HHS Names Next Round of Drugs for Medicare Price Negotiation: On Friday, HHS announced 15 new drugs that Medicare will directly negotiate with manufacturers. The two most notable are Ozempic and Wegovy, the widely popular diabetes drugs also used for weight loss. The 15 drugs represent approximately $41 billion in total gross covered Part D costs in 2024. The Trump administration will be charged with finalizing the prices.  ‍

Energy & Commerce Republicans Begin Reconciliation Considerations: On Tuesday, Republican members of the House Energy & Commerce Committee met in a closed-door meeting to discuss potential health care policies that could be included in a budget reconciliation package. According to Health Subcommittee Chair Buddy Carter (R-GA), the meeting covered a range of reform options, including lowering the minimum 50% Federal Medical Assistance Percentage match rate, PBM reforms, reducing Medicaid expansion matching rates, and implementing Medicaid per capita caps. Rep. Carter also said ACA tax credits were also discussed.  ‍

DEA Proposes Special Registration for Virtual Prescribing: On Wednesday, the DEA somewhat reversed on former position and proposed rules for providers to register to prescribe controlled substances via telehealth. The new proposal allows providers to seek “special registration” to prescribe Schedule II-V drugs virtually. DEA also proposed for VA providers to prescribe controlled substances via telehealth to VA patients not seen in their clinic before. ‍

Biden to Allow Waivers for EtO Use: On Thursday, President Biden issued an executive order allowing sterilized facilities to request a waiver from limits on the use of ethylene oxide through HHS or the EPA. In April 2024, Biden’s EPA released a rule with significantly tougher controls on EtO use due to health risks, but Biden’s executive order said the waiver policy will better ensure “reliability of our Nation's supply of safe medical products.” ‍

FDA Bans Red Dye No.3 in Foods: On Wednesday, the FDA announced it will ban the food dye Red 3 from use in foods, beverages, oral drugs, and dietary supplements. The ban is in response to a color additive petition filed by the Center for Science in the Public Interest in 2022 and could signal the beginning of new scrutiny on food products under HHS Secretary nominee Kennedy. ‍

Flick Selected for HHS Chief of Staff: On Monday, President-elect Trump tapped Heather Flick as HHS chief of staff. Flick has long been involved in Republican politics and served in a range of top roles at HHS during the first Trump administration. She is seen as a pick more within Trump’s circle than Secretary-nominee Kennedy’s.  ‍

Advanced Price Disclosures Policies Delayed: On Wednesday, the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and the Treasury issued new FAQs regarding the implementation of the No Surprises Act, stating that the policy to let consumers get a cost estimate of a health service before it is scheduled is now expected out in July – not March. The rules will require providers give self-paying customers a “good faith estimate” of the full cost of a treatment upon request. For insured consumers, providers must transmit the estimate to the consumer’s health plan who will transfer the cost estimates.