General Healthcare – October 2025

🇺🇸 United States

• Government Shutdown Impact on Healthcare: The ongoing federal government shutdown has led to the suspension of two Medicare remote care programs, including telehealth and hospital-at-home services, which expired on October 1. Health Policy Institute of Ohio

• Medicare Advantage Oversight: Dr. Mehmet Oz, Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), addressed concerns over in-home health assessments and rising Medicare spending on skin substitutes. He emphasized the need for efficient prior authorization processes and warned of potential regulatory actions against misuse. The Washington Post

• Public Trust in Healthcare Leadership: An Axios-Ipsos poll revealed that a majority of Americans believe the nation is less healthy under President Trump’s leadership, citing concerns over vaccine policies and the dissemination of unproven health claims. Axios

• California Legislation on Pharmacy Benefit Managers: Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 41 into law, regulating pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to lower prescription drug costs. This legislation prohibits certain practices like patient steering and mandates PBM licensure through the state government. Wikipedia

1. Here are 10 recent national-healthcare headlines from the past ~21 days, focusing on U.S. policy, health care markets, and public health issues (no commentary, just the facts):

   1. Donald J. Trump announced a deal with Eli Lilly and Company and Novo Nordisk to lower the cost of popular GLP-1 weight-loss drugs in some cases to between approximately $149 and $350 per month. CBS News+1

   2. Millions of Americans beginning the 2026 open-enrollment period are bracing for higher health insurance premiums, with reports indicating significant premium increases and reduced subsidies under the Affordable Care Act marketplace. CBS News

   3. The administration’s shutdown of certain federal operations has created “sticker-shock” for many consumers as enrollment deadlines approach, and some essential health-care services face disruption. CBS News

   4. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other public-health agencies have reported staffing and operational challenges tied to funding freezes during the shutdown. ABC News+1

   5. States are competing for slices of a new $50 billion rural-health care fund to improve access in underserved areas, as public forums and health systems lobby for participation. CBS News

   6. Health-care providers and hospitals warned that changes in visa/immigration rules may worsen the nurse/medical-staff shortage, especially in rural and underserved markets. CBS News

   7. The American Hospital Association (AHA) expressed support for bipartisan legislation (H.R. 5142) that would pause planned Medicaid/home-health cuts for two years. American Hospital Association

   8. A federal court issued a stay on major 2026 marketplace rule changes under the ACA while the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) appeals, conserving current benefit structures for the moment. Health Affairs

   9. Health-care oversight groups flagged that some Medicare/Medicaid plans operated by private insurers overstated mental-health-provider network sizes, raising concerns of access gaps. CBS News

   10. A surge in demand at food banks and pantries followed benefit disruptions for approximately 42 million Americans when SNAP aid was halted — underscoring the link between social services and health outcomes. ABC News

Major Policy / Legal / Insurance News

1. CDC losing key experts & cuts at the agency
   There’s concern among public health experts that the departure of senior CDC staff and program budget cuts will diminish the U.S.’s ability to respond to emergent health threats (measles, bird flu, Ebola). Critics say reforms under Health Secretary Kennedy have reduced CDC authority over vaccine policy, cut funding (e.g. for mRNA vaccine research), and weakened overall capability. The Guardian

2. Family doctors urging broader COVID-19 vaccine recommendations
   The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) has recommended that everyone over age 18—including children and pregnant women—receive COVID-19 vaccinations. This is broader than recent federal guidelines, which have narrowed recommendations to older adults and those with underlying conditions. Reuters

3. Court ruling on Planned Parenthood and Medicaid funding
   A U.S. appeals court has ruled that the administration may go ahead with a plan to block Planned Parenthood from receiving Medicaid reimbursements. This could impact access for about 1.1 million Medicaid patients, many in rural or underserved areas. Planned Parenthood has warned of severe consequences for family planning, contraception, STI testing, cancer screening, etc. The Guardian

4. Sharp premium increases expected unless ACA subsidies are extended
   The expanded health insurance subsidies under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which helped many insured afford premiums (especially middle-income people), are set to expire end of 2025. If Congress does not act, premiums could spike—some estimates are as high as ~50% in certain places. AP News

5. Connecticut insurance premium hikes
   In Connecticut, health insurance premiums for individual plans (on the Access Health CT exchange) are approved to increase ~16.8% on average for 2026; small group plan rates rising around 11%. These increases are tied to anticipated cuts in federal subsidies. CT Insider

6. Medicare home healthcare rate cut delay pushed by bill
   A new bipartisan bill (Home Health Stabilization Act of 2025) has been introduced to stop a proposed ~6.4% cut (about $1.135 billion) to Medicare home health payments for 2026–2027. Proponents argue the cut could reduce access for seniors and disabled people requiring home care. MarketWatch

Medical / Tech / Innovation Updates

1. WIRED Health Summit: Innovations & Biotech Highlights
   At the September 2025 WIRED Health summit, several developments were spotlighted:

   • Progress on CRISPR gene editing for diseases like sickle cell and beta thalassemia.

