Advocacy in Action Newsletter
February 2025
Spotlight
Senate Finance Committee Advances Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Nomination for Health Secretary
On February 4, 2025, the Senate Finance Committee advanced the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to be Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in a 14-13 party line vote, sending his nomination to the Senate floor for a vote. Senator Bill Cassidy, MD (R-LA) was the key vote in support of advancing the nomination. Cassidy had repeatedly expressed reservations about Kennedy’s past of undermining confidence in vaccines.
In a social media post moments before the vote, Cassidy stated “With the serious commitments I’ve received from the administration and the opportunity to make progress on the issues we agree on like healthy foods and a pro-American agenda, I will vote yes.”
Kennedy’s nomination will now be sent to the full Senate for a vote on his confirmation. The vote was opposed by all Democrats on the committee.
Legislative Updates
HRA Readies Advocacy in the New Year to Address Physician Payment and Push for Long-term Reforms
Lawmakers are working to revive the year-end health care package that was dropped from the scaled back continuing resolution (CR) passed by Congress in December.
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HRA 2025 Legislative Advocacy Planning: Key Committee Assignments for the 119th Congress
The 119th Congress is underway with key congressional committees with health care jurisdiction welcoming new members and leadership
HRA to Recommend Funding for HEARTS Act
The HEARTS Act (H.R. 6829) was signed into law by President Biden on December 23, 2024. Now that this lifesaving legislation aimed at preventing sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in young people has been enacted, HRA is focused on ensuring funds are properly expended and the requirements are met as mandated.
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HRA Monitoring MedPAC Payment Update Recommendations for 2026
HRA continues to monitor Medicare Payment Advisory Commission’s (MedPAC) recommendations for Medicare payment updates in 2026, which were voted on during the Commission’s January meeting. Commissioners overwhelmingly supported increasing Medicare Physician Fee Schedule payments by the Medicare Economic Index (MEI) minus 1 percentage point in CY 2026, along with the establishment of a safety-net add-on payment
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Regulatory Updates
HRS Quality Reporting Update: 2024 MIPS Data Submission Period Now Open
On January 2, 2025, CMS opened the data submission period for the 2024 Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) performance year. Data can be submitted and updated until 8:00 PM ET on March 31, 2025.
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2025 MIPS Quality Measure Benchmarks Now Available
On January 20, 2025, CMS released the benchmarks that it will use to assess clinician performance on quality measures under MIPS in 2025. CMS will use these benchmarks to determine how many points a clinician will receive for each quality measure reported. Those points contribute to a clinician’s final MIPS score, which will translate into a Medicare Part B payment adjustment in 2027.