The Trump administration has recently announced what it’s calling a “digital health ecosystem” that will allow for millions of Americans to upload personal health data as well as medical records into an easily managed interoperability framework run by private tech companies. The announcement also included plans for patient-facing digital tools for chronic disease management, digital insurance cards, and a Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR)-based national provider directory.
In the same week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published updated guidance that allows payors to utilize older Qualifying Payment Amount (QPA) calculation methodologies in balance billing disputes as the Texas Medical Association (TMA III) case continues making its way through the legal system (one of several healthcare-related cases the Trump administration is defending in courts across the country). A bipartisan group of senators also introduced a comprehensive price transparency bill – a one of two introduced just this month – that essentially codifies transparency in coverage requirements and includes provisions that would modify certain aspects of the No Surprises Act (NSA), like the good-faith estimate. Frequent readers may recall that the U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) mandate related to preventive services that will allow continued operation of the related task force.
If this update gives you the impression that the entire administration is suddenly all about healthcare, all the time, that’s because right now, it really feels like it is!
While this wasn’t entirely uncommon during his first term, it is in stark contrast to what we saw throughout President Trump’s campaign last year – and the first several months of his second administration.
The president most recently campaigned on many issues, but healthcare was not really at the forefront. While his promises on health mirrored his more general promises – to reshape, reorganize, and refinance federal institutions and programs – most of it was under the general umbrella of the “Make America Healthy Again” agenda.
When he entered office for the second time, executive orders (EOs) were the name of the game for several months. We saw renewed orders on transparency, digital payments, and drug pricing, and several others were mostly focused on rescinding or withdrawing previous EOs on topics like the PPACA, artificial intelligence (AI), and healthcare funding grants. Congress and agencies, however, were unusually quiet on healthcare issues as they focused on other priorities for the Trump administration.
But that appears to be over…for right now at least.
If you imagine the Trump administration’s focus on healthcare on a graph, it would be what we call a bimodal graph with two bell curves (if you too went to law school and benefited greatly from one of those).
His first administration focused on numerous comprehensive healthcare issues: the failed push to repeal the PPACA, the emphasis on telehealth, short-term, limited-duration health plans, and of course, the signing of the No Surprises Act. It dipped over the last year as other priorities were spotlit, until discussions about Medicaid work requirements and potential funding cuts for both Medicaid and Medicare in the One Big Beautiful Bill slowly crept into the news.
The question then is: what’s next? Will we continue to see renewed focus on a variety of healthcare issues, or are we due for another valley? There is certainly no shortage of issues to which the administration could switch its focus.
But August is a strange month in politics, generally considered the doldrums of political and legislative activity. You might think you have time to relax and consider this question as Congress is on break and most Americans are focused on end-of-summer activities. There are indeed many, many variables here to ponder: lawsuits to decide, the impact of tariffs, and it remains to be seen how successful some of these proposed bills and initiatives will be, in reality.
However, what we know is that this time of year is famously unpredictable across the board, and the Trump administration likes to move fast. With that in mind, I’ll leave you with my favorite quote about what to expect this month: “beware the ides of August.”
This month, the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) – Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. – testified at seven congressional committee
I am having a disagreement with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that is worth discussing. As I have been teaching for the
Please log in to your account to comment on this article.
Breast biopsy procedures may be clinically straightforward but accurately translating them into compliant billing can be anything but. In this focused webcast, Shawn Blackburn, CPC, CPMA, CIC, CRC, CCS-P breaks down how imaging guidance, lesion count, laterality, and payer expectations all impact how these procedures should be reported. Through clear explanations and real-world scenarios, you’ll gain practical insight into aligning clinical workflows with billing requirements, avoiding common pitfalls, and ensuring your documentation supports accurate reimbursement and compliance.
Gain clarity and confidence in OB‑GYN coding with this expert‑led webcast featuring Sherri L. Clayton, RHIT, CSS. You’ll learn how to apply global maternity package rules accurately, select the right CPT codes for procedures and visits, and identify documentation gaps that lead to denials. With practical guidance and real examples, this session helps you strengthen compliance, reduce audit risk, and ensure accurate reimbursement for women’s health services.
Uncover essential coding insights with nationally recognized coding authority Kay Piper, RHIA, CDIP, CCS. Through ICD10monitor’s interactive, on‑demand webcast series, Kay walks you through the AHA’s 2026 ICD‑10‑CM/PCS Quarterly Coding Clinics, translating each update into practical, easy‑to‑apply guidance designed to sharpen precision, ensure compliance, and strengthen day‑to‑day decision‑making. Available shortly after each official release.
Uncover critical guidance on the ICD-10-CM/PCS code updates. Kay Piper reviews and explains ICD-10-CM/PCS coding guidelines in the AHA’s fourth quarter 2026 ICD-10-CM/PCS Coding Clinic in an easy to access on-demand webcast.
Traditional utilization management models can no longer keep pace with regulatory shifts, payer scrutiny, and operational pressures. In this webcast, Tiffany Ferguson, LMSW, CMAC, ACM, ACPA-C, introduces an Adaptive Model strategy that modernizes UM through role specialization, technology-driven workflows, and proactive, team-based processes. Attendees will learn how to restructure programs to improve efficiency, strengthen clinical collaboration, and enhance financial performance in a rapidly changing healthcare environment.
Federal auditors are intensifying their focus on inpatient psychiatric facilities, using advanced data analytics to spotlight outliers and pursue high‑dollar repayments. In this high‑impact webcast, Michael Calahan, PA, MBA, Compliance Officer and V.P., Hospital & Physician Compliance, breaks down what regulators are really targeting in IPF-PPS admissions, documentation, treatment and discharge planning. Attendees will learn practical steps to tighten processes, avoid common audit triggers and protect reimbursement and reduce the risk of multimillion-dollar repayment demands.
In this timely session, Stacey Shillito, CDIP, CPMA, CCS, CCS-P, CPEDC, COPC, breaks down the complexities of Medical Decision Making (MDM) documentation so providers can confidently capture the true complexity of their care. Attendees will learn practical, efficient strategies to ensure documentation aligns with current E/M guidelines, supports accurate coding, and reduces audit risk, all without adding to charting time.
Join Ronald Hirsch, MD, FACP, CHCQM for The PEPPER Returns – Risk and Opportunity at Your Fingertips, a practical webcast that demystifies the PEPPER and shows you how to turn complex claims data into actionable insights. Dr. Hirsch will explain how to interpret key measures, identify compliance risks, uncover missed revenue opportunities, and understand new updates in the PEPPER, all to help your organization stay ahead of audits and use this powerful data proactively.
Celebrate Lab Week with MedLearn! Sign up to win one year of our Laboratory All Access Pass! Click here to learn more →
Have a Medicare regulation question you’d love Dr. Hirsch to answer? Now is your chance! CLICK HERE to learn more→
Happy National Doctor’s Day! Learn how to get a complimentary webcast on ‘Decoding Social Admissions’ as a token of our heartfelt appreciation! Click here to learn more →
CYBER WEEK IS HERE! Don’t miss your chance to get 20% off now until Dec. 1 with code CYBER25
CYBER WEEK IS HERE! Don’t miss your chance to get 20% off now until Dec. 2 with code CYBER24
