Managed Care Cast News Roundup: June 17, 2025

Is the Employer Health Care Tax Exclusion Safe? Kerris Willis Shares Insight From American Benefits Council

At the 2025 Greater Philadelphia Business Coalition on Health Annual Conference, Kerri Willis of the American Benefits Council outlined a shifting federal health policy landscape that presents both risks and opportunities for employer-sponsored health plans. With a Republican-led Congress and White House pursuing reconciliation legislation to advance tax and spending priorities, Willis highlighted that proposed changes—such as limiting the tax exclusion for employer-sponsored insurance—could have far-reaching economic consequences. Although the current House bill spares this exclusion, employers remain on alert for potential Senate revisions. Other updates include codifying individual coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs), easing Health Savings Account (HSA) restrictions, and adjusting agency enforcement amid staff cuts.

Supreme Court to Rule Whether Pro-Life Pregnancy Center Can Avoid Subpoena

The US Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case involving First Choice Women’s Resource Centers, a faith-based pregnancy center in New Jersey, which is challenging a subpoena from state Attorney General Matthew Platkin seeking information on its operations, including donors and marketing practices. The investigation, based on New Jersey’s Consumer Fraud Act, centers on whether the center misled the public about offering abortion referrals. While the legal question before the Court is procedural—whether the center sued prematurely—First Choice argues the subpoena violates its First Amendment rights. The case comes amid heightened national debate over abortion access following the overturning of Roe v Wade.

Disparities, Worsening Inequality of Growing RA Burden, Reveals AI-Driven Study

A new global study published in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases finds that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has significantly increased worldwide since 1980, with a 13.2% rise in incidence from 1990 to 2021, and the burden is expected to grow through 2040, especially in aging and underserved populations. Using AI to analyze data from nearly 1000 locations, researchers identified widening disparities in RA incidence and disability, particularly in high- and high-middle income countries, with notable "hotspots" in parts of North America, Western Europe, and mountainous regions of Latin America. While the standardized death rate from RA has declined, the disability burden has risen, with younger adults increasingly affected. Japan stands out as an exception, showing declines in disability due to early detection, biologics access, and anti-inflammatory diets. Researchers call for precision public health strategies, including screening, biologic access, smoking cessation, and targeted local interventions, to curb rising RA-related inequalities and improve outcomes globally.

Vaccine Skeptics Among CDC Vaccine Panel Replacements Named by RFK Jr

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr has replaced all 17 members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) with 8 new appointees, several of whom have expressed antivaccine views, sparking concern among public health experts. Kennedy claims the move aims to restore public trust and eliminate conflicts of interest, though critics argue it signals a shift toward vaccine skepticism. Notable appointees include Robert Malone and Martin Kulldorff, both known for spreading misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines, along with others linked to controversial claims or organizations that question vaccine safety. Experts warn the new committee lacks sufficient expertise in immunization and may undermine public health guidance. The new ACIP is set to meet for the first time on June 25.

Outcomes for Hospitals Participating in More- and Less-Mature ACOs

A new study evaluated whether hospitals participating in CMS Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) improve inpatient performance as their ACO maturity increases. Researchers found that hospitals with no ACO maturity had significantly worse outcomes, specifically higher acute myocardial infarction mortality and perioperative pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis rates, compared with nonparticipants, but these differences diminished with increasing ACO maturity. More mature ACOs were associated with reduced accidental punctures or lacerations, though improvements in other inpatient outcomes and cost reductions were limited or statistically insignificant. The study suggests that early ACO efforts focused more on outpatient care coordination than on inpatient transformation, and that meaningful improvements in hospital performance may take longer than two years to materialize. While ACO maturity showed some promise, limitations such as short follow-up, outdated data, and the narrow focus of quality metrics highlight the need for further research.