Health Care — PEPFAR survives rescissions

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View Online Health Care Health Care   PRESENTED BY  The Big Story  PEPFAR survives rescissions  Senate Republicans are removing a global anti-HIV program from the White House's rescissions request amid concerns from within the caucus.  © Getty Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) and Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought told reporters that the White House agreed with a plan to change the rescissions package with a substitute amendment that would exempt the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) from being cut.    "It's substantially the same package and the Senate has to work its will and we've appreciated the work along the way to get to a place where they've got the votes," Vought said.    "There is a substitute amendment that does not include the PEPFAR rescission and we're fine with that."    Trump had requested that $900 million be clawed back from PEPFAR. If the substitute amendment is adopted, the size of the initial $9.4 billion request would be narrowed to $9 billion, Vought said Tuesday.    Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine) repeatedly stated her desire to remove PEPFAR from the package. Other GOP appropriators maintained their support for the program but didn't say whether it was a deal breaker.    "This is progress," Collins told reporters about saving PEPFAR. But she added Vought did not give a clear enough explanation about what programs he wanted to "save" and the specifics about what programs are being cut.    "It's unclear to me how you get to $9 billion," Collins said. "We still have the problem of not having detailed account information from OMB."    The amendment means the House will have to vote again on the legislation. House Republicans had pressed for the Senate not to change the bill.    Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R) told reporters Tuesday there had been "a lot of interest" in preserving PEPFAR funding among his conference, adding that he hopes the House will accept "that one small modification."  Welcome to The Hill's Health Care newsletter, we're Nathaniel Weixel, Joseph Choi and Alejandra O'Connell-Domenech — every week we follow the latest moves on how Washington impacts your health. Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here. Essential Reads  How policy will be impacting the health care sector this week and beyond: Hawley seeks to repeal Medicaid cuts he voted for Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) wants to repeal parts of the “big, beautiful” law he just voted for.  Hawley on Tuesday introduced new legislation to roll back some of the Medicaid cuts that were included in the massive tax cut law, which passed the Senate two weeks ago and was signed into law by President Trump on July 4.  Hawley's bill would repeal provisions that limit states' ability to levy taxes on health providers …  Full Story RFK Jr.: 'No cuts on Medicaid' in 'big, beautiful' law Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Monday refuted the existence of Medicaid cuts due to President Trump's megabill of tax and spending cuts. "First of all, there’s no cuts on Medicaid. There is a — there’s a diminishment of the growth rate of Medicaid, which is bankrupting our country. And, by the way, the national debt is also a determinant — a social determinant — of health," Kennedy …  Full Story HHS officially lays off some RIF-ed staffers Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) staffers who received reduction in force (RIF) notices months ago were informed Monday that they were officially separated from the department after the Supreme Court ruled the Trump administration could move forward with layoffs. Staffers who were initially received RIF notices in April received an email on Monday at their work addresses stating they were officially separated from …  Full Story In Other News  Branch out with a different read from The Hill: Vermont named best state for quality of life Vermont was named the best state for quality of life by CNBC for the fifth year in a row, according to a Monday release from the news outlet. Full Story A MESSAGE FROM ASTRAZENECA   Around the Nation  Local and state headlines on health care: Michigan health insurers seek more double-digit rate hikes for 2026 (Detroit Free Press)  Sen. Luján calls for quick RECA implementation as healthcare cuts threaten New Mexico victims (Santa Fe Reporter)  New Virginia law forces retailers to disclose when collecting data on reproductive health searches, purchases (WTVR)  What We're Reading  Health news we've flagged from other outlets: HHS efficiency review blamed for delaying patient care at Indian Health Service (Stat)  The world has hit a 'very stubborn glass ceiling' on childhood vaccination (CNN)  Study finds no link between aluminum in vaccines and autism, asthma (NBC News)    You're all caught up. See you tomorrow!  Check out The Hill's Health Care page for the latest coverage. Like this newsletter? 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