Health Policy Report – June 30, 2026

Dr. Jason Taksey Pens LTE in Support of H.R. 4299 

In a letter to the editor published in the Easton Star Democrat, Dr. Jason Taksey of Maryland Oncology Hematology thanked Representative Andy Harris, M.D. (R-MD), for cosponsoring the Protecting Patient Access to Cancer and Complex Therapies Act (H.R. 4299).

Dr. Taksey emphasized the importance of this bipartisan legislation to protect patient access to affordable cancer care from independent, community-based oncologists. “Patients deserve care options close to home, and it’s up to lawmakers to make sure that finding convenient and affordable care is easy,” he writes.

To read the LTE, CLICK HERE.

House E&C Committee Holds Markup

On June 25, the House Energy & Commerce Committee held a markup on a broad package of healthcare bills, including efforts to increase price transparency and mandate prior authorization reform.

The committee advanced the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act of 2026 (H.R. 9393) that would expand federal price transparency requirements for hospitals, health plans, ambulatory surgical centers, laboratories, and imaging providers while strengthening enforcement tools for regulators.

Lawmakers also advanced the Prior Authorization Accountability Act (H.R. 9396) and Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act (H.R. 3514), which would require commercial insurers to publicly report detailed information about their use of prior authorization and streamline prior authorization in Medicare Advantage plans, respectively.

The markup comes as advocates continue pushing lawmakers to address rising healthcare costs and increase their scrutiny of hospital pricing practices.



To watch the markup, CLICK HERE.

Senator Cassidy Releases the 340B for Patients Act

Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) recently released the 340B Drug Pricing Integrity and Affordability for Patients Act (340B for Patients Act), a legislative discussion draft that would ensure transparency in the 340B Drug Pricing Program.

The 340B for Patients Act would prevent waste, fraud, and abuse in 340B, provide regulatory clarity on the use of the program, and ensure that it is benefiting low-income and uninsured patients.

“Clearly, there are real transparency and oversight concerns that prevent 340B from translating to better access and lower costs for patients. Congress needs to take action,” said Dr. Cassidy in a statement. “This discussion draft proposes commonsense solutions to improve 340B for patients, ensuring the Program lowers costs for American families.”

To read more, CLICK HERE.

House E&C Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Holds Hearing on Fraud
On June 25, the House Energy & Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a hearing on state Medicaid integrity. The hearing comes as House Republicans work to mitigate fraud across government programs, especially in Medicare and Medicaid.

During the hearing, lawmakers questioned Medicaid directors from New York, Ohio, California, and Minnesota about their program integrity practices, with Republican lawmakers stressing the need for more oversight. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has previously withheld federal funds from some of these states over fraud-related concerns.

To watch the hearing, CLICK HERE.

Senate Democrats Unveil Drug Pricing Plan Ahead of Midterm Elections

On June 16, Senate Finance Committee Democrats, led by Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR), released a Request for Information (RFI) on a new drug pricing proposal.

The proposal centers on lowering the price manufacturers charge for prescription drugs, lowering out-of-pocket costs for patients, and fostering biopharmaceutical innovation in areas of unmet need. Specifically, the document outlines options like making more drugs subject to Medicare drug price negotiations each year, factoring international drug prices into negotiations, and expanding Medicare price gouging penalties.  

The plan comes as Democrats seek to elevate their messaging on healthcare affordability ahead of the midterm elections.

To read the RFI, CLICK HERE.

Eli Lilly Withholds 340B Discounts to Hospitals

Eli Lilly has begun withholding discounts for drugs sold under the 340B program from hospitals that have refused to submit claims data to the drug manufacturer. The move comes months after Lilly first notified providers in February that it would begin requiring providers to submit claims data for all of its drugs dispensed through 340B.

Lilly sent warning letters to covered entities in the spring, and in early June, contacted the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to notify the agency that it plans to withhold 340B discounts for all covered entities that didn’t comply with its policy by June 8.

In response, hospitals have urged Congress and the Trump administration to intervene. “Congress should immediately use its oversight authority and demand HHS take a position on drug companies’ attempts to hijack the 340B program through burdensome claims-data demands. These manufacturer-imposed requirements would drain scarce resources from 340B hospitals and threaten patients’ access to lifesaving drugs. HRSA and HHS cannot continue to stand by while Eli Lilly and others rewrite the rules for their own benefit and skirt their obligations,” Rick Pollack, President and CEO of the American Hospital Association, said in a statement.

To read more, CLICK HERE.

To read AHA’s statement, CLICK HERE.

Major PBMs Sue Over Tennessee Law

The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association – the nation’s pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) lobby – and Express Scripts filed separate lawsuits challenging a Tennessee law that would prohibit PBMs from owning pharmacies.

The Tennessee law was signed by Governor Bill Lee (R-TN) in May. The law, which takes effect on July 1, 2028, attempts to curb vertical integration among health insurance companies.

In the lawsuits, PCMA and Express Scripts argued that the Tennessee law is unconstitutional and will hamper patient access to prescription drugs. Express Scripts argued that the law is preempted by multiple federal statutes, including the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

To read more, CLICK HERE.