Your Daily Healthcare Policy Briefing

Ways & Means Committee Advances Legislation on Price Transparency and Rural Healthcare Access

• The House Ways and Means Committee approved a legislative package on July 16, 2026, aimed at enhancing healthcare price transparency, expanding access to care in rural and underserved communities, and holding large hospital systems and insurance companies accountable. The legislation mandates greater transparency on pricing and financing practices, improves access to remote patient monitoring and anesthesia services in rural areas, and ensures essential caregivers can visit nursing home residents during emergencies. Notably, the bill creates an expedited admission pathway for critically ill seniors to access Long-Term Care Hospitals (LTCHs) without prior lengthy ICU or ventilator stays.

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• The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released its proposed Calendar Year (CY) 2027 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) rule on July 14, 2026, outlining routine updates to physician payment rates and significant changes to the 340B Drug Pricing Program and the Medicare Shared Savings Program. The rule proposes a reduction in the conversion factor for physician payments in 2027, with a 1.19% decrease for participants in alternative payment models and a 1.68% reduction for non-participants.

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• The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) denied reports on July 14, 2026, that it had abandoned a proposed rule to block Medicare and Medicaid funding for hospitals providing gender-affirming care to pediatric patients. HHS stated the claim was "completely inaccurate and unfounded," confirming they are still reviewing public comments and intend to issue a final rule on the "Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Hospital Condition of Participation: Prohibiting Sex-Rejecting Procedures for Children" rule.

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• CMS announced on July 14, 2026, that the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge Model, which launched on July 1, 2026, will be extended through December 31, 2027. This extension ensures eligible Medicare Part D beneficiaries continue to have access to covered GLP-1 medications with a fixed $50 copay, delaying the previously planned BALANCE Model for Medicare.

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• Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced the "Welcome Back to the Health Care Workforce Act" on July 16, 2026. This bipartisan legislation aims to address healthcare workforce shortages nationwide by streamlining the process for internationally educated health care professionals to enter the U.S. workforce at a level commensurate with their training and experience.

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• A proposed rule from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued on July 14, 2026, has raised concerns among public health and healthcare organizations. The rule would grant federal agency leadership the sole discretion to terminate federal funding, potentially jeopardizing crucial public health programs and essential health services for vulnerable communities by overriding merit review.

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