TrumpRx promised a supermarket for cheaper drugs but delivered a boutique July 16, 20265:00 AM ET By Sydney Lupkin

https://www.npr.org/2026/07/16/nx-s1-5894947/trump-rx-medicine-drugs-health-care-pfizer-low-prices-gilead?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_NcygC48mA9okzYre9jRoMpeoPsMAJsjsXOaeaUo7AGCACmXjWXwHMzqKVJjbiDfir6_wHbfuCQMaH8dD4zuRw7DD6gw&_hsmi=428692436&utm_content=428692436&utm_source=hs_email NPR: TrumpRx Only Offers Some Brand-Name Drugs For Sale To Consumers A centerpiece of President Trump's push to make prescription medicines more affordable is a government website for drug discounts that carries his own name. TrumpRx, launched in February, now boasts 92 deals on brand-name prescription drugs made by pharmaceutical companies that announced highly publicized agreements with the Trump administration. But nearly six months since the website's launch, those deals on TrumpRx represent fewer than 12% of the more than 800 brand-name drugs made by the participating pharmaceutical companies. (Lupkin, 7/16)

CMS proposes ban on third-party remote patient monitoring: 6 notes

https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/healthcare-information-technology/telehealth/cms-proposes-ban-on-third-party-remote-patient-monitoring-6-notes/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--4Yhj3-hg7P08sS-1Wn4TrcTtnEs2H083LYYkCYuq8JZTVOtfu92mfz0fjdaS_IUQbp0DeW2swCw1CinaWzabb3_CXXw&_hsmi=428692436&utm_content=428692436&utm_source=hs_email Becker's Hospital Review: CMS Proposes Ban On Third-Party Remote Patient Monitoring: 6 Notes CMS is proposing a Medicare payment ban for remote patient monitoring services delivered by third-party vendors. Here are six things to know: 1. The proposed rule, released July 14 as part of the 2027 physician fee schedule, would allow payment for remote physiologic monitoring and remote therapeutic monitoring only when clinical staff employed by the billing practice furnish the services, not contracted third-party companies. Staff would not need to be on-site, but the billing relationship would have to run through the practice itself. (Bruce, 7/15)

The military benefits bill that’s tearing the veterans community apart By Leo Shane III and Meredith Lee Hill 07/15/2026 01:34 PM EDT

https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/15/house-take-care-veterans-act-00999260?utm_campaign=KHN:+First+Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8SpHKzAvEeG5A-z12S1cad4pXHxsU1xwkZo0Fyq7a1c2u65f-2BGm6yk36ula2oyjiZ9kTw5iShVFdrsJh-ljyNO-DnA&_hsmi=428692436&utm_content=428692436&utm_source=hs_email Politico: The Military Benefits Bill That’s Tearing The Veterans Community Apart A sweeping veterans benefits measure pitched by Republicans as a boon for tens of thousands of veterans has instead become a divisive wedge for the normally tight-knit military advocacy community — and split the GOP caucus. The fight over the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act, expected to be on the House floor Thursday, threatens to complicate future work on military and veterans reforms, which are frequently viewed as non-controversial political crusades for lawmakers. (Shane III and Lee Hill, 7/15)

Viewpoints: Cyclosporiasis Outbreak Is Evidence Of System Failure; Hunger Can Trigger A Psychiatric Emergency

https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/viewpoints-needs-hed/

Research Roundup: The Latest Science, Discoveries, And Breakthroughs Each week, KFF Health News compiles a selection of health policy studies and briefs.

Research Roundup: The Latest Science, Discoveries, And Breakthroughs Each week, KFF Health News compiles a selection of health policy studies and briefs. https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/health-policy-research-052826/

FDA Approves Lipfendra, A Daily Pill To Lower Cholesterol That Outperforms Statins

FDA Approves Lipfendra, A Daily Pill To Lower Cholesterol That Outperforms Statins Clinical trials of enlicitide, under the brand name Lipfendra, have shown that it can bring levels of LDL — the dangerous type of cholesterol — down to 50 or 60 or even lower, which is far below what can be achieved with statins. The American Heart Association's cholesterol guidelines say LDL levels should be below 70 for those with above-average risk of heart attacks or strokes, The New York Times reported. https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/lifestyle-and-health-071626/

'We Are Panicking': Medicaid Crackdown In Minnesota Has Upended Care For People With Disabilities

'We Are Panicking': Medicaid Crackdown In Minnesota Has Upended Care For People With Disabilities The Trump administration has frozen Medicaid payments to the state while it investigates alleged fraud. Several business owners who perform services such as autism therapy told Politico that they have scrambled to get loans or are borrowing money from their own savings to stay afloat. One provider said, “[Minnesota] is a cautionary tale for how not to handle this. ... The money is gone, and the innocent are paying for it.” https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/state-watch-071626/