This week, the Tri-Agencies finalized updated standards for payers, providers, and certified IDR entities related to the Federal IDR process under the No Surprises Act and CMS revised the Increasing Organ Transplant Access (IOTA) Model to align with administration priorities. Read more about these actions and other news in this issue of Health Care Week in Review.

This week, CMS proposed limits on certain Medicaid managed care State Directed Payments, while also proposing limits on certain targeted Medicaid practitioner payments in fee-for-service systems and the House Committees on Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce advanced several health-related bills. Read more about these actions and other news in this issue of Health Care Week in Review.

This week, CMS announced six-month, nationwide moratoria on new Medicare enrollment for hospices and home health agencies and FDA Deputy Commissioner for Food Kyle Diamantas will serve as Acting Commissioner following FDA Commissioner Martin Makary's resignation. Read more about these actions and other news in this issue of Health Care Week in Review.

This week, HHS announced a new “MAHA Action Plan” to promote appropriate psychiatric prescribing, particularly for children and adolescents, and HHS’s Office for Civil Rights issued an interim final rule extending the timeframe for covered entities to bring websites, mobile apps, and other digital tools into compliance with federal accessibility standards. Read more about these actions and other news in this issue of Health Care Week in Review.

OIG Updates Fraud and Abuse FAQs: Stark Compliance and Fair Market Value Do Not Eliminate AKS Risk

Our Health Care Group examines the HHS Office of Inspector General’s updated fraud and abuse FAQs, underscoring the agency’s continued focus on intent-driven Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS) enforcement, even when arrangements meet a Stark Law exception or are consistent with fair market value (FMV).

• Compliance with a Stark Law exception does not shield an arrangement from AKS liability
• Compensation at FMV is not a safe harbor under the AKS and does not, by itself, eliminate risk
• AKS analysis remains a facts-and-circumstances inquiry focused on intent, but documentation of commercial reasonableness and meeting a Stark Law exception can mitigate risk

Read more here.

This week, the House Committee on Ways and Means held a hearing on health care affordability with hospital and health system CEOs, and the Department of Education (ED) released its final rule classifying certain graduate programs as “professional” programs and establishing new federal student loan caps. Read more about these actions and other news in this issue of Health Care Week in Review.

This week, FDA and CMS unveiled the "RAPID" coverage pathway to speed up access to certain breakthrough medical devices for Medicare beneficiaries and CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz issued letters to all 50 governors and state Medicaid directors directing states to undertake a swift revalidation of high risk Medicaid providers. Read more about these actions and other news in this issue of Health Care Week in Review.

This week, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appeared before several House committees to speak on the FY 2027 HHS budget request and President Trump nominated Dr. Erica Schwartz, who served as deputy surgeon general in his first Administration, to serve as the next director of the CDC. Read more about these actions and other news in this issue of Health Care Week in Review.

This week, CMS finalized the CY 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D Rate Announcement and issued a proposed rule that would update Medicare payment policies and rates for inpatient and long-term care hospitals under the Medicare hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) and Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System (LTCH PPS) for FY 2027. Read more about these actions and other news in this issue of Health Care Week in Review.

This week, the White House released the President’s budget request for fiscal year (FY) 2027, and CMS finalized policy and technical changes to Medicare Advantage (MA), the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program, Medicare Cost Plan Program, and Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly for contract year (CY) 2027. Read more about these actions and other news in this issue of Health Care Week in Review.

This week, HHS announced a new advisory committee to provide non-binding recommendations related to Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, and the Health Insurance Marketplace, and the Trump Administration issued an executive order (EO) directing federal agencies to cancel contracts with businesses that engage in “racially discriminatory” DEI practices. Read more about these actions and other news in this issue of Health Care Week in Review.

This week, the Trump Administration issued an EO establishing a Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, and the House Energy & Commerce Committee held hearings on Medicare and Medicaid fraud and the role of providers in health care affordability. Read more about these actions and other news in this issue of Health Care Week in Review.

This week, MedPAC and MACPAC released their March 2026 reports to Congress, and CMS issued new guidance to aid states’ monitoring and oversight of managed care in Medicaid and CHIP. Read more about these actions and other news in this issue of Health Care Week in Review.

