The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission discussed possible 2021 pay recommendations on Thursday and Friday (Dec. 5 and 6) for a number of industries, including reducing the hospice pay cap and tying some hospital pay to the Hospital Value Incentive Program, though the commissioners plan to have a further discussion in January on what to pay hospitals.

A federal appeals court sided with the Trump administration Thursday (Dec. 5) and lifted two injunctions against the so-called public charge rule, but two other nationwide injunctions remain in effect, blocking the administration from implementing the rule.

Senate Finance Committee leaders are wrapping Medicare and Medicaid extenders into their updated drug pricing plan released Friday (Dec. 6), a move that comes one day after Democratic House leaders announced the savings from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) drug pricing bill would be reinvested into additional Medicare benefits and extenders.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) filed a cloture motion on Stephen Hahn’s nomination for FDA commissioner on Thursday (Dec. 5), and a floor vote is expected early next week.

Advocates pushing to block the Trump administration’s controversial Title X rule say a recent report revealing senior HHS officials helped an anti-abortion health clinic secure a family planning program grant, prior to implementation of the controversial rule banning providers offering abortions or abortion referrals from the funding, shows the administration’s extensive efforts to remold the Title X program in line with its anti-abortion stance.

FDA on Thursday (Dec. 5) launched CURE ID, an internet-based application that will allow members of the clinical community to share their experiences in treating infectious diseases with novel uses of existing FDA-approved drugs.

Senate Finance Committee leaders will release an updated drug pricing bill on Friday (Dec. 5) less than 24 hours after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) announced the lower chamber will vote on her more-aggressive drug pricing bill next week.

Senate Finance Committee leaders will release an updated drug pricing bill on Friday (Dec. 5) less than 24 hours after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) announced the lower chamber will vote on her more-aggressive drug pricing bill next week.