healthcare policy
34 stories related to this topic, newest first.
BBC NewsMPs to Debate Government Plans for Single NHS Patient Record
The NHS Modernisation Bill reaches its second reading in the House of Commons on Monday, introducing a single patient record system for England that combines GP, hospital and social care data.
The Japan TimesJapan Passes Bill Raising Co-Payments for Select Prescription Drugs
Japan's Upper House approved legislation on Friday to increase patient co-payments for roughly 1,100 prescription medicines that have ingredients and effects similar to over-the-counter drugs. The same bill also expands public health insurance coverage to include all childbirth-r…
Washington ExaminerOhio Democratic candidate proposes medical debt forgiveness plan
The Democratic nominee for Ohio governor has centered a medical debt relief proposal in her campaign. The plan would use state funds to buy out certain debts for eligible residents.
nypost.comDemocrats Introduce Resolutions to End Medicare AI Pilot Program
Democratic lawmakers have introduced resolutions in the House and Senate to repeal the WISeR model, a Medicare pilot using AI for prior authorization in six states. The program runs through 2031 and pays contractors based on cost savings from denied services.
Fox NewsAlzheimer's Blood Tests Face Medicare Coverage Limits
Medicare covers tau protein blood tests only after symptoms appear. New legislation would expand coverage for earlier detection.
StatTrumpRx Adds Over 600 Generic Drugs Through Partnerships With Mark Cuban, Amazon, GoodRx
President Trump announced Monday that the TrumpRx platform now includes more than 600 generic medications through partnerships with Mark Cuban’s Cost Plus Drug Company, Amazon Pharmacy, and GoodRx. The expansion allows users to search for low-cost generics and compare prices at l…
newbloommag.netSenator Calls for Policy Changes to Address Potential AI Job Losses
A U.S. senator warned that artificial intelligence could lead to widespread job losses and urged structural reforms including universal health care and expanded education access. The remarks were posted on social media with a video clip.
insidermonkey.comTrump Administration Authorizes Medicare Test Program for CBD
The Trump administration has authorized a test program allowing some Medicare patients to receive free cannabidiol, or CBD. The program will examine whether the cannabis compound can ease certain symptoms in older patients and reduce overall health care costs. It marks an initial…
Nbc NewsDemocratic Think Tank Searchlight Institute Calls for Free Primary Care for All Americans
Searchlight Institute released a policy report calling for free primary care delivered either by expanding the ACA preventive services mandate or through a new American Health Gateway public option. The proposal arrives after enhanced ACA subsidies expired at the end of 2025, lea…
Nbc NewsMedicaid Funding Reductions Affect Family Caregivers in Maryland
A federal spending package signed by President Donald Trump last year is projected to reduce Medicaid funding by about $1 trillion over the next decade. Maryland has already cut $126 million from programs for people with developmental disabilities, reducing wages and hours for fa…
pbs.orgU.S. Halts Some Medicaid Payments Citing Fraud
The federal government has stopped certain Medicaid payments after identifying what it described as fraud in the program. Vice President JD Vance addressed the issue during a speech in Maine, stating that only Republicans would address fraud in public benefits programs. The move…
theconservativetreehouse.comTrump Administration Launches 18-Month Medicare Pilot Capping Copays at $50 for Certain GLP-1 Weight-Loss Drugs
President Donald Trump and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services unveiled an 18-month pilot that will allow qualifying Medicare Part D beneficiaries to obtain certain GLP-1 medications such as Wegovy for $50 a month beginning July 1, 2026. The program marks a major policy…
Experts Propose Renaming Polycystic Ovary Syndrome to Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome
A new consensus statement published in The Lancet recommends changing the name of polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, to polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, or PMOS. The change aims to better reflect the condition's hormonal, metabolic and multi-system effects after researc…
morningstaronline.co.ukEU Agrees on Critical Medicines Act to Boost Domestic Production
European officials have agreed on legislation designed to increase local manufacturing of essential drugs. The Critical Medicines Act seeks to prevent shortages that occurred during the pandemic. The measure aims to reduce reliance on imports for key pharmaceutical products.
