Health Policy Report – April 7, 2026

Dr. Sucharu Prakash Pens Op-Ed in the Washington Times

Dr. Sucharu “Chris” Prakash, Regional Medical Director at Texas Oncology, recently published an op-ed in the Washington Times highlighting the need to limit harmful mandates from health insurance companies.

Dr. Prakash reflects on one particular case when he prescribed a medication to a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and the insurer denied the prescription, demanding that he first try an older medication that’s more likely to cause cardiovascular complications. “This practice, known as step therapy, has sadly become routine in cancer coverage and amounts to insurer-mandated treatment sequencing that overrides physician-prescribed care,” he wrote.

While Dr. Prakash applauded the Trump administration for increasing transparency among health insurers, he stressed the need for direct policy changes that protect patients from harmful coverage restrictions by insurers and their pharmacy benefit managers.

He specifically advocates for Congress to pass the bipartisan Safe Step Act, which would establish guardrails that ensure step therapy protocols are based on clinical evidence and physician recommendations, not cost considerations.

To read Dr. Prakash’s op-ed, CLICK HERE.

Minnesota Oncology Physicians Attend Advocacy Day at the Capitol

On March 27, Minnesota Oncology physicians – including Dr. Timothy Toonen, Dr. Rajini Katipamula-Malisetti, Dr. Paul Thurmes, Dr. Eric Lander, and Dr. Michael Spencer – participated in meetings with lawmakers at the Minnesota State Capitol.

During the Advocacy Day, physicians met with influential legislators and healthcare leaders, including State Representatives Liz Reyer, Robert Bierman, and Bernie Perryman, as well as State Senators Eric R. Pratt and Liz Boldon. The group also joined State Senator Eric Pratt on the Minnesota Senate chamber floor, offering a firsthand view of the legislative process in action.

During their meetings, physicians reinforced the value of community oncology and emphasized how policy decisions shape the patient experience. The Advocacy Day at the Capitol helped build momentum behind policies that protect patient access to high-quality, community‑based cancer care.

If you are interested in hosting an advocacy event or site visit for your state representative or state senator, please contact Angela.Storseth@usoncology.com.                    

Compass Oncology Holds Grand Opening of East Cancer Center

On April 1, Compass Oncology celebrated the grand opening of East Cancer Center, a multi-disciplinary center in Happy Valley, Oregon.

Pictured: Courtney Rau, Associate Director, Government Relations at The US Oncology Network, Liza Bohmer, Executive Director at Compass Oncology, State Senator Mark Meek, Dr. John Schuler, Radiation Oncologist at Compass Oncology, Dr. David Cosgrove, Practice President at Compass Oncology.

The new center will serve as the home base for 150 employees total, including 13 oncologists and 8 advanced practice providers. The medical services provided will include outpatient infusion services, clinical trials including phase I studies, radiation treatment, diagnostic imaging including CT, and PET, laboratory services, and social services.

In addition to the new center, Compass Oncology plans to open a smaller neighborhood office in the coming months, reinforcing its mission to provide care close to home.

Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers Hosts Ranking Member Diana DeGette (D-CO) for Site Visit and Dinner

On April 2, Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers (RMCC) hosted Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee Ranking Member Diana DeGette (D-CO) for a site visit at its Midtown practice location. During the tour, RMCC physicians and staff emphasized the value of community oncology, highlighting the advanced clinical trials and research efforts being conducted within an independent practice setting.

As Ranking Member of the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee, Rep. DeGette was highly engaged and interested in learning more about the high-quality care delivered in the community setting. RMCC showcased the full suite of services offered at the Midtown location, including infusion, imaging, pharmacy, and advanced therapies. She also spent time with the research team learning about RMCC’s clinical trials and research infrastructure. Rep. DeGette’s interest in cancer research aligns closely with her leadership in authoring the 21st Century Cures Act, which launched the Cancer Moonshot initiative.

Later that evening, RMCC leaders hosted Rep. DeGette for a political dinner organized by the US Oncology PAC. The discussion focused on the complexities facing community oncology practices and key legislative priorities, including H.R. 4299, the Protecting Patient Access to Cancer and Complex Therapies Act. The legislation would remove providers from the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program to help ensure patient access to community-based cancer care is not compromised.

White House Releases Proposed Budget for FY 2027
On April 3, the White House released its proposed budget for fiscal year (FY) 2027. The proposal requests $111 billion in discretionary funding for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which would be a 12.5% decrease from 2026 funding. It also includes a $5 billion cut to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The White House proposes to shift the 340B program away from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), noting that CMS has greater in-house drug pricing resources and expertise.

As in last year’s proposal, the White House notes interest in restructuring HHS to create the Administration for a Healthy America, which would combine multiple offices, including HRSA and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and focus on chronic disease.

To read more, CLICK HERE.

President Trump Issues 100% Tariffs on Certain Brand-Name Pharmaceuticals
On April 2, President Trump issued a proclamation, entitled “Adjusting Imports of Pharmaceuticals and Pharmaceutical Ingredients into the United States,” that would implement an 100% tariff on certain brand-name pharmaceuticals.

