Republicans Secure Key Health Care Wins Through Regular-Order Appropriations Process

Majority Leader | Research | The Leader Board | THE NEWSR...Skip to primary navigation Skip to content×Close THE NEWSROOMRemarks Press Releases The Leader Board Op-Eds Videos SENATE RESOURCESRepublican Senators Committees Congressional Record Congress.gov Senate Floor Webcast ABOUT LEADER THUNE×Close THE NEWSROOMRemarks Press Releases The Leader Board Op-Eds Videos SENATE RESOURCESRepublican Senators Committees Congressional Record Congress.gov Senate Floor Webcast ABOUT LEADER THUNExxsearchxMENUFacebookXInstagramFacebookXInstagramVisit Leader Thune's South Dakota Site Here THE NEWSROOMRemarks Press Releases The Leader Board Op-Eds Videos SENATE RESOURCESRepublican Senators Committees Congressional Record Congress.gov Senate Floor Webcast ABOUT LEADER THUNExxsearchxMENUHomeTHE NEWSROOMThe Leader Board01.21.26Republicans Secure Key Health Care Wins Through Regular-Order Appropriations ProcessRepublicans’ Dedication to Funding the Government the Right Way Yields Results, Improving Health Care Affordability for Americans THE CONSOLIDATED APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2026 SUPPORTS PRESIDENT TRUMP’S GOAL TO REDUCE HEALTH CARE COSTS FOR AMERICANS, INCLUDING REFORMS TO PBMs, WHICH WILL INCREASE AFFORDABILITY AND ACCESS BY LOWERING DRUG COSTS FOR AMERICANS AT THE PHARMACY COUNTER“Congressional leaders reached a bipartisan, bicameral health care deal early Tuesday morning they hope lawmakers will pass later this week as part of a four-bill government spending package.” (Politico: Congress clinches bipartisan health deal – 1/20/26)The legislation includes “long-stalled priorities like an overhaul of the business practices of pharmacy benefit managers — the ‘middlemen’ between drug manufacturers and insurers — and new controls on how hospitals bill for outpatient services.” (Axios: Scoop: Bipartisan health package likely moving forward – 1/19/26)“Drug middlemen, known as pharmacy-benefit managers, have accomplished something rare in Washington: Their business practices have led to a bipartisan consensus of sorts around the need for more regulation.” (The Wall Street Journal: How Drug Middlemen Keep Beating the System – 7/10/24)“Drug benefit managers have been under fire from both Republicans and Democrats for years, with both sides of the aisle proposing legislation targeting the companies.” (The Wall Street Journal: Largest Pharmacy-Benefit Managers Hiked Up Drug Prices, FTC Says – 1/14/25)“PBMs negotiate large rebates that are mostly passed back to insurers to reduce premiums. But because patient cost sharing is often based on list prices, patients who use expensive or specialty drugs frequently pay more at the pharmacy counter.” (Paragon Health Institute: PBM 101: What They Are and How They Affect Drug Prices – 1/14/26)The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 enacts a major “overhaul of the pharmacy benefit managers [PBMs]. The legislation limits PBMs’ abilities to keep rebates as profits. It also tightens oversight of PBMs.” (Punchbowl News: Midday: What to watch for in the minibus – 1/20/26)This significant reform takes steps toward the goals of President Trump’s new health care plan, which called on Congress to examine the role of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) in rising health care costs. (White House: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Calls on Congress to Enact The Great Healthcare Plan – 1/15/26)THE APPROPRIATIONS BILL ALSO ENACTS REAUTHORIZATIONS OF CRITICAL PUBLIC HEALTH AND MEDICARE PROGRAMS AS WELL AS NEW INITIATIVES TO IMPROVE HEALTH CARE ACCESS“The health care agreement would extend several public health programs, including major telehealth flexibilities, through the end of 2027. It also would fund, through the end of the fiscal year in 2030, a program run through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that reimburses facilities for offering hospital-level care in the home.” (Politico: Congress clinches bipartisan health deal – 1/20/26)“The bill maintains long-standing riders, including Hyde and Hyde-Weldon conscience protections…” (U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations: Committee Releases Conferenced Defense, Homeland Security, Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Bills – 1/20/26)Notable investments and authorizations include:Community Health CentersTeaching Health CentersNational Health Service CorpsSpecial Diabetes ProgramsSupport for hospitals and physicians treating seniors on MedicareRelief for hospitals serving a significant share of low-income AmericansPrograms that allow seniors to receive acute hospital care and infusion treatments at homeNew coverage for multi-cancer early detection screeningsInitiatives to prevent maternal deaths and improve care of babies born prematurelyFunding for telehealth flexibilities through 2027The World Trade Center health program, which will continue and update the funding formula for 9/11 responders and survivors through 2040 (U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations: Committee Releases Conferenced Defense, Homeland Security, Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Bills – 1/20/26)The Give Kids a Chance Act, “which will improve outcomes for children with cancer by advancing (or promoting) critical research and ensuring they have access to essential treatments.”“The Give Kids a Chance Act builds off current programs to streamline drug development and accelerate research for pediatric cancer. We named this bill after Mikaela Naylon, a 16-year-old who, even as she battled cancer, advocated for other children with cancer until the very end. We owe it to kids like Mikaela to give families the ability to access combination drugs or targeted medicines to maximize their treatment options.” – Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.)PrintEmailTweetNextPreviousTHE NEWSROOMSENATE RESOURCESABOUT LEADER THUNEFacebookXInstagram