In the piece, Michael describes trauma centers as always-ready systems built to respond to the worst day, whether that means severe car crashes, natural disasters, or mass-casualty incidents.

In his role as Chief Operating Officer of the New Mexico Trauma System, Michael outlines how trauma centers function as a constant component of the nation’s emergency preparedness infrastructure and the vital role trauma teams play in responding to both everyday injuries and large-scale disasters.

Maintaining that readiness requires highly trained teams, specialized resources, and continuous preparedness, capabilities that benefit communities every day but are not always fully supported by current healthcare financing structures.

The Trauma Center Association of America is proud to elevate the voices of trauma leaders like Michael Chicarelli who are helping policymakers and the public better understand the national value of America’s trauma system. 

Read more here: Trauma center readiness in New Mexico: Ensuring life-saving care across long distances

This week, HHS and ED announced that 53 medical schools committed to providing at least 40 hours of nutrition education, and leadership of the House Energy & Commerce Committee Majority sent Medicaid fraud inquiry letters to ten states. Read more about these actions and other news in this issue of Health Care Week in Review.

This week, President Trump delivered the first State of the Union address of his second term and Vice President Vance and CMS Administrator Oz announced actions to address fraud, waste, and abuse in Medicare and Medicaid. Read more about these actions and other news in this issue of Health Care Week in Review.

This week, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health held a hearing to examine the prescription drug supply chain and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released its proposed Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for the 2027 plan year. Read more about these actions and other news in this issue of Health Care Week in Review.

This week, President Trump signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026, enacting five appropriations bills, including the Labor–HHS–Education bill, and providing two weeks of funding for the Department of Homeland Security, and the Administration launched TrumpRx, a discount prescription drug platform. Read more about these actions and other news in this issue of Health Care Week in Review.

MISSION Zero Program

The MISSION Zero program has been funded at $4 million for FY 2026. This program awards grants to civilian trauma centers to support the costs associated with enabling military trauma care providers and trauma teams to deliver trauma and related care at civilian facilities. MISSION Zero has played a vital role in helping trauma centers continue saving lives, strengthening trauma training for military health care personnel, and supporting trauma centers in maintaining a highly skilled trauma workforce. Additionally, MISSION Zero allows military trauma providers to maintain their clinical skills while they are not deployed, ensuring that our nation’s Armed Forces benefit from high-quality and state-of-the-art trauma care while on the battlefield.

Improving Trauma Systems and Emergency Care Act Trauma Grants

For the first time, Congress has appropriated funding for one of the grant programs authorized under the Improving Trauma Systems and Emergency Care Act. TCAA has advocated for funding of these grants since their authorization in 2022. For FY 2026, Congress provided $2 million to support a pilot program aimed at designing, implementing, and evaluating new or existing innovative models of regionalized, comprehensive, and accountable emergency medical and trauma systems, as well as improving access to trauma care within those systems.

These significant achievements would not have been possible without the continued engagement and advocacy of TCAA’s members and partners. TCAA extends its sincere appreciation to those who have worked tirelessly on behalf of the nation’s trauma centers, caregivers, and patients to help establish and secure funding for these life-saving programs.

This week, federal agencies prepare for a partial government shutdown as the Senate advances an appropriations agreement that, if passed, will move to the House for consideration, and CMS released a final rule that tightens when states may use non-uniform/non-broad-based provider taxes to finance Medicaid through waiver approvals. Read more about these actions and other news in this issue of Health Care Week in Review.

With a funding deadline approaching, congressional negotiations—particularly around the Homeland Security appropriations bill—will determine whether FY2026 appropriations are finalized on time.

Watch Laura Friedel and Alex Graf give an overview of the FY2026 HHS funding outlook, key program priorities, and the latest federal health policy extensions.

Watch Here.

With a funding deadline approaching, congressional negotiations—particularly around the Homeland Security appropriations bill—will determine whether FY2026 appropriations are finalized on time.

Watch Laura Friedel and Alex Graf give an overview of the FY2026 HHS funding outlook, key program priorities, and the latest federal health policy extensions.

Watch Here.

This week, House members advanced the last four FY 2026 spending bills, including a bill to fund the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and several health insurance CEOs testified before the House Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means committees to address rising healthcare costs. Read more about these actions and other news in this issue of Health Care Week in Review.