May 12, 2025
Healthcare & Reconciliation: Worst Case Avoided
The House Energy & Commerce Committee’s (E&C) reconciliation draft (text and summary) seems to largely align with our expectations regarding cuts / risks in Medicaid, Obamacare, and pharmacy benefit managers (PBM). While there were still…
May 8, 2025
Trade Update: China Trade Talks, Reciprocal Tariffs and Semiconductors
On the heels of the UK trade deal announced this morning, we have the following updates on: China trade talks; The U.S. Court of International Trade reciprocal trade case; and Potential semiconductor tariffs. On trade…
May 7, 2025
Rx MFN Announcement Monday?
Apropos of our note on the subject earlier today, there are reports this afternoon that as early as Monday, May 12 President Trump “is expected to sign an executive order directing aides to pursue ……
May 7, 2025
PBMs: Death by a Thousand Cuts? [CI, CVS, UNH, ELV, GDRX]
The list of potential state and federal legislative threats to pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) [CI, CVS, UNH, ELV, GDRX] seems to be growing, even though there has not been widespread enactment of these bills. Putting…
May 7, 2025
Reconciliation Update: Corporate Tax Provisions
We continue to give ~75% odds that the reconciliation/ tax bill is likely to pass Congress this summer and to include many other tax provisions than just those from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs…
May 7, 2025
Rx Most Favored Nation (MFN) Estimates
We continue to assign ~35% odds to Congress including Medicaid Most Favored Nation (MFN) price controls into its broader reconciliation bill given: (A) the complexities of such a policy; (B) the expedited timeline lawmakers are…
May 6, 2025
Optimism for Longer Term Resolution on Obamacare eAPTCs Remains but CMS Suggests Expiration [OSCR, CNC, MOH, ELV, HCA, THC]
Notwithstanding a recent CMS memo advising insurers to design their Obamacare plan bids assuming expiration of the enhanced premium subsidies at year-end, we remain optimistic that Congress ultimately settles on a middle ground (revision and…
May 5, 2025
Capitol Policy Weekly—May 5 through May 9: Reconciliation, Trade, the Debt Limit, FY26 Spending and Crypto
This week, with the not-so-surprising postponements of key House committee reconciliation markups, the focus will be on cobbling together a reconciliation bill. We could see a major trade deal announced this week. There is some…
May 2, 2025
Trump Budget: Broad Funding Levels Dead on Arrival Despite GOP Trifecta
We believe President Trump’s “skinny budget” proposal, released today, is mostly dead on arrival and could easily lead to a government shutdown at year’s end or early next year. We expect a more detailed version…
May 1, 2025
GKOS: iDose & iStent Policy Landscape
With GKOS shares down pre-market amid questions on its earnings call last night regarding the Medicare policy issues affecting iDose and iStent sales, we offer the following takeaways: We generally agree with the company that,…