republicans

Unlikely Pair Attacking Vertical Integration An unlikely pair of senators, Elizabeth Warren, D-MA, and Josh Hawley, R-MO, have teamed up to pass the “Break Up Medicine Act.” The bill would seek to break up major vertically integrated healthcare behemoths due to the cozy relationships companies within the master entity have with each other. The bill proposes prohibiting parent companies from owning a medical provider or management services organization and a PBM or insurer. It also proposes prohibiting parent companies of prescription drug or medical device wholesalers from owning a medical provider or management services organization. #healthplans #verticalintegration https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5732189-break-up-big-medicine-act CVS Health Reports Good Financial News; Oscar Health Reports Loss CVS Health beat The Street by outperforming to close out 2025 and expects its finances to improve further this year. Still, it is citing proposed 2027 Medicare Advantage (MA) rates as inadequate. It is advocating for a hike. It did say it

Seismic Changes To ACA and Exchanges Proposed Building on changes in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) and other regulatory changes in 2025, the Trump administration’s 2027 Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Exchange rule aims to make additional seismic changes in healthcare. Among the major changes include: Proponents argue the changes are needed to reduce costs and provide more affordable options. Critics argue the changes will simply erode the Exchanges financial position and increase risk. Additional articles: https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/regulatory/cms-plans-roll-back-limits-non-standard-aca-plan-options and https://www.beckerspayer.com/payer/aca/cms-proposes-aca-implementation-rule/ and https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-proposes-regulations-lower-health-care-costs-expand-consumer-choice-protect-taxpayers and https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/hhs-notice-benefit-payment-parameters-2027-proposed-rule #exchanges #healthcare #coverage #trump #cms #regulations https://www.modernhealthcare.com/politics-regulation/mh-aca-exchange-rule-2027-standardized-coverage Kaiser Reports Good Financials Kaiser Permanente reported good financial news for Q4 and 2025. It tripled its operating income although operating expenses surged. It reported operating income of $1.4 billion last year, up from $569 million in 2024. The turnaround is tied to investments in operational improvements. Kaiser Permanente and its subsidiaries wrapped 2025 with a 10.3% bump

Centene Reports Financial Results Centene Corporation posted a $1.1 billion loss in Q4 2025 and $6.7 billion loss for 2025 as it sees elevated costs overall and shrinking membership in Medicaid. It had $3 billion in profit in 2024. Its medical loss ratio was 94.3% in Q4, up from 89.6% a year ago. Adversity is increasing. While it did post a loss in Q4, results still surpassed Wall Street analysts’ predictions. Centene issued a higher earnings outlook for 2026 than analysts expected as well. As with Molina, which reported negative results for 2025 and financial expectations in 2026 that are half of analyst forecasts, Centene said states’ Medicaid payment rates haven’t kept pace with costs. Acuity is also rising in the Exchanges. Both Centene and Molina stock dropped. Additional articles: https://www.modernhealthcare.com/insurance/mh-molina-medicaid-acquisitions-medicare-advantage/ and https://www.modernhealthcare.com/insurance/mh-centene-earnings-medicare-medicaid/ and https://www.healthcaredive.com/news/centene-loss-q4-2025-2026-outlook-cnc/811564/ and https://www.beckerspayer.com/financial/centene-posts-6-7b-loss-in-2025/ (Some articles may require a subscription.) #healthplans #margins #centene #molina #medicaid #exchanges https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/payers/centene-reports-11b-loss-q4-elevated-medical-costs-continue-strain-finances Cheering

TrumpRx Unveiled; Novo Nordisk Reports Bad 2026 Guidance TrumpRx was unveiled Thursday. The president negotiated deals with 16 of the 17 largest brand drug makers and part of the arrangement includes steep discounts on TrumpRx for self-pay Americans. The initial launch includes discounted products from AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly, EMD Serono, Novo Nordisk and Pfizer. Additional manufacturers that have signed agreements will have products added to the platform over time. Right now, 43 prescription drugs treating various different conditions at varying discounts are on the website. Medications for asthma, infertility and obesity are among those available. The savings range between 33 and 93 percent off the list price of the drugs. Trump has been driving other changes as well, including deploying models for most-favored-nation (MFN) pricing in Medicaid and Medicare. The deals he struck already gained MFN in Medicaid and such pricing on new drugs that come to market. Some criticize

FTC Settles With Cigna’s Express Scripts The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Cigna’s Express Scripts pharmacy benefits manager (PBM) reached a settlement that resolves allegations that the PBM artificially drove up prices for insulin. Cases continue against CVS Caremark and OptumRx. Express Scripts will implement a number of reforms, including: The FTC expects the settlement to lower out-of-pocket costs for drugs by $7 billion over a decade. Additional articles: https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/regulatory/ftc-evernorth-near-settlement-case-over-insulin-prices and https://www.healthcaredive.com/news/express-scripts-ftc-reach-settlement-insulin-lawsuit/811369/ and https://www.beckerspayer.com/legal/ftc-deal-over-insulin-prices-forces-cignas-express-scripts-to-overhaul-policies/ (Some articles may require a subscription.) #pbms #drugpricing #employers https://www.modernhealthcare.com/insurance/mh-cigna-express-scripts-ftc-pbm-lawsuit CMS Hypes ACO Growth And Potential The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a fact sheet regarding latest statistics around Medicare Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). As of January 2026, 14.3 million Medicare beneficiaries are estimated to receive care coordinated by ACOs, up from 13.7 million in 2025 or a 4.4% increase. This includes those in Medicare Shared Savings Program ACOs and entities participating in

Partial Shutdown Over The House voted 217-214 to approve a final spending package for FFY 2026 — 21 Republicans defected from and 21 Democrats supported the bipartisan measure. President Trump has already signed the bill. A number of key healthcare reforms are included. I reported on a list of them in the Newsfeed on January 30. Among the big items are a set of pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) reforms, including extensive reporting, transparency, and government oversight as well as requirements to pass rebates earned from drug makers to health plans, employers, and patients. PBMs will now have to charge a set fee for services. The bill requires the groups to report detailed data on drug pricing, rebates, pharmacy reimbursement, and payments retained by PBMs and their affiliates and authorizes audits and enforcement/recoupment actions. In addition, telehealth was extended for two years and acute hospital-at-home by five years. Additional articles: https://www.modernhealthcare.com/politics-regulation/mh-congress-government-funding-bill-pbm-telehealth/

Government Funding Bill Still Not Passed; Due Up Tuesday in House With Democrats off the Senate funding package to end a partial government shutdown, Speaker Mike Johnson, R-LA, is still expressing optimism about the House approving a funding package Tuesday. The Rules Committee is now meeting to pass a rule, which then clears the way to have a party-line vote on the Senate package. But with the ability to lose but one vote given a slim majority, Johnson’s optimism may be a bit too, well, optimistic. However, Johnson says he is not asking President Donald Trump to call those Republican holdouts to get the deal over the finish line. This package and an earlier one funds all but the Homeland Security department through September 30. That is funded for two weeks, giving time for Democrats and Republicans to discuss concerns over ICE and Homeland Security conduct. Additional article: https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5719277-johnson-trump-gop-holdouts-funding/?tbref=hp #governmentshutdown