V-BID Update: V-BID Center Update: Drug Price Negotiation Begins, Medicare Advantage Targets Low-Value Care

In this Issue:

• Register Now! 2026 V-BID Summit
• Health Care Costs Top the Public’s Economic Worries as the Runup to the Midterms Begins
• Our Darwinian Approach to Healthcare Costs
• Charting a Path Forward for Healthcare Affordability – Policy Solutions
• First 10 Medicare-Negotiated Drug Prices Have Taken Effect: Are Seniors Really Saving Money?
• $1.2T Spending Package Boosts HHS, Funds Bipartisan Health Care Measures
• MedPage Today: Medicaid Expansion Linked To Lower Mortality In Breast Cancer
• Poll: People View Prior Authorization as Greatest Burden in Navigating Healthcare System
• 2027 Medicare Advantage Advance Notice Requests Feedback on Low-Value Care
• Telehealth Boosts Preventive Care in Rural Areas

Health Care Costs Top the Public’s Economic Worries as the Runup to the Midterms Begins

A KFF article reports that a new health tracking poll finds the cost of health care is now Americans’ top economic concern ahead of the midterm elections, with two-thirds of adults worried about affording insurance and out-of-pocket costs and more than 4 in 10 saying health care costs will strongly influence their vote. The poll also shows independent voters currently place more trust in Democrats than Republicans to address health care affordability, underscoring how cost concerns are shaping public views and political priorities in health policy.

Our Darwinian Approach to Health Care Costs

A KFF article argues that the U.S. health care system’s approach to cost control is fragmented and competitive—where policymakers, insurers, employers, and patients each try to reduce their own share of spending without addressing the underlying drivers of high costs. It explains that national spending, out-of-pocket burdens, and federal vs state budget pressures often conflict, leaving no coherent strategy to lower prices for hospitals, doctors, and services that make U.S. care more expensive than in other countries.

Charting a Path Forward for Health Care Affordability – Policy Solutions from a Diverse Group of Experts

Health care costs continue to rise, and voters are demanding action on affordability, but policymaking has not kept pace. A new brief from Georgetown University’s Center on Health Insurance Reforms brings together a diverse group of experts to identify realistic, impactful policy solutions that can lower costs for patients in the short term while laying the groundwork for long-term system reform.

Read the full brief to explore the policy ideas, political context, and expert insights shaping the path toward a more affordable, patient-centered health care system.

First 10 Medicare-Negotiated Drug Prices Have Taken Effect: Are Seniors Really Saving Money?

A report on Medicare’s first 10 negotiated drug prices shows that while the Inflation Reduction Act’s negotiation program has set lower “maximum fair prices” for key medications beginning in 2026, actual savings for beneficiaries vary widely depending on plan design, cost-sharing structures, and shifting formularies. These early results highlight that negotiated price cuts may reduce out-of-pocket costs for some but could be offset by higher premiums or limited coverage of alternatives. Read more.

$1.2T Spending Package Boosts HHS, Funds Bipartisan Health Care Measures

The one-year funding bill, which gives Health and Human Services $20 billion more than the administration had requested, provides a five-year extension of the Acute Hospital Care at Home program and a two-year extension for Medicare telehealth flexibilities, Fierce Healthcare reported. It also introduces reforms to pharmacy benefit manager practices. Read more.

MedPage Today: Medicaid Expansion Linked To Lower Mortality In Breast Cancer

Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was associated with lower overall mortality among women with breast cancer, according to a retrospective cohort study. Read more here.

Poll: People View Prior Authorization as Greatest Burden in Navigating the Health System

A KFF Poll finds that insured adults view prior authorization as the greatest burden in navigating the health care system, citing frequent delays, denials, and administrative hurdles. Poll results show these requirements can disrupt care and create financial and health consequences, particularly for people with ongoing medical needs. Read more here.

2027 Medicare Advantage Advance Notice Requests Feedback on Low-Value Care

Section H. Efforts to Simplify and Refocus the Measure Set to Improve the Impact of the Star Ratings Program – As the Star Ratings program continues to evolve, we are soliciting feedback on new measures or measurement concepts that would incentivize plans from providing unnecessary, inappropriate, or low-value care. We are also interested in measures related to medical errors or misdiagnoses. This could include measures focused on the clinical appropriateness of care or measures focused on ensuring diagnoses are not missed.

Telehealth Boosts Preventive Care in Rural Areas

Research published in the American Journal of Managed Care by the Elevance Health Public Policy Institute shows that telehealth usage in rural areas is linked to increased preventive care. The study, which analyzed data from 2 million rural residents, found that those using telehealth were more likely to complete preventive care visits. The findings suggest telehealth could strengthen patient-provider relationships and inform future policies, though challenges remain with potential regulatory changes.

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