红领巾瓜报

Although absent from last week鈥檚 State of the Union address, the Make America Health Again (MAHA) agenda, particularly with respect to vaccine policy, is continuing to have a听significant influence听on听the US Department of Health and Human Services听(HHS)听and Congress. Last week, during the Senate HELP Committee鈥檚 nomination听 for Surgeon General nominee, Dr. Casey Means, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy鈥檚 recent actions impacting vaccine policy, in addition to the witness鈥檚 own perspective on vaccines, were a focal point for both Republicans and Democrats. Chair Bill Cassidy (R-LA), along with other majority members of the committee, was generally supportive of Dr. Means鈥� chronic disease and nutrition focus, but expressed concern regarding her responses to vaccine-related questions, including hepatitis B universal immunization recommendations, the MMR vaccine, flu vaccine recommendations, and the concept of 鈥渟hared clinical decision-making,鈥� which she encouraged in her responses to these questions. Chair Cassidy underscored concerns regarding increasing vaccine skepticism in the U.S., citing data that the ongoing measles outbreak in the U.S. has 听1,000 cases in 2026 alone, and that the U.S. is at risk of losing its measles elimination status. In addition to the data cited by the Senator, recent听听from the Yale School of Public Health, found that an annual decline in measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine coverage of 1 percent over the next five years could lead to more than 17,000 measles cases, 4,000 hospitalizations, and 36 preventable deaths per year, costing听$1.5 billion听annually.听

While a markup to vote on the nomination has not yet been scheduled, a simple majority is needed to advance the nomination of Dr. Means out of committee.听听

Meanwhile, on February 27, Secretary Kennedy听听two new members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) ahead of its upcoming meeting on March 18 and 19.听The two new members are Dr. Sean Downing, a practicing primary care physician, and Dr. Angelina Farella, a practicing pediatrician.听According to statements from Secretary Kennedy and new Acting Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Jay Bhattacharya in the HHS press release announcing the appointments, the new members are expected to provide the perspectives of practicing physicians who implement the recommendations made by ACIP. Notably, Dr. Farella had been outspoken against the COVID-19 vaccine, reportedly having testified in front of the Texas Senate that the vaccine should be removed from the market. The March ACIP meeting 听includes discussion of COVID-19 vaccine injuries, long-COVID, and ACIP recommendation听methodology. The meeting may also include recommendation votes related to COVID19 vaccine injuries and long-COVID, as well as ACIP recommendation听methodology. Public comments for the rescheduled ACIP meeting will be accepted from March 2鈥�12, 2026.听

鈥疭eparately, the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC), which听advises听the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA),听听its next session will take place on March 12, 2026. VRBPAC is slated to discuss and make recommendations on the strain composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the United States during the 2026鈥�2027 influenza season.听

On February 25,听听and听听announced a three-part 鈥渃rackdown鈥� on Medicare and Medicaid fraud. The announced actions include deferring $259.5 million in quarterly federal Medicaid matching funds to Minnesota while CMS completes a program-integrity review in the state. Specifically, CMS pointed to $243.8 million in unsupported and potentially fraudulent claims, as well as $15.4 million tied to Medicaid claims for individuals lacking satisfactory immigration status. CMS also flagged what it characterized to be unusually rapid growth in personal care, home- and community-based services, and other practitioner spending in the state. CMS noted the state听can听respond with听additional听information and documentation during the review, but the deferrals in federal funding could increase if deficiencies persist.听听

Second, CMS听听a six-month nationwide moratorium effective February 27 on new Medicare enrollment for certain Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetic Devices, Prosthetics, Orthotics, & Supplies (DMEPOS) suppliers, due to concerns听regarding听the prevalence of fraud within the spending area. The agency听identified听$1.5 billion听in suspected fraudulent DMEPOS billing last year.听听

Finally, CMS announced it is seeking stakeholder input to inform development of future potential rulemaking under the Comprehensive Regulations to Uncover Suspicious Healthcare (CRUSH) initiative. In the听, CMS seeks stakeholder input on听additional听anti-fraud tools and potential regulatory changes across Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, and the Marketplace. The RFI specifically requests information on several possible anti-fraud measures, including 鈥渆nhanced identity proofing and ownership requirements鈥� (for Medicare-enrolled providers or suppliers), using AI to听assist听with Medicare Advantage coding, and opportunities to support state Medicaid program integrity. The RFI is open for public comment until March 30.听

On February 23, the Department of Education (ED)听听a new interagency agreement (IAA) with HHS to transfer management of several ED programs focused on school safety and emergency preparedness to HHS as a part of the Trump Administration鈥檚 efforts to downsize the ED. It was previously听 in November that HHS would now manage the National Committee on Foreign Medical Education and Accreditation (NCFMEA) and Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) Partnership, previously administered by ED. HHS will now also administer the School Emergency Response to Violence (Project SERV), School Safety National Activities, Ready to Learn Programming, Full-Service Community Schools, Promise Neighborhoods, and Statewide Family Engagement Centers programs. While no specific administrative, funding, or staffing changes for HHS were announced, this partnership will make HHS responsible for managing funding competitions and providing technical听assistance听to several initiatives听regarding听school safety, while ED will provide 鈥減roper oversight.鈥�听

On听February 26, the Senate HELP Committee听听to advance two key healthcare bills out of committee. The first health-related bill,听, was introduced by Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Tom Cotton (R-AR) and agreed to by a vote of 22-1. The bill clarifies eligibility for time off under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and prohibits insurers from discriminating against living donors in life, disability, and long-term care insurance. The committee also advanced听, sponsored by Chair Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH), John Cornyn (R-TX), and Mark Warner (D-VA). The bill seeks to strengthen the healthcare sector鈥檚 preparedness against cyberattacks and was agreed to by a vote of 22-1. The House version of the Living Donor Protection Act,听, has not yet been advanced by the House Energy and Commerce Committee, while听the Health Care听Cybersecurity and Resiliency Act does not have a House companion.听听