents, including credit industry groups and the current CFPB leadership, argue that excluding medical debt from reports could reduce the completeness of credit assessments and that significant policy changes should go through Congress rather than administrative action.

3. The outcome could affect borrower credit scores and lending practices: Credit experts note that removing medical debt from credit reports could increase some consumers’ credit scores, potentially improving their access to loans and credit products. Industry groups, however, emphasize that complete credit data—including medical debt—helps lenders make informed decisions and assess repayment risk. The court’s decision will help determine whether the rule proceeds or is vacated.

14 HSA and HRA sweeteners in the House 'One Big Beautiful' tax bill

By Allison Bell - Members of the House voted 215-214 to pass the One Big Beautiful Act tax and budget package Thursday, and 14 provisions that could affect health savings accounts and health reimbursement arrangements are in there. Read Full Article… ^{_{(Subscription required)}}

HVBA Article Summary

1. Focus on tax and funding provisions: The proposal includes measures to maintain the current estate tax exemption level, reduce federal Medicaid funding, and increase the federal excise tax on large college endowment earnings from 1.4% to 21%, drawing significant attention from lawmakers and stakeholders.

2. House-Senate negotiations underway: House Republican leaders will work with Senate Republican leaders to develop a version of the bill that can pass both chambers of Congress and be signed into law by President Donald Trump, aiming to align legislative priorities across both chambers.

3. Limited attention on FSAs and HSAs: While major tax and funding provisions have attracted most public discussion, the bill also contains provisions related to flexible spending accounts (FSAs) and health savings accounts (HSAs) within the Investing in Health of American Families and Workers section, which have advanced through House committees with comparatively less attention.

House Passes Budget Bill, with Huge Medicaid Cuts and Potential Medicare Fallout

By Mark Hagland - In an all-night session that was finally gaveled down just before 7 a.m. on Thursday morning, May 22, the House of Representatives passed a comprehensive FY2026 federal budget bill, with only Republican votes, and all House Democrats voting against it. Read Full Article… 

HVBA Article Summary

1. H.R. 119 includes sweeping tax and spending changes: The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” extends major tax cuts first enacted in 2017, boosts funding for border security and defense, increases the federal debt limit by $4 trillion, and introduces Medicaid reforms including work requirements and tighter eligibility rules, which the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates will reduce Medicaid enrollment by up to 10 million people over a decade.

2. Projected fiscal impacts and social program reductions: According to the CBO, the bill would add roughly $2.3–$3.8 trillion to the national debt over 10 years, prompting potential automatic Medicare cuts of up to $500 billion starting in 2026. To offset some costs, the legislation includes over $1 trillion in reductions to social safety net programs such as Medicaid and SNAP (food assistance), potentially shifting more financial responsibility to states.

3. Healthcare and industry concerns over long-term effects: Healthcare analysts and organizations, including hospital associations, warn the bill could lead to decreased healthcare coverage, increased uncompensated care, and long-term financial strain on hospitals and healthcare providers. While near-term impacts may be moderated by existing funding structures, changes such as freezing provider taxes and limiting payment growth are expected to create financial challenges by reducing Medicaid-supported demand across the healthcare system.

Prices for new US drugs doubled in 4 years as focus on rare disease grows

By Deena Beasley - U.S. prices for newly-launched pharmaceuticals more than doubled last year compared to 2021, as companies leveraged scientific advances to develop more therapies for rare diseases, which typically command high prices, a Reuters analysis found. The median annual list price for a new drug was over $370,000 in 2024, according to the Reuters survey of 45 medicines. Read Full Article…

HVBA Article Summary

1. Rising launch prices for new drugs reflect both innovation and market shifts: The median launch price for new drugs climbed from $180,000 in 2021 to $222,000 in 2022 and reached $300,000 in 2023, reflecting a combination of scientific progress and evolving market dynamics. This increase is largely tied to the surge in therapies for rare diseases, which often target small patient groups and require substantial research investments, pushing per-treatment prices higher.

2. Scientific advances and regulatory incentives shape the rare disease pipeline: Major breakthroughs, such as the decoding of the human genome, along with FDA incentives like extended market exclusivity, have fueled pharmaceutical companies’ focus on rare diseases. As a result, 72% of 2024’s drug launches were for orphan conditions — a notable increase from 51% in 2019 — although these treatments frequently come with elevated costs due to their specialized nature and limited market size.

