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.

• Election Day marked a shift in congressional leadership, with Democrats securing majorities in both the House of Representatives and the Senate for the upcoming 120th Congress. At this time, Democrats gained 42 seats in the House of Representatives, however, the outcomes of 16 races have yet to be confirmed. Additionally, Democrats gained eight seats in the Senate with one race yet to be confirmed. As a new Congress takes shape, ALF looks forward to building relationships with new and returning lawmakers and working across party lines to advance policies that improve health outcomes for liver patients.
• Under a new federal law, beginning in January 2027, certain adults enrolled in Medicaid will be required to complete 80 hours per month of work or other qualifying activities to maintain their healthcare coverage. However, people with certain serious or complex medical conditions may qualify for an exemption from these requirements. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the federal agency that oversees Medicaid, issued a rule requiring people seeking a medical exemption to also show that their health condition limits their ability to meet the requirement. Recently, a federal judge in Massachusetts v. Oz struck down this additional requirement. The ruling applies nationwide to states implementing the new Medicaid work requirements. As a result, individuals with a qualifying medical condition will no longer have to demonstrate that their condition limits their ability to work to receive an exemption. Earlier this year, ALF expressed concerns to CMS about how the new requirements could affect the liver community and urged CMS to ensure that people with liver disease and those awaiting a liver transplant are considered medically frail and can maintain access to healthcare coverage without meeting the requirement. Click here to learn more.
• On November 9, the Food and Drug Administration announced a new safety warning for GLP-1 medications related to a potential increased risk of a rare but serious eye condition called non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). As GLP-1 medications are increasingly used by people with metabolic conditions, including MASH, patients are encouraged to speak with their healthcare provider about any questions or concerns regarding their individual treatment. Read the FDA statement here.
• ALF recently released our 2027 Advocacy Priorities Survey, and we want to hear from you! Please complete this short survey to help us identify what matters most to you and what we should focus on in 2027! Complete the survey today!
• Save the date for American Liver Foundation’s Year-End Advocacy Briefing on Wednesday, December 9^th at 7:00 PM ET/4:00 PM PT. During this virtual briefing, we’ll highlight key advocacy wins from 2026, share updates from across the liver community, and recognize how advocates elevated the voices of liver patients, caregivers, and families. We’ll also look ahead to 2027 legislative and policy priorities and opportunities. We hope you’ll join us as we celebrate our collective impact and prepare for another year of advocacy. Register here for this virtual briefing!