medpagetoday.comFederal Agencies Hold 20 Stakeholder Meetings on No Surprises Act Arbitration Rule Changes
Federal agencies have held 20 meetings with industry groups this year on updates to the No Surprises Act's Independent Dispute Resolution process. Health care providers and their trade groups accounted for 13 meetings while insurers had four. The final rule, first proposed in Nov…
manilatimes.netMedicare to Test $50 Monthly Co-Pay for GLP-1 Weight Loss Drugs in New Pilot Program
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced a two-year demonstration program that will allow certain enrollees to access FDA-approved GLP-1 medications for weight loss at a fixed $50 monthly co-pay with no deductible. The Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program runs from July…
NprMedicare to Test 18-Month GLP-1 Pilot for Weight Loss Drugs Starting July 2026
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will begin a short-term pilot on July 1, 2026, allowing eligible beneficiaries to obtain certain GLP-1 medications for weight loss at a flat $50 copayment. The 18-month program bridges to a potential longer-term initiative in 2028 afte…
rediff.comPoll Finds Majority Voter Support for Several Trump Policies Including Deportations and Drug Price Cuts
A recent poll indicates that a majority of registered voters support several key policies of President Trump, such as deporting violent criminal illegal immigrants and reducing prescription drug prices. Support levels ranged from 63% to 84% for specific measures, according to the…
ForbesSupreme Court Allows Mail Delivery of Abortion Pill During Appeal
The Supreme Court issued a temporary stay on a federal appeals court ruling that restricted access to the abortion pill mifepristone, allowing it to be dispensed via mail and telehealth for now. The appeals court had reinstated in-person requirements, causing confusion among prov…
foxnews.comTrump Administration Eases Federal Restrictions on Medical Marijuana Amid Widespread Use for Pain Management
President Trump has recently eased restrictions on medical marijuana, which millions of Americans use to treat chronic pain and other conditions. The Food and Drug Administration has approved a limited number of cannabis-based drugs for specific ailments. Experts note potential b…
axios.comFifth Circuit Temporarily Blocks Mail-Order Mifepristone Access
A federal appeals court has blocked the mailing of the abortion pill mifepristone, ending pandemic-era rules and requiring in-person prescriptions. The ruling criticizes the FDA's handling of safety data and sides with pro-life states like Louisiana. The drug's manufacturer has a…
medpagetoday.comTrump Imposes 25% Tariffs on EU Vehicles; Nebraska Approves Medicaid Work Requirements
President Trump announced an increase in tariffs on cars and lorries imported from the European Union to 25% from 15%, effective next week, accusing the bloc of non-compliance with a deal struck last summer. Separately, Nebraska became the first state to enact work requirements f…
The TimesTrump Nominates Dr. Nicole Saphier as Surgeon General
President Trump announced Dr. Nicole Saphier, a 44-year-old radiologist and Fox News contributor, as his nominee for U.S. surgeon general on Thursday, following the withdrawal of Dr. Casey Means due to insufficient Senate support. Saphier, who authored a book titled Make America…
Nbc NewsTrump Nominates Dr. Nicole Saphier as Surgeon General
President Trump withdrew the stalled nomination of Dr. Casey Means for U.S. Surgeon General and announced Dr. Nicole Saphier as her replacement in Truth Social posts. Means faced Senate opposition over her vaccine views and lack of active medical license. Saphier, a radiologist a…
news.sky.comBirmingham Hospital Pilot Shows Small Reduction in Miscarriage Rates After One Prior Loss
A pilot at Birmingham Women and Children's Hospital offers earlier checks and treatments after miscarriages, showing a small reduction in rates. Researchers estimate it could prevent 10,000 miscarriages yearly if adopted across England's NHS. The government is considering wider i…
marketwatch.comRegeneron Agrees to Lower Drug Prices and Offer Free Gene Therapy in U.S. Deal
Biotech company Regeneron has entered into an agreement with the U.S. government to reduce medication costs for American patients. The deal includes offering a new hearing-loss gene therapy at no charge to eligible individuals. This is part of broader efforts to align U.S. drug p…
Substrate placeholder — needs reviewPro-Life Groups Lobby Senate for 10-Year Extension of Abortion Funding Ban
A coalition of pro-life groups sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader John Thune calling for a 10-year extension of the ban on federal funding for Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers before its July 4, 2026, expiration. The current prohibition, enacted in President T…
Substrate placeholder — needs reviewAustralian Government to Eliminate Howard-Era Private Health Rebate Bonus for Seniors
The Australian government plans to reverse a 2004 policy that provided higher private health insurance rebates for people over 65. This change aims to fund additional aged care spending. The decision was announced by Health Minister Mark Butler on Wednesday.
Substrate placeholder — needs reviewChina's State Council Issues Guidelines on Innovative Drug Pricing
China's State Council has released new guidelines aimed at supporting innovative drug pricing through value-based methods while reducing generic drug prices via market competition. A Citigroup analyst described the guidelines as the most significant in a decade.
Substrate placeholder — needs reviewNHS Nurse Wins Settlement After Suspension for Using Patient's Pronouns
A nurse was suspended by an NHS trust after referring to a transgender patient using male pronouns during an incident in May 2024. The patient, an inmate from a high-security men's prison, allegedly racially abused and attempted to attack the nurse. The parties reached a settleme…
Substrate placeholder — needs reviewMAHA Advocate Expresses Desire for Restored Trust in Medical Community
A supporter of the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement has written about seeking renewed trust in the medical community. The statement appears in a personal reflection published by STAT News. It highlights ongoing discussions about public confidence in healthcare instituti…
Substrate placeholder — needs reviewHealth Tech Companies Pursue Voluntary Efforts to Improve Medical Record Portability
Health technology companies are developing initiatives to make medical records more portable across systems. These efforts remain voluntary, without regulatory mandates. The push aims to enhance patient access and care coordination, though implementation varies among providers.
Substrate placeholder — needs reviewRecent Advances in Gene Therapy for Rare Diseases Reported
Developments in gene therapy and targeted medications have shown progress in treating rare diseases such as spinal muscular atrophy and certain forms of blindness. These conditions affect an estimated 30 million people in the United States, with over 7,000 identified rare disease…
Substrate placeholder — needs reviewIdaho Reverses Cuts to Mental Health Outreach After Reported Deaths Among People With Schizophrenia
Idaho eliminated outreach services for individuals with severe mental illness, including schizophrenia. Following a series of deaths, the state has moved to restore those services. The changes aim to address the negative outcomes linked to the initial reductions.