The proclamation exempts key segments of the pharmaceutical industry, including generic and biosimilar companies, as well as those that have made most-favored-nation (MFN) deals. The policy also includes exceptions for countries that have reached trade agreements with the United States.

Manufacturers of patented pharmaceuticals can avoid the tax by making MFN agreements or establishing new factories to serve the American market, according to a senior administration official.

The announcement comes as the White House aims to emphasize its work to lower healthcare costs before the midterm election.

To read more, CLICK HERE.

Republicans Float Fraud Provisions, Site Neutral Payment Reform for Potential Reconciliation Package
Republicans are exploring another partisan budget bill to advance President Trump’s priorities ahead of the midterm elections. While leaders have not clearly outlined the scope of a potential bill, the package would likely include further healthcare reforms, including efforts to curb fraud, waste, and abuse in Medicare and Medicaid – an ongoing priority for GOP lawmakers. In recent weeks, House Republicans have held hearings on potential fraud in Medicare and Medicaid, with particular focus on durable medical equipment, hospice, and personal care services.

If a reconciliation bill moves forward, experts also expect Republicans to advance cost-saving policies, potentially including broad site neutrality rules in Medicaid, which could save $172 billion over a decade.

Though Republican leaders have said that a second reconciliation bill is in active discussion, many members remain skeptical that such a package would have the votes to move forward, making next steps unclear.

To read more, CLICK HERE.

House Lawmakers Introduce Provider Reimbursement Stability Act
On March 31, a bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced the Provider Reimbursement Stability Act, which would cap annual Medicare physician reimbursement cuts at 2.5% – a step forward in a long-standing effort to boost physician pay.

The bill was introduced by Representatives Greg Murphy, M.D. (R-NC), John Joyce, M.D. (R-PA), Mariannette Miller-Meeks, M.D. (R-IA), Bob Onder, M.D. (R-MO), Brad Schneider (D-IL), Tom Suozzi (D-NY), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), and Kim Schrier, M.D. (D-WA).

If passed, the bill would prohibit CMS from making payment adjustments that cause physician reimbursement rates to decrease by more than 2.5% from one year to the next. It would also loosen budget neutrality rules, raising the threshold for offsets from $20 million to $54.3 million in 2027 and tying that amount to inflation over time.

“With expenses for providing care continuing to rise, declining payments are forcing many doctors into retirement, to stop seeing Medicare patients, or to sell out to consolidated hospital systems, private equity, or even insurance companies just to keep practicing,” Representative Murphy said in a statement. “In an era of a shortage of physicians, we cannot lose good doctors to these ever-increasing pressures.”

To view the bill, CLICK HERE.

To read the statement, CLICK HERE.

To read more, CLICK HERE. 

HHS and CMS Announce Healthcare Advisory Committee

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced the formation of a new Healthcare Advisory Committee, which will make recommendations on how to strengthen and modernize the U.S. healthcare system.

Specifically, the expert panel will be tasked with advising HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz on ways to improve how care is financed and delivered across Medicare, Medicaid, and the insurance marketplace.

The committee will consist of 18 members, including healthcare executives, health policy lawyers, academics, and physicians, among others. Members will serve two-year terms and meet regularly throughout the year, focusing on identifying policy solutions to enhance care, prevent chronic diseases, and strengthen the sustainability of the Medicare Advantage program.

To read the announcement, CLICK HERE.

To learn more, CLICK HERE.

Experts Note that National Provider Identifier (NPI) Reform is a Step Forward in Push for Site Neutral Payment
A new Health Affairs article highlights how a recent policy change will level the playing field between independent physicians and hospital systems.

Hospitals have long been able to bill for services delivered at affiliated but separate outpatient locations using the same NPI as the main hospital campus. This practice has allowed these outpatient locations to receive higher, facility-based reimbursement. In early 2026, Congress passed a bipartisan spending agreement that requires hospitals with off-campus sites to bill separately using distinct NPI numbers.

According to the article, this reform will help increase transparency into hospital billing practices in the near term and reduce incentives for vertical integration. “By making it harder for hospitals to make off-campus sites look like they are hospital-based, it limits the financial advantage of vertical integration. While the rule alone won’t end site-based payment disparities, it creates the transparency needed to implement broader reforms,” the authors of the article wrote. The authors concluded by urging policymakers to clearly enforce these provisions and use this momentum to enact broader site neutral payment reform.

To read the article, CLICK HERE.

Senators Urge Trump Administration to Address Upcoding

Senators Jeffrey Merkley (D-OR), Tina Smith (D-MN), Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), and Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS) recently sent a letter to Dr. Mehmet Oz, CMS Administrator, praising the agency’s efforts to address upcoding in Medicare Advantage. Upcoding occurs when health insurance companies add unsupported diagnosis codes to a patient’s medical record to secure higher payments.

The letter went on to urge support for the No UPCODE Act, which lawmakers claim would address all aspects of the upcoding issue in Medicare Advantage. “We believe the evidence requires Congress to pass the No UPCODE Act to truly address the persistent issue of risk score gaming and to curb abuses in coding intensity,” the senators wrote.

To read the letter, CLICK HERE.