CMS proposes policy to move away from hospital-based care

New Medicaid work requirements could lead to 1.6 million missed cancer screenings over two years

New Medicaid work requirements included in President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” could result in as many as 1.6 million missed screenings for breast, colon, and lung cancers within the first two years, researchers at the University of Chicago reported in a paper published in JAMA Oncology earlier this month.

When “safe and effective” is not “reasonable and necessary”
We can curb excessive drug dosing and improve the quality of cancer care

By law, the Food and Drug Administration is required to determine whether a drug, device, biologic, or medical device is “safe and effective.” But the FDA determination does not control whether the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will pay for it. To satisfy CMS, medical products and services must be “reasonable and necessary,” meaning...

January 16, 2026

Vol.52 No.02

By Mark J. Ratain and David A. Hyman

Cancer Policy

CMS awards $50 billion for rural health care after states compete for funding

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is awarding $50 billion to all 50 states as part of the Rural Health Transformation Program—funding established through the One Big Beautiful Bill passed in July.

HHS terminates millions in grants to the American Academy of Pediatrics

HHS has cut millions of dollars in grants to the American Academy of Pediatrics, according to documents obtained by The Washington Post.

White House directs HHS and CDC to align childhood vaccine recommendations with “best practices from peer, developed countries”

In a Dec. 5 memo, President Donald Trump directed the HHS secretary and the CDC director to “align the U.S. core childhood vaccine recommendations with best practices from peer, developed countries.”

HHS issues AI strategy for internal agency operations

HHS has issued its AI strategy—“the first step” in making a “whole-of-department transformation” towards the use of artificial intelligence in public health, health care delivery, biomedical research, human services, and agency operations.

December 12, 2025

Vol.51 No.45

By Sara Willa Ernst

CMS proposes policy to move away from hospital-based care

YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN

New Medicaid work requirements could lead to 1.6 million missed cancer screenings over two years

When “safe and effective” is not “reasonable and necessary”
We can curb excessive drug dosing and improve the quality of cancer care

CMS awards $50 billion for rural health care after states compete for funding

HHS terminates millions in grants to the American Academy of Pediatrics

White House directs HHS and CDC to align childhood vaccine recommendations with “best practices from peer, developed countries”

HHS issues AI strategy for internal agency operations

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CMS proposes policy to move away from hospital-based care

YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN

New Medicaid work requirements could lead to 1.6 million missed cancer screenings over two years

When “safe and effective” is not “reasonable and necessary”We can curb excessive drug dosing and improve the quality of cancer care

CMS awards $50 billion for rural health care after states compete for funding

HHS terminates millions in grants to the American Academy of Pediatrics

White House directs HHS and CDC to align childhood vaccine recommendations with “best practices from peer, developed countries”

HHS issues AI strategy for internal agency operations

Never miss an issue!

Login

When “safe and effective” is not “reasonable and necessary”
We can curb excessive drug dosing and improve the quality of cancer care