Weekly Healthcare Policy Round-Up

In this week’s Health Policy Round-Up, ALF shares the most up to date news happening in Washington DC.

• On June 5^th, U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy M.D. (R-LA), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) introduced the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act to combat the obesity crisis in the United States by providing regular screenings. The bill would also prevent diseases associated with obesity through expanded coverage of new health care specialists and chronic weight management medications for Medicare recipients. Research shows that obesity is one of the leading causes of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Additionally, MASLD is found in 75% of people who are overweight and in 90% of those with severe obesity. Take action here.

• On June 4^th, the Congressional Budget Office estimated that enacting the Medicaid provisions in H.R. 1, also known as “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”, would lead to 7.8 million people losing Medicaid coverage in 2034.

• On June 4^th, U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) introduced life-saving legislation to cure low-income and hard-to-reach Americans with hepatitis C virus (HCV). Cassidy and Van Hollen’s Cure Hepatitis C Act will establish a voluntary drug subscription model to connect HCV patients to treatment and stop the spread of the disease. Today’s treatment for HCV cures more than 95% of cases with almost no side effects. Read ALF’s statement here.