House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee advances bipartisan public health bills. The subcommittee unanimously advanced the following bills to the full committee:
House Oversight Committee launches fraud task force. On May 13, 2026, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chair Comer (R-KY) announced a new Task Force on Defending Constitutional Rights and Exposing Institutional Abuses, chaired by Rep. Gill (R-TX). The task force will examine institutions, programs, and policies, including diversity, equity, and inclusion policies; immigration and social welfare programs; and matters related to program integrity and potential fraud. The task force is authorized for six months, will hold hearings, and includes Reps. Jordan (R-OH), Biggs (R-AZ), Cloud (R-TX), Donalds (R-FL), and Jack (R-GA). As an initial action, the task force sent a letter to Ohio’s Medicaid director requesting information about reported fraud in a state Medicaid waiver program, citing media coverage that alleges improper billing practices.
CMS pauses hospice and home health Medicare enrollment, defers California Medicaid funding. On May 13, 2026, CMS announced temporary nationwide moratoria on new Medicare enrollments of home health agencies and hospice providers, which CMS has identified as high-risk provider categories for fraud. The moratoria will remain in effect for six months and may be extended in additional six-month increments if CMS determines it is necessary. During this period, CMS plans to expand program integrity efforts, including more targeted investigations, enhanced use of data analytics, and faster action to remove providers suspected of fraudulent activity from the Medicare program. Notably, these actions apply only to Medicare, though CMS has encouraged states to consider similar targeted measures for Medicaid, where appropriate. The moratoria will apply to all applications for initial Medicare enrollment and certain changes in majority ownership, which CMS indicates are frequently used to obscure control by bad actors. Importantly, the moratoria do not affect currently enrolled providers, who may continue delivering services to Medicare beneficiaries without interruption.
This announcement follows CMS’s nationwide moratorium on certain durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies providers. The moratoria align with broader federal fraud, waste, and abuse initiatives, including Vice President Vance’s Anti-Fraud Task Force, and continues the administration’s push to prevent improper billing and limit entry of high-risk providers in Medicare.
The same day, the White House and CMS held an event to discuss anti-fraud efforts. Vice President Vance and CMS Administrator Oz announced the deferment of $1.3 billion in federal payments to California Medicaid, citing a lack of action in addressing fraud. Most of those funds relate to home- and community-based services that have already been provided. California refuted CMS’s allegation that the increase in these services indicates fraud.
CMS officials also reported sending letters to all 50 states requiring them to demonstrate how they are addressing and prosecuting Medicaid fraud. Failure to do so could result in restrictions on federal funding for state Medicaid fraud control units (MFCUs). The vice president noted that although MFCUs are well funded by the federal government, the funds are not always put to effective use to tackle fraud, waste, and abuse. He named Hawaii, New York, and California as states that do not collaborate effectively with the administration’s fraud efforts, and cited Maryland and Ohio as two states that work well with them. CMS officials also announced that the agency will create a Medicaid Fraud War Room to review claims in real time and assess their legitimacy prior to payment, and that it plans to partner with law enforcement, MFCUs, and other stakeholders.
FDA Commissioner Makary resigns. Following rumors of Marty Makary’s impending departure, President Trump announced on May 12, 2026, that Makary resigned as commissioner of the FDA. The administration named Kyle Diamantas as acting commissioner. Makary had been scheduled to testify on fiscal year (FY) 2027 priorities before the Senate Appropriations Agriculture-FDA Subcommittee on May 13, 2026. As acting commissioner, Diamantas may serve for up to 210 days under federal law before President Trump must put a nominee forward for Senate approval. At this moment, names have not been floated publicly for the role.
HHS announces maternal and fertility health initiatives. The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a series of initiatives that it states will improve maternal health outcomes and expand support for fertility care and services.
Supreme Court again extends telehealth mifepristone access ruling. On May 14, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court issued an order that continues to block the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that would invalidate Biden-era FDA regulations expanding telehealth and mail access to mifepristone. The order maintains online and mail order access to mifepristone, without in-person dispensing requirements, while litigation continues in the lower courts.
The House and Senate are both in session next week, the last week before the Memorial Day recess. The Senate is expected to work toward advancing the reconciliation 2.0 package that is focused on immigration enforcement and other homeland security priorities, with possible floor votes before the week’s end. The House reconfigured its schedule to be in session on Friday, May 22, 2026, in case the reconciliation measure advances to the House.
The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing on gender affirming care, and the Senate Appropriations Labor-HHS Subcommittee will hear testimony from National Institutes of Health Director Bhattacharya on the FY 2027 budget request. Across the Capitol, the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, and there are rumors of a House Ways and Means Committee markup on several healthcare bills, although an official announcement has not yet been made.
On the regulatory front, we continue to await the federal independent dispute resolution operations rule and the final Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2027.
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