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What We're Reading: Telehealth Bills; Trump Discusses Right-to-Try; House Panel to Discuss Opioids
Four telehealth bills could be signed into law over the next year by Congress; President Donald Trump mentioned "right-to-try" legislation in a favorable light in his State of the Union speech; the House Energy and Commerce Committee will hold legislation hearings on the opioid crisis February 26.
Telehealth Bills Inch Closer to Passage in Congress
Four telehealth bills could be signed into law over the next year, which could resolve the issue of how to reimburse Medicare providers and save potentially billions in public funding. Reuters quoted one analyst who said roughly $135 billion of Medicare's annual $675 billion in spending could be done by telehealth. Two issues to be fixed: how to charge across state lines, and getting Medicare to recognize medical consultations that are not face-to-face as the equivalent of a personal visit to a healthcare provider.
Trump Endorses “Right-To-Try” Laws in State of the Union
President Donald Trump endorsed efforts by Congress to pass so-called “right-to-try” legislation, which would allow access to experimental treatments for patients with terminal conditions. STAT reported the president’s comments in the State of the Union speech were the first about the issue in nearly a year. The Senate passed legislation last fall but the effort has stalled in the House.
House Panel to Hold Hearings on Opioid Crisis
The House Energy and Commerce Committee will begin holding legislative hearings on measures to fight the opioid crisis the week of February 26, The Hill reported. The panel said that there will be multiple hearings to consider legislation aimed at fighting opioid use disorder. Earlier this month, the bipartisan National Governors Association called on Congress and the Trump administration to come up with more funding and coordinate on a response to the crisis, the Associated Press reported.
Hospital Participation in Medicare ACOs: No Change in Admission Practices and Spending
August 19th 2025Hospital accountable care organization (ACO) participation did not impact emergency department admission rates, length of stay, or costs, suggesting limited effectiveness in reducing spending for unplanned admissions and challenging hospital-led ACO cost-saving strategies.
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Laundromats as a New Frontier in Community Health, Medicaid Outreach
May 29th 2025Lindsey Leininger, PhD, and Allister Chang, MPA, highlight the potential of laundromats as accessible, community-based settings to support Medicaid outreach, foster trust, and connect families with essential health and social services.
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Care Quality Metrics in Medicare During COVID-19 Pandemic
August 12th 2025Medicare Advantage outperformed traditional Medicare on clinical quality measures before and during the COVID-19 pandemic; mid-pandemic, however, traditional Medicare narrowed the gap on some in-person screenings.
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