   • Advances in personalized mRNA cancer vaccines.

   • Use of liquid biopsies to catch cancers earlier.

   • Non-invasive therapy devices using ultrasound/holography for cancer & mental health. WIRED

2. New allergen-blocker antibodies show promise
   Regeneron reported that its first-in-class antibodies blocking cat and birch allergens succeeded in phase 3 trials for adults with moderate-to-severe allergies. HCPLive

3. Withdrawal of a drug for a liver disease
   Intercept Pharmaceuticals voluntarily withdrew obeticholic acid (marketed as Ocaliva) from the U.S. for treating primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). The FDA has also put a hold on related trials. HCPLive

4. Potential first drug for focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS)
   Travere Therapeutics’ drug sparsentan (Filspari) is under review by the FDA (sNDA). An advisory committee meeting has been cancelled, but the drug still has a target PDUFA decision date in January 2026. If approved, it would be the first indicated drug for FSGS. HCPLive

Here’s a comprehensive roundup of national healthcare news from the past two weeks:

Key Headlines & Policy Updates

1. States Move Toward Public Health Autonomy

Connecticut and several New England states are coordinating regional public health strategies in response to federal policy shifts—including proposed halts to COVID-19 vaccine distribution and removal of $500 million in mRNA vaccine funding. Governors and health officials want to maintain evidence-based vaccine guidance independently from federal changes.CT Insider

2. Leadership Turmoil at the CDC

President Trump fired CDC Director Susan Monarez, appointing Jim O’Neill as acting director—a decision supported by Health Secretary RFK Jr. This upheaval prompted the departure of several senior scientists and drew bipartisan concern about the politicization of the agency and potential threats to scientific integrity.AP NewsThe Guardian

3. Court Overturns CMS Broker Compensation Cap

A federal judge struck down a 2024 CMS rule that had limited Medicare Advantage brokers’ compensation to $100. Without the cap, brokers can now receive market-based commissions, raising concerns about increasing marketing-focused incentives over patient-centric care. CMS has until mid-October to appeal.MarketWatch

Broader Context & Legislative Movement

• The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”, passed earlier, continues to spark debates due to deep cuts in Medicaid and SNAP, as well as work requirements for Medicaid recipients. Critics warn of millions losing coverage.The Washington PostThe GuardianInvestopediaWikipedia

• In Congress, bipartisan proposals such as the Protecting Healthcare and Lowering Costs Act aim to reverse these Medicaid and ACA subsidy cuts while extending premium tax credits permanently.Alston & BirdWorldatWork

• Other legislative efforts include:

  • The Hospital Inpatient Services Modernization Act, proposing a five-year extension for “Hospital at Home” programs to promote in-home acute care.WikipediaNational Law Review

  • States like Iowa, Louisiana, and North Carolina are implementing or adapting Medicaid reforms—ranging from work requirements and doula coverage to budget extensions and transportation services.Health Management Associates+2Health Management Associates+2

• A surge in urban hospitals gaining rural Medicare designations raises concerns about eligibility for rural-focused funding under H.R. 1.Alston & BirdHealth Management Associates

• HHS has launched MAHA in Action, an interactive platform highlighting implementation of its “Make America Healthy Again” agenda—covering reforms in food, health labeling, and vaccine advisory restructuring. It also includes real-time maps of ongoing initiatives.Alston & Bird

• The HHS Office of Inspector General reports a notable rise in Medicare enrollees leaving hospitals against medical advice (AMA), especially correlated with lower-rated hospitals and vulnerable populations.Alston & Bird

• A recent Supreme Court decision allows NIH to pause $783 million in grants tied to DEI and gender-related research, pending a jurisdictional review—highlighting a broader clash over funding criteria.Alston & Bird

Quick Summary Table