Washington Wire

The agenda featured topics such as: the 340B Drug Pricing Program; autonomous vehicles; artificial intelligence; tort reform; developments in the flood insurance marketplace; insurance affordability and availability; charity care and medical debt reforms; innovations in disease screening and testing; insurers’ use of aerial imaging; and more.

Hospitals and health systems may soon struggle to provide adequate patient care, as recent federal policy changes are expected to increase the number of people without health insurance, raise uncompensated care costs, limit state payment and financing options and intensify healthcare workforce shortages.

A new national poll shows that 94% of Americans believe it is important for the President and Congress to take action to lower health care costs. 

The bill would remove outdated regulatory barriers that prevent many registered financial advisors from receiving compensation through their own business entities.

Health Agents for America is applauding the introduction of a bill that would tighten identity protections for consumers who enroll in health insurance in the Affordable Care Act marketplace.

The Financial Services Institute applauded the U.S. House of Representatives’ passage of the Financial Exploitation Prevention Act of 2025, bipartisan legislation that would strengthen protections for seniors and vulnerable adults by amending the Investment Company Act of 1940 to give mutual funds the ability to pause redemptions when it reasonably believes it is the result of financial exploitation of the investor. 

Two industry organizations expressed their support for a bill in Congress that tackles a long-standing issue requiring certain insurance and annuity products to be registered using forms intended for corporate securities offerings.

Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz are heightening energy security fears and pressure on businesses, while surging demand from energy-intensive technologies is making investment in  alternative energy urgent, as 73% of US executives say uncertainty is stalling transition investment.

The model provides states with a framework to offer a nonrefundable tax credit to small businesses that are not required to provide health insurance but choose to offer an ICHRA.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued a sweeping rule to strengthen oversight of the Affordable Care Act exchanges for plan year 2027 by lowering user fees, tightening eligibility verification and giving states greater authority over plan oversight.

The moratorium will not impact current enrollments, and existing providers can continue to deliver services to Medicare beneficiaries.

NAIFA supports DOL’s proposal to replace the current guidance “with guidance that is substantially similar to the guidance DOL adopted in 2021,” NAIFA President Christopher Gandy wrote in a letter to Andrew Rogers, administrator of the DOL’s Wage and Hour Division.