28 September 2026 This Week in Health Policy for September 28 The Senate is scheduled to be in session this week for a final working session before the midterm elections. The House remains in recess until after the midterm elections.
HHS announces initiative to reduce animal testing and expand human-based research methods. On Monday (September 21), HHS announced department-wide actions intended to accelerate adoption of human-based research methods, including organoids, tissue models, artificial intelligence and computational modeling. FDA also issued a direct final rule updating regulations to remove references to animal testing and implement the FDA Modernization Act. NIH also announced infrastructure investments, grant-review initiatives and a request for information related to tracking animal use in federally funded research. CMS cancels hundreds of thousands of unauthorized federal exchange enrollments. On Tuesday (September 22), CMS said it would cancel 315,000 Affordable Care Act federal exchange plan enrollments covering about 760,000 individuals due to concerns of fraud. CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz and Vice President J.D. Vance said the cancelled enrollments included suspected "phantom" enrollments, that were enrolled by brokers and whose eligibility could not be verified. CMS also said it will freeze until February 1 new agent and broker registrations with federally facilitated exchanges for plan year 2027. FDA seeks input on deceased-donor islet cell therapies. On Wednesday (September 23), HHS and the FDA announced a request for information seeking feedback on ways to improve access to deceased-donor islet cell therapies. FDA is seeking information from patients, providers, researchers, manufacturers and other stakeholders on barriers to access and possible policy approaches. CMS issues RFI on Part D and pharmacy contracting. On Wednesday (September 23), CMS issued a request for information on Medicare Part D reasonable and relevant pharmacy contracting standards. The RFI seeks stakeholder feedback on a range of items, including pharmacy reimbursement and dispensing fees paid by Part D sponsors, how to implement the CAA's "any willing pharmacy" provisions and other Part D plan and network pharmacy contracting practices and trends in contract terms and conditions. HRSA awards $51M to expand pediatric dental services. On Wednesday (September 23), HHS announced $51 million in awards to 28 HRSA-funded programs to expand dental care for children with neurodevelopmental disorders. The awards are intended to increase provider capacity and improve access to specialized oral health services. CMS announces effort to refocus Medicaid quality measures on health outcomes. On Friday (September 25), CMS announced it is launching an initiative that will reform how the agency measures quality in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to prioritize health outcome measures over those focused on processes and utilization. CMS said the initiative will launch in 37 states. SAMHSA awards nearly $250M to expand community addiction and mental health services. On Friday (September 25), HHS and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced that it has awarded $247.9 million in grants to expand access to addiction treatment, mental health services, and recovery support in U.S. communities. HHS said the investments aim to strengthen mental health support in schools, expand trauma treatment for children and families, ensure first responders and communities have the tools to reverse overdoses, and help people in recovery return to work. CMS continues Rural Health Transformation Program funding announcements. CMS this week announced additional Rural Health Transformation Program investments in Arkansas, South Dakota, Delaware, and more, including awards supporting rural workforce development, behavioral health capacity, maternal health services, mobile care and infrastructure modernization. Senate HELP Committee holds hearing on FDA commissioner nominee. On Thursday (September 24), the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a confirmation hearing on the nomination of Heidi Overton to serve as FDA commissioner. During the hearing, Dr. Overton fielded a range of questions, including those on vaccines, mifepristone, scientific standards and agency independence. Dr. Overton spoke of the need to accelerate clinical trials and bolster US innovation. In response to questions on the MMR vaccine, she said the vaccine is safe and effective, but defended the Trump Administration's efforts to split the vaccine into individual shots. Senate Finance Committee holds votes on HHS nominees. On Thursday (September 24), the Senate Finance Committee voted 15-12 to advance Chris Klomp's nomination to serve as deputy secretary of HHS and voted 14-13, along party lines, to advance Ge Bai's nomination to serve as HHS' Assistant Secretary for Planning & Evaluation (ASPE). The nominations now go to the full Senate. HHS Office of Inspector General. Medicare Part B Drug Payments: Impact of Price Substitutions Based on 2024 Average Sales Prices. The report found CMS's application of its price-substitution policy to drugs reviewed by OIG saved Medicare and its enrollees $78 million since 2013, including $1.6 million in 2024. The report states it could not determine whether 31 drugs qualified for a price substitution due to potential errors in the average manufacturer price data submitted to CMS. Government Accountability Office. Maternal Health: Information on and Federal Oversight of Mortality Review Committees. The report provides an overview of the Maternal Mortality Review Committees (MMRCs) and federal oversight of the committees, finding that the committees often make recommendations on care coordination, mental health and substance use, health equity, reproductive health, and health care workers and that the CDC regularly provides oversight of MMRCs that receive CDC funding.
Document ID: 2026-2060 | |||
