Senate GOP’s Medicaid Cuts Face Backlash Amid Rural Hospital Concerns
Senate Republicans’ ambitious “Big, Beautiful Bill,” aimed at extending tax cuts and overhauling Medicaid, is encountering significant resistance due to proposed deep cuts to Medicaid and the potential impact on…
SCOTUS Backs South Carolina, National Impact to Medicaid Reimbursement
At Policy ICU, we’ve often talked about other avenues for change in health care that exist beyond Congress. The “one big, beautiful bill” is taking up most of the attention…
Senate Budget Bill in Flux as July 4 Deadline Looms
The “Big Beautiful Budget Bill,” a central priority for President Donald Trump, faces increasing uncertainty in the Senate despite initial momentum. With just over a week until the President’s self-imposed…
This Week in Policy – Wrap up for the week of June 16, 2025
CDC Seeks Stability Amid ACIP Tensions and Leadership Transition Internal briefings at the CDC addressed growing concerns over recent controversy involving its vaccine advisory panel, ACIP, and provided updates on…
Death by a Thousand Medicaid Cuts
President Donald Trump pushed to have a budget reconciliation bill completed by the Fourth of July. But like all things in politics, the deadline and the goal posts are moving…
Supreme Court Upholds Tennessee Ban on Gender-Affirming Care
Today, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a 6–3 ruling in U.S. v. Skrmetti, upholding Tennessee’s ban on puberty blockers and hormone therapy for minors. Chief Justice Roberts ruled that such restrictions…
U.S. Senate Deep Medicaid Cuts, New Poll Measures “One Big Beautiful Bill” Act Opposition
Politico reports that hospital CEOs and leaders are urging the U.S. Senate to “preserve” Medicaid and reconsider a new Senate proposal that would cut federal Medicaid reimbursement contributions to some…
Judge Reinstates NIH Funding and Grants to Researchers Nationwide
On June 16, 2025, a federal court issued a landmark ruling reinstating National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding and grants to researchers nationwide. The decision mandates the immediate reinstatement of…
This Week in Policy – Wrap up for the week of June 9, 2025
NIH Grant Terminations Jeopardize Research, Medical Education Recent NIH grant terminations have pulled nearly $2 billion from U.S. medical schools and hospitals, including over $300 million meant to train biomedical…
Congress Advances PBM Reforms Amidst Legal Challenges and State-Level Actions
While the reforms Congress wanted targeting pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) didn’t make the Continuing Resolution passed in late December 2024, legislative initiatives are still underway to enhance transparency and accountability…