MWW Health Policy Pulse | Heathcare at a Crossroads: Congress Healthcare Decisions That Shape Reform

Congress is back in session, and the pace of healthcare policy developments is accelerating. From proposed Medicare payment cuts and vaccine panel overhauls to expiring telehealth waivers and coverage subsidies, the decisions made in the coming weeks will directly impact patient access, provider viability, and public health trust.

Here’s what’s in motion, what it means, and how healthcare stakeholders can prepare for what’s next.

Home Health Payment Cuts Put on Pause? Bipartisan Legislation Introduced

CMS has proposed a roughly $1.135 billion cut to Medicare home health payments for 2026. In response, Representatives Kevin Hern (R-OK) and Terri Sewell (D-AL) introduced the Home Health Stabilization Act of 2025 to block those cuts in 2026 and 2027.

Vaccine Advisory Panel Overhaul Raises Concerns

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appointed five new members to the CDC’s vaccine advisory committee after dismissing its prior 17 members. Several appointees have histories of skepticism toward mRNA vaccines, fueling questions about future recommendations. The new advisory committee is meeting this week and is anticipated to vote on whether to revise recommendations for COVID-19, hepatitis B, and chickenpox vaccines.

Telehealth Flexibilities and Medicaid/ACA Revisions in Play

Pandemic-era Medicare telehealth waivers are set to expire September 30, unless Congress extends them. Meanwhile, Medicaid eligibility, work requirements, and ACA premium subsidies are on the table in budget talks. A telehealth extension is included in the Republican Continuing Resolution that would go through November 21 currently under consideration. The ACA subsidies, which expire at the end of the year, are not currently included in the bill.

Senate Showdowns and Public Trust Under Pressure

Secretary Kennedy’s recent Senate Finance Committee hearing spotlighted concerns over vaccine policy shifts and CDC leadership changes. Senators from both parties questioned whether scientific rigor is being compromised. Former CDC Director Monarez is currently testifying today before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee where she is expected to challenge Secretary Kennedy’s account of her firing.

Why It All Matters

The themes running through these debates are clear:

• Cuts to home health could push vulnerable seniors toward more expensive institutional care, undermining the very cost savings Medicare aims to achieve.
• Vaccine policy uncertainty, coupled with leadership shake-ups, threatens to erode public confidence just as the fall virus season begins.
• The expiration of telehealth flexibilities could roll back access gains made during the pandemic, particularly in rural and underserved communities, where concerns continue to swirl around the financial stability of hospitals and health systems.
• Proposed changes to Medicaid and ACA coverage carry the risk of widening disparities and increasing the ranks of the uninsured.

Together, these flashpoints highlight how fragile access and trust are in the current health policy environment. When payment rules shift suddenly, coverage is pared back, or scientific bodies are reshaped by politics, the effects are immediate: patients lose access, providers face financial strain, and confidence in public health guidance weakens. The debates unfolding on Capitol Hill will determine whether care remains accessible, affordable, and trusted—or becomes more fragmented.

Strategic Communications Imperatives

• Anticipate policy shifts. Health organizations should scenario-plan for multiple outcomes—whether cuts are blocked, flexibilities expire, or vaccine guidance changes—so they can communicate with patients and partners without delay.
• Emphasize patient impact. Policymakers and media alike respond to stories of patient access and outcomes. Translating complex policy changes into real-world consequences builds credibility and urgency.
• Protect trust with transparency. Especially around vaccines and coverage changes, clear, science-based, and empathetic messaging will be essential to counter confusion or skepticism.
• Mobilize coalitions. Unified voices—providers, payers, and patient advocates—carry more weight in shaping legislative outcomes and reassuring the public.
• Resist the urge to “wait and see.” A strategy born out of caution and risk aversion is quickly becoming dangerous in and of itself. Change is coming at a rapid pace and shows no real signs of slowing and trust is wavering, both within the industry and across the public it serves. The result is a growing appetite for leading voices that are willing to shepherd peers and the public through this time, even if that means not having all the immediate, definitively right answers.

At MWW Health, we’re working with clients across the healthcare continuum to prepare for and navigate these pivotal changes. Stay tuned, as we’ll be sharing our thoughts in short order on yesterday’s (9.17.25) Senate HELP Committee hearing.