Uncategorized


September 2, 2025

Capitol Policy Weekly: Trade, Defense, Govt. Spending and Nominations

By Joe Lieber

With the House and Senate back in session this week, the focus will be on the fallout from Friday’s ruling to invalidate President Trump’s fentanyl and reciprocal tariffs, House passage of the National Defense Authorization…

Read More >>

September 2, 2025

Tools & NIH: House Rejects Trump But Targets Indirect Costs

By John Leppard

We view the FY26 NIH funding bill released by the House Appropriations Committee last night, in advance of its markup at 5pm ET this afternoon, as positive for life science tools (LST) manufacturers, with both…

Read More >>

August 29, 2025

Tools: NIH Markup & Improving Award Outlays

By John Leppard

With the House Appropriations health subcommittee announcing a markup of its FY26 HHS funding bill on Tues., Sept. 2 [available here], we maintain our view that topline funding numbers for NIH will likely remain flat…

Read More >>

August 27, 2025

Tariff Update: A Focus on Section 232 Tariffs

By Joe Lieber

There are currently 9 official Section 232 investigations pending at the Department of Commerce with the furniture tariff investigation likely to become official within days, and we think more are forthcoming.  If the Trump administration…

Read More >>

August 25, 2025

Court’s Stay of CMS’s Obamacare Rule Provisions Is Clear Positive Sign But Uncertain Policy Outlook Still Suggests Messy Sign-Up [OSCR, CNC, HCA, THC, UHS, HQY]

By Beth Steindecker

A federal district court’s ruling Friday to stay part of CMS’s Obamacare program integrity regulation is a positive development for exchange insurers [OSCR, CNC, ELV, MOH], hospitals [HCA, THC, CYH, ARDT, MPW, municipal-backed facilities] and…

Read More >>

August 23, 2025

Trade and Tariff Update with Aug. 1 Nearing

By Joe Lieber

Before we get to our analysis below, we are hosting a trade conference call tentatively set for 11:00 am ET next Wednesday, July 30 with a leading trade specialist, Derek Scissors. Look for a conference…

Read More >>

August 21, 2025

Bureau of Labor Statistics: Can Investors Trust the Numbers Conference Call Takeaways

By Joe Lieber

We hosted former Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) commissioner Bill Beach on a conference call yesterday to discuss the recent firing of Erika McEntarfer, President Trump’s new candidate for the position, and whether investors can…

Read More >>

August 18, 2025

[CVS, CI, UNH, ELV]: CA’s PBM Reform Bill Appears Next Up in PBM Fight

By Beth Steindecker

With California’s legislature coming back Monday from its summer recess for its final few weeks of the regular session, pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) legislation is still on the docket and likely to invite headline risk…

Read More >>

August 13, 2025

Senate 2026 Election Preview

By Joe Lieber

We think the Senate is likely to remain in Republican hands after the 2026 mid-term elections, though with GOP at risk for losing seats, which could have implications for financial markets. We continue to view…

Read More >>

August 13, 2025

[PNTG, EHAB, BTSG, ADUS, AMED, AVAH, UNH]: Where Might CMS Go with Home Health Rates?

By Beth Steindecker

With slightly more than two weeks left in CMS’s comment period for the CY26 Medicare reimbursement proposal rule for home health [PNTG, EHAB, BTSG, ADUS, AVAH, AMED, UNH], we continue to expect mitigation from CMS’s…

Read More >>