Update: What We’re Watching, March 5, 2026

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Update: What We're Watching, March 5, 2026

Hill to the Heartland: Federal Health Policy Briefing

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The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services appointed new members to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and rescheduled the committee's February meeting. The Trump administration announced a nationwide crackdown on fraud in Medicare and Medicaid, including a temporary moratorium on approving certain new Medicare supplier enrollments and expanded oversight initiatives. In Congress, the President's nominee for U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Casey Means, appeared before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee for a confirmation hearing.

Here is some of the health-related news we are watching that could have an impact on Kansas.

The views expressed in the following news stories, news releases or documents are not necessarily those of the Kansas Health Institute (KHI). They are being shared with the intent of keeping Kansans informed of the latest developments related to federal health policy.

U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Updates

1. Health and Human Services Announces New Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices Appointments as February Meeting is Rescheduled

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the appointment of two physicians to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). The two new members are Sean G. Downing, M.D., an internist and pediatrician in Florida, and Angelina Farella, M.D., a pediatrician and owner of a pediatric clinic in Texas.

ACIP was originally scheduled to meet at the end of February, but the meeting has been rescheduled for March 18-19. ACIP is an external panel of medical and public health experts that review evidence and vote on vaccine recommendations for specific populations. Its recommendations play a significant role in national immunization practices.

Read the news release from CMS: Secretary Kennedy Appoints Two Physicians to CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices

Read more from STAT: Kennedy announces new vaccine advisory committee members after meeting rescheduled

Read more from The Guardian: CDC vaccine panel meeting postponed amid RFK Jr bid to reshape policy

Read more from the CDC: ACIP Meeting Information

2. Trump Administration Announces Crackdown on Health Care Fraud

Vice President J.D. Vance, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz announced new steps to crack down on fraud in Medicare and Medicaid. The Feb. 25, 2026, news release included a nationwide six-month moratorium on approving certain suppliers of durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies for enrollment in Medicare. According to CMS, the actions are intended to prevent improper payments, strengthen real-time enforcement and protect taxpayer dollars. The agency also plans to increase transparency by publishing information about providers and suppliers whose Medicare billing privileges have been revoked.

The announcement also included a request for information for CMS' new Comprehensive Regulations to Uncover Suspicious Healthcare (CRUSH) initiative. The agency is seeking input from stakeholders - including states, providers, suppliers, payers, technology companies, patient advocates, beneficiaries and others - on their experience and knowledge of ways CMS can address fraud prevention in Medicare, Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and the health insurance marketplace. The input received may be used in the development of a future rule.

Read the news release from CMS: Trump Administration Prioritizes Affordability by Announcing Major Crackdown on Health Care Fraud

Read the news release from HHS: Trump Administration Prioritizes Affordability by Announcing Major Crackdown on Health Care Fraud

3. U.S. Surgeon General Nominee Casey Means Appears Before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions

Senator Roger Marshall (R-Kansas) introduced Dr. Casey Means at her nomination hearing before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) on Feb. 26, 2026. In his opening remarks, Sen. Marshall highlighted Dr. Means' background and her commitment to advancing preventative care. Dr. Means, President Donald Trump's nominee for U.S. Surgeon General, faced questions from senators in both parties regarding her qualifications, vaccine views and prior public statements.

Read more from Senator Marshall's office here: Senator Marshall Introduces Dr. Casey Means at Surgeon General Nomination Hearing

Read more from Politico: Trump's surgeon general pick, Casey Means, still lacks votes for confirmation

Read more from The Hill: Trump's atypical surgeon general pick faces Senate scrutiny: Key takeaways

Read more from The Hill: Collins, Murkowski undecided on Trump surgeon general choice after contentious hearing

4. Dr. Jay Bhattacharya Named Acting CDC Director

Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), will serve as acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Dr. Bhattacharya, a physician, health economist and a former Stanford University professor, was named acting director on Feb. 18, 2026. In his dual role, he will lead the agencies responsible for biomedical research and public health guidance.

Read more from the CDC: Acting Director

Read more from Politico: Jay Bhattacharya named acting CDC director

Read more from The Hill: Acting CDC director Bhattacharya urges measles vaccines

News From the Kansas Delegation

Delay to Efficiency Adjustment

On Feb. 12, 2026, U.S. Representative Ron Estes (R-Kansas) introduced H.R. 7520, the Efficiency Adjustment Delay Act, which would delay implementation of the calendar year 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule final rule. The rule includes a 2.5 percent efficiency adjustment that reduces certain work relative value units (RVU) based on assumed efficiency gains in some services. RVUs measure the time and effort required to provide a service and are used in the formula that determines Medicare payment rates. The legislation would delay the efficiency adjustment until 2030 and require the Secretary to report to congressional committees within two years on whether the adjustment is necessary.

Read the press release: Rep. Estes Introduces Legislation to Delay Efficiency Adjustment; Benefiting Kansas Doctors

Read the bill language: H.R.7520 - Efficiency Adjustment Delay Act

Read the CMS Factsheet: Calendar Year (CY) 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule (CMS-1832-F)

Stay tuned for further updates on policy shifts that may affect health programs and services in Kansas. For related work on how federal policies could impact Kansans, please check out Hill to the Heartland.