Digital Partnership Arrangements: A Hidden Threat To State Authority Ali Khawar September 30, 2026

https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/forefront/digital-partnership-arrangements-hidden-threat-state-authority Instead of the state being able to directly regulate these digital partnerships, it has the same authority it would to directly regulate a self-funded plan sponsored by a large multistate corporation—none.

The Price Of ERISA Preemption: The Regulator Congress Never Funded Scott Levy October 1, 2026

https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/forefront/price-erisa-preemption-regulator-congress-never-funded If Congress shields self-insured plans from state regulation, it must ensure that federal oversight is strong enough to protect workers, discipline vendors, and hold employers accountable. It could do so for a rounding error in the cost of coverage.

Lindsay Clancy Was Inside The Mental Health System The Whole Time Keita FranklinandMargaret Hines September 18, 2026

https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/forefront/lindsay-clancy-inside-mental-health-system-whole-time Postpartum psychosis is identifiable and treatable. What we lack is a structure in which someone owns the case, the record travels with the patient, the most acutely ill mothers have somewhere to go, and the field examines its own catastrophes.

Early-Stage Drug Development Is Strategic Infrastructure. Can The US Afford To Lose It? So-Yeon KangandYunan Ji September 17, 2026

https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/forefront/early-stage-drug-development-strategic-infrastructure-can-us-afford-lose The globalization of biopharmaceutical innovation is likely to continue. The central challenge therefore is whether the US can use the heightened competition as a catalyst to strengthen its domestic ecosystem.

CMS’s New Risk-Based Nursing Home Surveys David G. Stevenson September 21, 2026

CMS’s New Risk-Based Nursing Home Surveys David G. Stevenson September 21, 2026 https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/forefront/cms-s-new-risk-based-surveys-could-make-nursing-home-inspections-more-efficient-but The new approach could make inspections more efficient, but stakeholders should focus on the broader goals of improving nursing home oversight and, ultimately, quality of care.

Beyond The No Surprises Act: The Longstanding Health Care Payment Dispute Resolution Ecosystem Erin DuffyandGeoff Drucker September 22, 2026

https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/forefront/beyond-no-surprises-act-longstanding-health-care-payment-dispute-resolution-ecosystem Several strengths of the legacy commercial arbitration and litigation systems could inform improvements to the federal independent dispute resolution process established under the No Surprises Act.

Policy Research At The National Institutes Of Health: An Imperative In Peril Scott Burris,Jamie F. Chriqui,Y. Tony Yang,S. Bryn Austin,Lisa F. Berkman,Ross C. Brownson,Magdalena Cerdá,Kao-Ping Chua,Ana V. Diez Roux,Gregg Gonsalves,Rita Hamad,Mark D. Hayward,Kelli A. Komro,Nancy Krieger,Laura D. Lindberg,Bruce G. Link,Julie Maslowsky,Angela McGowan,Jennifer Karas Montez,Kimberly M. Nelson, October 1, 2026

https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/forefront/policy-research-national-institutes-health-imperative-peril Understanding the health consequences of policy is not peripheral to NIH’s mission. It is central to it.