News In Two: Week 10/4/26
Airing this week on Healthcare NOW Radio, Tom Testa and news highlights in 2 minutes. News included from CMS, HHS, FDA, Boston Scientific, Tempus, and October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month.
The FDA at 120: A Long, Distinguished History Protecting Americans
By Kyle A. Diamantas JD – There may be no better illustration of the critical and integral role the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has played in the history of our nation’s health than the timely juxtaposition of two anniversaries occurring this year, our nation’s 250th and the FDA’s 120th.
HHS & VA Announce Bold, Comprehensive Partnership
HHS and the VA entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen collaboration on the research, clinical development, and responsible deployment to veterans suffering from serious mental health conditions of potential future rapid-acting psychedelic drug products if approved by the FDA.
States Start Their Medicaid Cuts
From KFF Health News Network – Their latest podcast, What the Health, When Republicans passed their big budget bill in 2025, they scheduled many of the Medicaid reductions to take effect in 2027, after the 2026 midterm elections. But in anticipation of getting less money from Washington come January…
Lessons Learned from our Roundtable with Rare Disease Advocates
By Karim Mikhail, Mike Davis, & Amy Comstock Rick – There is no substitute for sitting across the table from the people we serve. Recently we had the privilege of joining Acting Commissioner Kyle Diamantas, Acting Chief of Staff Lowell Zeta, and Deputy Commissioner Grace Graham for a roundtable discussion with 15 dedicated rare disease leaders.
Sen. Cassidy Unleashed
From KFF Health News Network – Their latest podcast, What the Health, Just days after Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), who is also a doctor, was ousted in a primary election, he has already begun to separate himself from the agenda of President Donald Trump, who endorsed one of his opponents. Cassidy has half a year left in office and could, in that time, reshape health policy in an administration from which he’s now effectively freed.
NOW in Life Sciences – April 2026
In this monthly report you will find news and highlights in the Applied Life Sciences from CMS, OFD Life Sciences, Perceptive eClinical, iPerf, Relaxera, BIOTRONIK, Verana Health, Matricelf, Touchlight, neuroClues, BSM Biotech, Neurizon Therapeutics Limited, Biotium, Quintessence Biotech, Kupando, and more.
A Headless CDC
From KFF Health News Network – Their latest podcast, What the Health, The Trump administration recently missed a deadline to nominate a new director for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Without a nominee, current acting Director Jay Bhattacharya, who is also the director of the National Institutes of Health, has to give up that title, leaving no one at the helm of the nation’s primary public health agency.
FDA Unveils New Seal Celebrating 120 Years
By Marty Makary MD MPH – 2026 is a special year for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. It marks our 120th year of service to this nation. In honor of this occasion, and to help the public better understand who we are and the many functions we fulfill, we’ve recently unveiled an official agency seal, our first ever.
The GOP Still Can’t Agree on a Health Plan
From KFF Health News Network – Their latest podcast, What the Health, The Senate is scheduled to vote in the coming days on a Democrat-led plan to extend the temporary additional subsidies that have lowered out-of-pocket costs for Affordable Care Act health plans.
FDA Moves to Accelerate Biosimilar Development and Lower Drug Costs
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced significant action to make it faster and less costly to develop biosimilar medicines, which are lower-cost “generic” alternatives to biologic drugs that treat serious and chronic diseases. In a new draft guidance, the FDA proposes major updates to simplify biosimilarity studies and reduce unnecessary clinical testing.
FDA Awards First-Ever National Priority Vouchers to Nine Sponsors
Each recipient has a product with significant potential to address a major national priority, such as meeting a large unmet medical need, reducing downstream health care utilization, addressing a public health crisis, boosting domestic manufacturing, or increasing medication affordability with Most Favored Nation pricing.
