An ImPACT-ful Summer of Healthcare Changes, With a Focus on Technology

Pardon the pun, but to say that several events so far this summer are having quite an ImPACT on the federal healthcare space is putting it mildly.

Whether it be a recent move by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to meet with industry leaders to change prior authorization processes for Medicare Advantage, Medicaid Managed Care, Health Insurance Marketplace and commercial plans, or a massive overhaul of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), President Trump’s new administration’s presence has definitely made itself known in recent months.^1,2

While American Medical Association President Bobby Mukkamala, MD, praised the HHS meetings with insurers on prior authorization, he added in a reaction statement to the June meeting that “patients and physicians will need specifics demonstrating that the latest insurer pledge will yield substantive actions…and keep medical decisions between patients and physicians.” In short, it will be important that the HHS pulls the initiatives they outlined through in a clinically meaningful way.³

Meanwhile, also in June, just days before the ACIP was set to meet in one of several regularly scheduled committee meetings throughout the year, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr, removed 17 members of the ACIP Committee, replacing them with 8 new members.²

Despite concerns about several of the new panel members’ opinions on certain vaccines and their components, which was reflected in one of their very first recommendations as a committee—specifically that patients only receive seasonal flu vaccines that do not contain thimerosal, despite decades of studies showing that there is no evidence of harm caused by thimerosal in vaccines, and no data linking thimerosal to neuropsychological delays—the committee did vote to recommend clesrovimab.^4-6 Produced by Merck, clesrovimab is a monoclonal antibody that protects against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) for use in infants aged <8 months born during or entering their first RSV season.⁴

One recurrent theme from this administration has been an emphasis on technology helping to address healthcare issues. At the end of June, Kennedy wrote on the social media platform X that “wearables put the power of health back in the hands of the American people. We’re launching one of the largest HHS campaigns in history to encourage their use—so every American can take control of their health, one data point at a time. It’s a key part of our mission to Make America Healthy Again.” That emphasis on the importance of wearables and their potential positive influence on healthcare seemed to be everywhere in the past month, including at the 85th American Diabetes Association (ADA) Scientific Sessions.

At that meeting, researchers presented data on several technological innovations and their impact on healthcare, including how continuous glucose monitor–derived metrics are going to help guide clinical decisions on patients with diabetes, and may have the potential to be even more impactful than advancements in medication.⁷ See related story here.

As the editorial director of this publication, I know that you as healthcare professionals in this space want to stay informed on the latest, so I’ve been busy attending meetings like ADA and the ACIP, and I will continue to provide updates so you can provide the best care for your patients. I’m interested in hearing your thoughts. Drop me a line at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

References

1. Department of Health and Human Services. HHS Secretary Kennedy, CMS Administrator Oz secure industry pledge to fix broken prior authorization system [press release]. June 23, 2025. Accessed June 30, 2025. www.hhs.gov/press-room/kennedy-oz-cms-secure-healthcare-industry-pledge-to-fix-prior-authorization-system.html
2. Department of Health and Human Services. HHS takes bold step to restore public trust in vaccines by reconstituting ACIP [press release]. June 9, 2025. Accessed July 1, 2025. www.hhs.gov/press-room/hhs-restore-public-trust-vaccines-acip.html
3. American Medical Association. AMA responds as health insurers try again at prior authorization reform [press release]. June 24, 2025. Accessed June 30, 2025. www.ama-assn.org/press-center/ama-press-releases/ama-responds-health-insurers-try-again-prior-authorization-reform
4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization concludes meeting with joint statement [press release]. June 26, 2025. Accessed July 1, 2025. www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2025/2025-cdcs-advisory-committee-on-immunization-concludes-meeting-with-joint-statement html#xd_co_f=Mzc5NmRkOGEtZmY3YS00YTAzLWEwZDUtMWY4ZmQwM2FlYzUx~
5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Thimerosal and vaccines. December 19, 2024. Accessed July 1, 2025. www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/about/thimerosal.html#xd_co_f= ODI4YWI5NDctMTcwYS00ZGI2LWEwNWUtMDAwYzU0MmNlZjUx~
6. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Immunization safety review: vaccine and autism. 2004. National Academies Press. https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/10997/immunization-safety-review-vaccines-and-autism#xd_co_f=Mzc5NmRkOGEtZmY3YS00YTAzLWEwZDUtMWY4ZmQwM2FlYzUx~
7. Cleveland Clinic. Cleveland Clinic Research finds injectable medications for obesity produce smaller weight loss in a real-world setting compared to randomized clinical trials [press release]. June 10, 2025. Accessed June 30, 2025. https://newsroom.clevelandclinic.org/2025/06/10/cleveland-clinic-research-finds-injectable-medications-for-obesity-produce-smaller-weight-loss-in-a-real-world-setting-compared-to-randomized-clinical-trials