HHS Releases FY26 Budget in Brief

July 9, 2025

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On May 30, HHS released its FY2026 Budget in Brief outlining the Trump Administration’s health policy priorities and proposed funding levels for the upcoming fiscal year. The budget serves as a high-level summary of the department’s mandatory and discretionary spending requests.

For FY2026, HHS is requesting $94.7 billion in discretionary budget authority, a significant reduction from the $130.7 billion requested for FY2025. The proposal includes significant structural changes to federal public health administration. Chief among them is the consolidation of multiple agencies into a new entity, the Administration for a Healthy America.

The FY2026 Budget in Brief reflects a broader shift in federal health policy and strategy, reducing discretionary spending while restructuring core federal public health functions. While implementation details remain limited, the outlined changes suggest a continued emphasis on pairing down federal health operations heading into the following year.

legislation

Bicameral Patients before Monopolies Act reintroduced

On May 13, bipartisan lawmakers in the House and Senate reintroduced the Patients Before Monopolies (PBM) Act (S.4509/H.R.8779), legislation that would prohibit common ownership of PBMs, insurers, and pharmacies. Sponsored by Sens. Warren (D-MA) and Josh Hawley (R-MO) alongside Reps. Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) and Jake Auchincloss (D-MA), the bill would require impacted organizations to divest […]
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June 10, 2026

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legislation

CMS announces ePA acceleration initiative, democrats seek to repeal WISeR Model

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is advancing its electronic prior authorization (ePA) efforts through a newly established Electronic Prior Authorization Acceleration initiative to address key challenges and drive solutions ahead of 2027 requirements. To date, 29 health care organizations – including health systems, electronic health record developers, physician practices, networks, and digital health […]
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June 10, 2026

EGWP marketplace medicaid Medicare

legislation

Tri-Departments release fertility excepted benefits proposed rule

On May 10, the Departments of Labor, HHS, and Treasury (the Departments) issued a proposed rule that would create a new category of limited excepted benefits to allow employers to offer stand-alone fertility benefits to their employees, similar to dental, vision, and other supplemental coverage. Benefits would be limited to fertility-related items and services for […]
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June 10, 2026

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