Summary
Big Picture. Congress has concluded legislative business until after the November 3 midterm elections, shifting the focus to health care’s role on the campaign trail and the administration’s ongoing policy agenda. This week, MedPAC meets to examine Medicare Advantage networks, physician and laboratory payment accuracy, clinician quality initiatives, and post-acute care payment systems.
- Health Policy to Watch. CMS finalized the GLOBE international drug pricing benchmark model for certain Part B drugs and released its 2027 coverage outlook, projecting lower average Medicare Advantage premiums and a modest increase in stand-alone Part D premiums ahead of October 15 open enrollment. CMS also convened independent dispute resolution entities to address rising costs and payment delays under the No Surprises Act. Separately, CMS released details on a one-time $90 Part B premium rebate financed through the Medicare Improvement Fund for approximately 20.8 million eligible Original Medicare beneficiaries. Most payments will arrive automatically by direct deposit on or around October 8, with paper checks arriving later in October. Medicare Advantage enrollees are excluded, and CMS identifies Medicaid premium assistance and income-related premium adjustments as eligibility limitations.
- Trump Establishes “Super Intelligence Force” to Coordinate Federal AI Policy. President Trump announced on October 4 the creation of a new Super Intelligence Force (SIF) to coordinate federal policy and engagement on artificial intelligence, now termed “super intelligence” by the Administration, following the White House’s recent accord with major technology companies on voluntary AI safety commitments. The SIF will be chaired by Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton, effectively placing him in the Administration’s AI/SI czar role, with Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chair Andrew Ferguson, Defense Department technology chief Emil Michael, and Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Director Scott Kupor also serving in leadership roles and reporting to President Trump and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. The group is expected to engage with stakeholders and, according to reports, has 120 days to produce a report examining AI’s risks and opportunities and develop plans to address AI-enabled threats while seeking to avoid regulation that could inhibit innovation or competition.