Summary
The House and Senate return this evening, with the primary focus being Department of Homeland Security funding, which expires on February 13th. As it stands now, Senate Republicans are preparing a second continuing resolution (CR) to allow additional time to negotiate a compromise between Republicans and Democrats. On the House side, Republican leadership is planning a vote on the SAVE America Act on Wednesday, which would require voters to present proof of citizenship to register, eliminate mail-only registrations and require photo ID in every state for the first time.
Additionally, the House Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee will continue its hearing series on health care affordability on Wednesday, with this week’s focus on the prescription drug supply chain. Chairmen Guthrie and Griffith stated that “after hearing big insurance companies pledge to do more for American patients, we are continuing our commitment to the American people by calling in representatives across the entire prescription drug supply chain—pharmaceutical manufacturers, distributors, and providers—to examine the root drivers of prescription drug costs and ways to keep them both accessible and affordable.”
BARDA SMART Antiviral Prize Competition
The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), within HHS’s Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), launched the SMART Antiviral Prize, a $100 million prize competition aimed at accelerating the development of novel, broad-spectrum small-molecule antiviral therapies targeting viruses in the Togaviridae and Flaviviridae families, such as dengue, Zika, West Nile, and Chikungunya. The multi-stage competition begins with a Concept Stage solicitation and is expected to advance promising candidates through hit-to-lead, lead optimization, and Investigational New Drug (IND)-enabling stages to strengthen the nation’s antiviral pipeline and pandemic preparedness. Submissions are open through May 11, 2026.
Behavioral Health IT
The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy/Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ASTP/ONC) partnered with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to announce nine pilot programs to test health IT standards and strengthen behavioral and physical health integration through improved data exchange. The pilots have $20 million in total funding from the Behavioral Health Information Technology Initiative and will represent 45 exchange partners across the nine states of Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, and DC.
The pilot will test the United States Core Data for Interoperability Plus Behavioral Health (USCDI+BH) dataset and Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) Behavioral Health Profiles Implementation Guide (BH IG) throughout 2026 in real-world settings. After 2026, the pilot will be used to inform future standards, technical specifications, and policies.
Reg Update
The Office of Management and Budget completed its review of the following:
- Emergency Medical Services and Controlled Substances. A final rule modifying the regulations related to the registration requirements of DEA registrants to allow emergency medical services (EMS) registrants to transport controlled substances for the purpose of dispensing under certain circumstances.
OMB is also reviewing the following.
- Coverage and Payment:
- ACA Marketplace. The HHS Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2027 proposed rule.
- Medicaid:
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- State Directed Payments. A proposed rule titled, “Medicaid Managed Care-State Directed Payments.” The proposed rule appears intended to advance a presidential memorandum released on June 6, which directs HHS to “eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse in Medicaid, including by ensuring Medicaid payments rates are not higher than Medicare, to the extent permitted by applicable law.”
- Medicaid Tax Waivers. A proposed rule titled, “Amending the Indirect Hold Harmless Threshold of Health Care-Related Taxes.”
- The FY 2027 Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System and Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System proposed rule.
- No Surprises Act. A final rule titled, “Independent Dispute Resolution Operations.” Thing long-awaited rule was proposed in November 2023 by the Biden Administration.
- Prescription Drugs
- Prior Authorization. A proposed rule on interoperability standards and prior authorization for drugs.
- *NEW* A prerule titled, “340B Drug Pricing Program Manufacturer Rebate Models.” Federal courts paused implementation of the 340B Rebate Model Pilot Program. As a result, HRSA is considering pursuing the program through the administrative process.
- Oversight and Integrity
- Fraud and Abuse. A proposed rule titled, “Comprehensive Regulations to Uncover Suspicious Healthcare (CRUSH).”
- Accrediting Organizations. A final rule titled, “Strengthening Oversight of Accrediting Organizations (AO), Burden Reduction, and Related Provisions.”
- Other Topics:
- Health Technology. A final rule titled, “Administrative Simplification: Adoption of Standards for Health Care Attachment Transactions and Electronic Signatures.”
- An interim final rule titled, “Unaccompanied Children Program Foundational Rule; Update to Include Proof of Identity and Income Verification Standards.”
- Nutrition Assistance. A proposed rule titled, “Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Reforming Categorical Eligibility.”
- Medication-Assisted Treatment. A final rule titled, “Implementation of the SUPPORT Act: Dispensing and Administering Controlled Substances for Medication-Assisted Treatment.”