Policy

The proposed 2026 HHS budget slashes National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding by 40%, alarming health experts and threatening vital research and public health initiatives.

The FDA introduced Elsa, an artificial intelligence (AI) tool intended to enhance efficiency in clinical reviews and scientific evaluations.

The CDC urges all travelers to be fully vaccinated against measles amid rising cases in the US, some linked with international travel.

This contributor column discusses a recent study that shows the 340B Program’s explosive growth is overwhelmingly due to utilization increases, not price.

"Political directives should not prevent individuals from seeking safe and effective care that they desire and deserve," authors from the American College of Physicians (ACP) write.

Despite their profound sacrifices, veterans and active military members disproportionately face significant physical and mental health issues stemming from their service, with many struggling to access the affordable and comprehensive care they need.

This week, the Center on Health Equity & Access covered news from the Trump administration and CMS, Cigna's co-pay cap on weight loss drugs, and perspectives on living with HIV.

The Make Our Children Healthy Again assessment from the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission warns of a national childhood health crisis and calls for broad federal reforms.

Following President Donald Trump's most favored nation executive order, HHS and CMS have released the target price for pharmaceutical manufacturers to meet.

HHS announces it is taking steps to implement President Trump’s Executive Order on prescription drug pricing. Keep up with the latest moves made in health policy under President Donald Trump's second administration. This timeline will be updated as orders and policy progress.

In an era that FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, MD, MPH, calls an "epidemic of distrust" toward health institutions, previously contained disease rates are rapidly rising, and vaccination rates are proceeding in the opposite direction.

A new analysis looked at estimated out-of-pocket costs for etanercept, ustekinumab, and ibrutinib, specialty drugs that often represent a significant cost burden for Medicare Part D beneficiaries and which were selected for 2026 drug price negotiation under the Inflation Reduction Act.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s congressional hearing featured numerous statements from the secretary of HHS, including denouncing claims of cutting down the HHS and the National Institutes of Health.

Investing in patient navigation and clinician incentives ensures colorectal cancer screening completion, improves early detection, reduces disparities, achieves cost savings, and advances population health for all stakeholders.

The Trump administration has decided to further debate the federal rule passed during the Biden administration that guaranteed insurance coverage for treatment of mental illness and substance abuse.

Proposed Medicaid cuts in the Republican budget proposal hold significant implications for health care access and coverage.

New studies reveal unmet health care needs and racial disparities, while experts share insight on addressing food insecurity and the shifting health policy landscape.

The move would align prescription costs in the US with the costs of other countries, according to the administration.

Antoine Keller, MD, argued the value of grounding health care policy in equity as clinicians prepare for a changing health care landscape in the coming years.

The Trump administration's termination of 694 NIH grants totaled $1.81 billion by April 2025, generating significant uncertainty and concern regarding the future of US health research, especially for minority populations.

The Ensuring Community Access to Pharmacist Services (ECAPS) Act of 2025 (H.R. 3164) aims to ensure vital pharmacy services and access to care for underserved communities.

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) policy summit highlighted the need for improved communication between oncology and primary care to enhance cancer survivor outcomes and care transitions.

The FDA's decision to appoint Vinay Prasad, MD, MPH, to head its Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) raised concerns over regulatory scrutiny as the biotech market dropped.

Enrollment in Medicare coverage without out-of-pocket protections was associated with a higher likelihood of reporting cost and access barriers to care.

The goal of the proposed bill is to “make prescriptions affordable again” in the US.

Asembia’s AXS25 Summit covered a variety of relevant topics in the pharmaceutical industry, from the effects of the new administration to how artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the patience experience.

The 2025 Community Oncology Conference empowered attendees with insights on advocacy, innovation, and practical strategies for enhancing community cancer care.

To mark the 30th anniversary of The American Journal of Managed Care (AJMC), each issue in 2025 includes reflections from a thought leader on what has changed over the past 3 decades and what’s next for managed care. The May issue features a conversation with John Michael O’Brien, PharmD, MPH, a member of AJMC’s editorial board and the president and CEO of the National Pharmaceutical Council. This interview has been lightly edited for clarity.

An executive order signed on Tuesday, March 15, necessitated a change in plans for this panel discussion from the 2025 Community Oncology Conference, with the assembled experts, moderated by Ted Okon, MBA, executive director of the Community Oncology Alliance, speaking to how the order would reverberate across the community oncology space.

Improving relationships between pharmaceutical makers, health systems, patients, and insurers can help to lower the price of health care for patients, according to John Michael O'Brien, PharmD, MPH.