|
|
In Partnership With:
July 16, 2025
|
|
|
|
|
|
Spotlight
|
- President Trump signed H.R. 1, the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" into law on July 4, 2025. According to analysis from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the new law will increase the number of people without health insurance in the United States by 11.8 million by 2034. The final legislation included sweeping changes to Medicaid eligibility as well as imposing stricter requirements on who is eligible for coverage via the Affordable Care Act Marketplace. While the CBO also estimates the bill will lead to $1.15 trillion in reduced health care spending over the next decade, tax cuts included in the bill will increase the deficit by $3.4 trillion over the same period.
- Last week, Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) released a statement on the Supreme Court’s decision in Kennedy v. Braidwood Management, Inc. The ruling upheld the constitutionality of a central provision of the Affordable Care Act that mandates no-cost insurance coverage for recommended preventive health services. The decision is an important victory for Americans’ access to the preventive services recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) at no cost to the patient. While the court’s preservation of no-cost access to health screenings and treatments is critical, a second aspect of the decision affirmed that the Secretary of Health and Human Services has the power to “direct and supervise” the work of the USPSTF, including the ability to remove and replace Task Force members at will or potentially reject their recommendations.
- The Supreme Court also ruled in Donald J. Trump, President of the United States, et al., Applicants v. American Federation of Government Employees, et al. in favor of the President. The ruling will allow the Administration to continue dismissing federal employees and restructure federal agencies while litigation moves forward.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Congressional and Administration Updates
|
|
|
|
- The American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Physicians, American Public Health Association and the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA), Massachusetts Public Health Alliance, and Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine sued Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. last week, claiming that the Secretary violated federal law by changing COVID-19 vaccine recommendations without scientific evidence for children and those who are pregnant. The lawsuit comes in the wake of Secretary Kennedy’s replacement of 17 members of the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) with eight new members. Since the shakeup, the Committee has indicated its intent to explore topics that have been of interest to vaccine critics such as the youth and adolescent vaccine schedules.
- The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee voted to advance the nomination of Dr. Susan Monarez on a 12-11 party line vote. The full Senate is expected to vote on her confirmation later this summer. Dr. Monarez previously testified before the Committee in June, addressing vaccines, Secretary Kennedy's changes to ACIP's membership, and community water fluoridation. Dr. Monarez previously served as the deputy director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health. Dr. Monarez earned a Ph.D from the University of Wisconsin, and if confirmed would be the fist non-physician to lead CDC since 1953.
- Representatives Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and Jahana Hayes (D-CT) introduced the bipartisan Expanding Access to Mental Health Services in Schools Act. The legislation would address the increased need for mental health professionals in schools.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reports and Announcements
|
|
|
|
- CDC reported 21 new measles cases last week, which brings this year’s total to 1,288. This is the highest total since the disease was considered eliminated in 2000 and highest overall total since 1992. Cases have been reported in 39 states and 88 percent of cases have been part of 27 major outbreaks. Out of those infected, 92 percent were either unvaccinated or of unknown vaccination status.
- The Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy released the data brief Electronic Public Health Reporting Among Non-Federal Acute Care Hospitals, 2024. The report found that in 2024, nearly all hospitals were engaged in electronic public health reporting for core data types such as immunization, syndromic surveillance, laboratory, and case reporting. Most hospitals used fully or primarily automated processes to submit this data. Hospital engagement in electronic public health reporting varied by hospital characteristics. Small, rural, independent, and critical access hospitals were engaged in fewer types of electronic public health reporting on average, compared to their counterparts. Despite marked progress towards public health data interoperability, more than 8 in 10 hospitals experienced at least one challenge to electronic public health reporting in 2024.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Open Comment Opportunities, Requests for Information, and Membership Applications
|
|
|
|
- Reminder - FDA issued a proposed rule that, if finalized, would make cigarettes and certain other combusted tobacco products minimally or nonaddictive by limiting the level of nicotine in those products. The agency intends to seek input on the proposal, including through public comment and the FDA’s Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee. Comments are due September 15, 2025.
|
If your organization submits comments, please share a copy with GIH (info@gih.org) so we can track and compile input from health funders.
|
|
|
|
|
|
- July 30, 2025: Pain in the Nation 2025: The Epidemics of Alcohol, Drug, and Suicide Deaths Webinar (Virtual)
- September 7-12, 2025: National Tribal Health Conference (Chandler, AZ)
- September 16-18, 2025: Public Health Law Conference (Seattle WA)
- October 8-10, 2025: Rural Health Philanthropy Partnership Meeting (Bethesda, MD)
- November 2-5, 2025: APHA Annual Meeting and Expo (Washington DC)
- November 19-21, 2025: GIH Health Policy Exchange (Arlington, VA)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
