03 November 2025 This Week in Health Policy for November 3 Senate Special Committee on Aging will hold a hearing on "Renewing Our Commitment: How the Older Americans Act Uplifts Families Living with Aging-Related Diseases."
U.S. government shutdown continues. The government shutdown will continue into next week with the Senate in recess until Monday, November 3. The House remains in recess. Lawmakers may be nearing a turning point in the stalemate as the White House has cautioned Senate Republicans against consideration of more one-off bills to ensure certain constituencies are being paid and there is more intense focus on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) enrollment period that begins November 1 and funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that may not be provided into November. According to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates, about 42 million Americans who rely on SNAP benefits through debit cards could lose those payments in November as contingency funds are depleted. However, as of publishing, lawmakers have not made meaningful progress towards a deal. Shutdown RIFs. On Tuesday (October 28), Northern District of California Judge Susan Ilston granted a preliminary injunction that continues to prevent the federal government from implementing reductions in force or issuing further layoff notices during the government shutdown. ACA open enrollment. Open enrollment in the ACA's exchanges begins Saturday (November 1) and window shopping launched earlier this week. CMS on October 30 published a fact sheet that stated exchange "enrollees continue to have robust access to low premium plans after applying advance payments of the premium tax credit." The fact sheet noted that the average exchange plan premium after tax credits is projected to be $50 per month for bronze plans, which is up $13 from 2025. However, some media have noted that the fact sheet focuses on bronze plans, while the majority of enrollees purchase benchmark silver plans, which the Kaiser Family Foundation estimates will see average premium increases of 26% in states that use the federally facilitated exchange and 17% in state-run exchanges. Politico reported that Cynthia Cox, vice president and director of KFF's ACA program, said the double-digit increases are the result of several factors including rising health care costs, concerns related to drug tariffs, and the looming expiration of the ACA's enhanced subsidies. HRSA unveils 340B rebate pilot participants. On Thursday (October 30), the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) published a list of select drugs from eight drugmakers that received approval to participate in the 340B Drug Pricing Program rebate pilot scheduled to launch January 1, 2026. FDA announces biosimilar reforms. On Wednesday (October 29), the Food and Drug Administration announced plans to accelerate market entry for biosimilar products. The agency issued new draft guidance that would eliminate a requirement for developers to conduct comparative human clinical studies, and instead rely on analytical studies to compare efficacy of certain biologic and biosimilar products. The agency also said in the next three to six months it plans to issue final guidance that would eliminate so-called "switching studies" for biosimilars seeking interchangeability status. Find the fact sheet here. Trump Admin takes aim at state medical debt laws. On Tuesday (October 28), the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued new guidance that prohibits states from restricting medical debts from credit reports. The guidance takes aim at a growing number of state laws that seeks to prevent individuals' medical debt from impacting their credit scores. US and China announce trade truce following Trump-Xi meeting. On Thursday (October 30), the U.S. and China announced a bilateral trade truce, following a bilateral meeting between President Trump, President Xi, and their advisors. According to public statements from Administration officials and press reports, the U.S. will reduce tariffs on China imposed in response to concerns around fentanyl from 20% to 10% and halt President Trump's recent suggestion of 100% tariffs on Chinese goods. The U.S. also agreed to a one-year delay of recent fees on China-affiliated shipping vessels and an interim final rule from the Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) expanding export restrictions to companies that are at least 50% owned by listed entities. In exchange, China will pause for one year its recent export controls on rare earth elements. China also committed to increase purchases of US soybeans, take additional steps to curtail the flow of fentanyl into the US, and remove its countermeasures on US shipping vessels. As the initial details of the deal are released, there remain significant questions around the timing and process of implementing the commitments. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee held a hearing on "The Future of Biotech: Maintaining U.S. Competitiveness and Delivering Lifesaving Cures to Patients." On Wednesday (October 29), the Committee heard from a panel of witnesses representing former FDA officials, the biotech industry, and academics. During the hearing, members and witnesses discussed a range of topics, including U.S. biotech innovation and maintaining global leadership, regulatory reforms to accelerate drug reviews and approvals and address reimbursement for new innovations, the affordability of pharmaceuticals, the role of NIH in biotech innovation, bolstering U.S. domestic manufacturing capacity to shore up the drug supply chain, and more.
Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee postponed a hearing on the "Nomination of Casey Means to be Medical Director in the Regular Corps of the Public Health Service and Surgeon General of the Public Health Service." The hearing, which was scheduled for Thursday (October 30), was postponed after Casey Means went into labor.
Senate Finance Committee held a hearing on the "Nomination of Thomas Bell, to be Inspector General, Department of Health and Human Services." On Wednesday (October 29), the Committee heard testimony from Thomas Bell, who currently is senior counsel at the House Committee on House Administration. During the hearing, Mr. Bell voiced his support for the Trump Administration's agenda, including efforts to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse and improve Americans' health. and fielded questions on a variety of topics, including Planned Parenthood funding, oversight of Medicare Advantage, the ACA enhanced premium tax credits, and more. The Finance Committee has not yet set a date for a vote on sending Bell's confirmation to the full Senate.
Document ID: 2025-2203 | |||
