WHITE HOUSE:

The White House focused this week on the release of the President’s America First Resilience Strategy, available here (PDF), a new Executive Order expanding the “Regenerative Agriculture Pilot Program”, and a pair of Executive Orders focused on quantum technology, one on innovation in the field and one on cybersecurity defense.

CONGRESS:

It was an ugly week for Republicans on the Hill with the President cancelling a ceremony to sign a bipartisan housing affordability bill, Congress initially passing a war powers resolution rebuking the Iran war (before later backing down), and the Senate getting into a “intense” meeting with the President that got quite heated. It wasn’t any better over in the House, where (stop me if you heard this before…) conservatives are threatening to tank all business until the Senate passes the Save America Act, which isn’t likely given the current political dynamic. Speaker Johnson huddled with the President to get things back on track, but the Congressional calendar continues to shrink, as hopes for a third Reconciliation bill fade. Elsewhere in DC:

• The Oversight and Investigations subcommittee of House Energy & Commerce Committee held a hearing with state Medicaid directors as part of their investigations into Medicaid fraud. If you’re so inclined, the full hearing can be watched here. A summary of the hearing can be found here.

• Quite a week for the far left in New York as the Mayor cemented his role as a populist leader, potentially setting up a world we have a far-left version of the conservative Freedom caucus.

• Halfway through primary season, Politico took stock of where we stand.

• There’s an unlikely alliance going on in a Congressional race in Pennsylvania, where unions are supporting the Republican candidate.

• A pair of interesting CRS reports from the week:

  
  

o   R49009: A breakdown of the latest efforts by the Department of Homeland Security as it rolls out three separate Cybersecurity rules.

o   IF13256: A guide for Congressional offices on the 2026 Social Security report (PDF) about the program’s finances.

AGENCIES:

In a ruling with unfortunate implications for healthcare providers, the Supreme Court ruled (PDF) that the Administration can end TPS protections for Syrian and Haitian nationals. A summary of the ruling can be found here. The Washington Post explored the challenges the ruling poses to healthcare providers. The ruling prompted calls from several Republican lawmakers for the Administration to reconsider.

CMS released the 2027 ESRD proposed payment rule. A copy of the rule can be accessed at the Federal Register, where comments can be submitted through August 4th.

HHS announced the expansion of access to health records through TEFCA, the nationwide framework designed to make it easier to share health records.

HHS launched Operation Trailblazer, a new department-wide effort to strengthen the department’s efforts in clinical research. A copy of the roadmap is here (PDF).

FROM THE NOTEBOOK:

• CMS’s Office of the Actuary penned a blog post in Health Affairs looking at national health care expenditures, predicting that by 2034 health care costs will represent more than 20% (!) of the economy.

• A new KFF database tracks federal and state action related to Medicaid program integrity.

• Virginia’s budget saga draws closer to an end with the Governor sending the budget back to the legislature with 14 amendments, none of which are expected to tank the budget.

• New Jersey is getting closer to wrapping up its budget with the release of the state’s budget.

• To raise revenue, several states are considering a new tax on employers that have a significant number of employees on the state’s Medicaid rolls, including New Jersey and Connecticut.

• HealthcareDive has summary of a webinar hosted by HHS on the agency’s plan to speed up the adoption of AI in clinical care.

• Add Florida to the list of states taking a long hard look at the PBM operations in the state. Meanwhile, the AP looked at some of the state level efforts to rein in PBM’s.

• Hey hey! Looks like CMS finally got a MA plan to pay a fine as Elevance sent more than $340 million back to the government.

• Maryland health insurers are asking the state for some hefty premium increases in 2027.