3. Stakeholders debate drug costs, value, and patient access: Pharmaceutical companies argue that many high-priced new treatments offer long-term value by reducing healthcare utilization, such as emergency room visits or hospital stays, and in some cases even providing potential cures. At the same time, concerns persist over how high prices affect healthcare system costs and patient access, even as drugmakers use savings programs, insurer rebates, and discounts to help offset the impact of list prices on patients and payers.

Survey: 36% of employers now cover GLP-1s for weight loss & diabetes

By Alan Goforth - More than one-third (36%) of employers now provide coverage of GLP-1 drugs for both weight loss and diabetes, a new survey from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans found. The number that offer coverage for diabetes only has declined to 55% from 57% last year. Read Full Article… ^{_{(Subscription required)}}

HVBA Article Summary

1. GLP-1 usage and associated costs continue to rise sharply: In 2025, GLP-1 drugs represented an average of 10.5% of total annual healthcare claims, marking a steady climb from 8.9% in 2024 and 6.9% in 2023. Notably, 27% of employers now report that GLP-1 medications account for over 15% of their total yearly claims costs, underscoring both the surging demand for these treatments and the mounting financial pressure on employer-sponsored plans.

2. Employers increasingly rely on layered cost-control strategies: More than three-quarters of employers manage GLP-1 expenses through utilization management approaches, with 96% requiring prior authorization, 26% requiring reauthorization for refills, and smaller percentages implementing physician-led or telehealth-based prescribing limits. Additionally, 68% of employers apply detailed eligibility criteria — such as a minimum body mass index (88%), the presence of obesity with one or more chronic conditions (60% and 24%, respectively), and requirements around nutrition, dietary adjustments, or physical activity — to help control access and costs.

3. International trends mirror U.S. cost concerns and management practices: In Canada, the percentage of employers covering GLP-1 drugs for both diabetes and weight loss has jumped to 31%, compared to just 17% in early 2024. Similar to U.S. employers, Canadian companies are increasingly turning to prior authorization requirements and other utilization management strategies to navigate the financial challenges tied to the growing demand for these high-profile medications.

White House unveils ‘MAHA’ report: 10 takeaways 

By Mackenzie Bean - The White House’s Make America Healthy Again Commission published its anticipated report on childhood chronic disease May 22. President Donald Trump signed an executive order Feb. 13 to develop the commission, which is tasked with investigating “the root causes of America’s escalating health crisis.” Read Full Article… 

HVBA Article Summary

1. Childhood chronic disease is identified as a widespread and urgent concern: The commission’s report emphasizes that more than 40% of U.S. children—roughly 30 million—are living with at least one chronic condition, such as asthma, obesity, autoimmune diseases, or behavioral health issues, framing this as an “unprecedented health crisis” with broad implications for national well-being, economic stability, and even military readiness.

2. The report outlines a range of contributing factors behind rising disease rates: It identifies ultra-processed foods, environmental chemical exposures, sedentary and technology-heavy lifestyles, and the overprescribing of medications as key drivers that collectively increase children’s chronic health burdens, suggesting that addressing these interconnected factors is critical for reversing negative health trends.

3. Further research and policy recommendations are in development: The commission plans to deliver a second report within 100 days that will outline strategies and recommendations for improving children’s health, although no dedicated budget or formal policy commitments have yet been attached, signaling that the effort is still in its early assessment and planning phase.

FDA Clears First Diagnostic Blood Test for Alzheimer's Disease

By Megan Brooks - The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted 510(k) clearance to the first blood test to aid in diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The Lumipulse G pTau217/Beta-Amyloid 1-42 Plasma Ratio, from Fujirebio Diagnostics, Inc., is for the early detection of amyloid plaques associated with AD in adults aged 55 years and older who show signs and symptoms of the disease. Read Full Article… ^{_{(Subscription required)}}

HVBA Article Summary

1. FDA Approval of Less Invasive Alzheimer’s Blood Test: The FDA has cleared the Lumipulse G pTau217/Beta-Amyloid 1-42 Plasma Ratio blood test, which detects amyloid plaques linked to Alzheimer’s disease using a simple blood draw, offering a less invasive alternative to PET scans or cerebrospinal fluid tests for patients with cognitive decline.

2. Strong Clinical Accuracy Demonstrated in Study: In a multicenter study of 499 cognitively impaired adults, the Lumipulse blood test showed high reliability, with 91.7% of positive blood test results matching positive PET or CSF findings, and 97.3% of negative results matching negative imaging or fluid tests, making it a promising diagnostic support tool.

3. Expanded Access with Important Limitations: While the test was granted breakthrough device status and improves early access to Alzheimer’s assessment, it is not approved as a general screening or stand-alone diagnostic; clinicians must interpret results alongside other patient data to guide treatment decisions.