The Department of Government Efficiency has launched a new initiative at HHS called "Defend the Spend" that requires government officials to manually review and approve thousands of healthcare grants — a decision that has led to sudden payment delays and widespread confusion at many organizations. Optum Advisory's Derek Kazahaya, Sherilynn Quist, and Samantha Wyld detail what this means for providers.

President Trump recently signed an executive order that creates a path for potential 340B reimbursement cuts. Advisory Board’s Chloe Bakst and Lindsey Paul detail likely next steps, which stakeholders stand to benefit (and lose) the most, and more.

The Trump administration is aiming to cut HHS spending by roughly a third and massively reorganize the department, according to a leaked preliminary budget document.

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the department has launched a "massive testing and research effort" to determine what has caused the rise in autism rates by September. But some experts say the timeline is unrealistic and expressed concerns that the effort will be designed to promote the debunked theory that vaccines cause autism.

Congressional budget resolutions could cut billions from healthcare programs. Dive into the specifics of these cuts and their potential impact on Medicaid, Medicare, the ACA Marketplaces, and more.

According to a recent report, potential cuts to Medicaid could lead to an $80 billion decrease in healthcare revenue, including a $32 billion decline in hospital revenue in 2026. Here are four ways health leaders can prepare for these potential funding cuts.

The House of Representatives passed a continuing resolution that would fund the federal government and extend several expiring health programs through September — and would also cut physicians' Medicare pay.

The Senate confirmed Martin Makary as FDA commissioner and Jay Bhattacharya as NIH director.

The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Kennedy v. Braidwood Management Inc., which challenges the Affordable Care Act's coverage of preventive services, as well as the constitutionality of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.

The Supreme Court of the United States heard a case on South Carolina's efforts to prohibit Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood.

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Monday announced that he will direct food manufacturers to phase out eight food dyes found in hundreds of thousands of foods nationwide.

CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz issued a press release outlining his agenda and vision for the agency, saying that CMS is "dedicated to delivering superior health outcomes across each program we administer."

CMS on Monday finalized a rule that would raise benchmark payment rates for Medicare Advantage plans by 5.06% for 2026, much higher than the payment update proposed by the Biden administration.

HHS employees started receiving notices of dismissal as part of the department's plan to lay off around 10,000 people.