In 2025 the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services launched a voluntary Premium Stabilization Demonstration for Medicare Part D standalone drug plans to curb steep premium hikes and protect enrollment. GAO analysis showed that without the program, average premiums would have nearly doubled and 37% of beneficiaries faced increases over $40. CMS limited 2025 premium rises to $35 and offered up to $15 reductions, resulting in a modest $1 average increase and a 2% enrollment gain. The two‑year initiative is projected to cost $9.8 billion, with an evaluation slated for FY 2026.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) led a massive federal response to keep behavioral health services operational during COVID‑19, awarding over $32 billion in grants from FY2020‑2023, including $8.3 billion in pandemic‑specific funding. SAMHRA provided grant extensions, telehealth prescribing...
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded nearly $900 million in FY 2024 through its Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) and Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP) to state and local jurisdictions. GAO found that the two HHS agencies managing these...
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) conducts risk assessments for gain‑of‑function research but does not consistently share those findings with the public. While the research has expanded understanding of pathogen transmission,...
The Government Accountability Office examined how the No Surprises Act affected provider participation and payment levels for emergency medicine, radiology, anesthesiology and air‑ambulance services from 2019 through 2023. After the act’s protections took effect on January 1 2022, the share of in‑network...