Managed Care Cast News Roundup: June 3, 2025

CDC Pulls COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendation for Pregnant Women, Healthy Children

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr, announced that the CDC will no longer recommend routine COVID-19 vaccines for healthy children and pregnant women, a move supported by leaders of the FDA and National Institutes of Health (NIH). However, the CDC’s website still lists COVID-19 vaccination as recommended for these groups, citing studies that show vaccination during pregnancy can protect both mother and infant from severe illness.

The announcement coincides with the emergence of a new COVID-19 variant, NB.1.8.1, spreading in the US, and follows a recent proposal from FDA officials to require randomized controlled trials for COVID-19 vaccines in healthy individuals under 65 years before broader approvals are granted. Notably, the CDC’s Advisory Committee did not vote on the reported schedule change.

ACP Experts Say FDA, CDC Moves May Undermine COVID-19 Vaccine Coverage for Millions

A new commentary published yesterday by leaders of the American College of Physicians (ACP) warns against the increasing politicization of science and public health, calling for humility, transparency, and inclusivity in future crisis responses. Reflecting on the COVID-19 pandemic, the authors highlight how political influence and misinformation eroded public trust, particularly around vaccination. They criticize recent federal decisions that complicate access to COVID-19 vaccines, as the Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires insurers to cover all Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)–recommended vaccines. The FDA's recent limit on COVID-19 booster vaccines and the CDC's lack of recommendations for young children and pregnant women complicate ACIP's ability to approve off-label vaccine use.

Stressing that public health should prioritize both scientific rigor and real-world context, the authors advocate for a risk-based approach that considers social and caregiving factors, not just clinical ones, and affirm the need to safeguard individual autonomy in health care decision-making.

RFK Jr Suggests Creating “In-House” Publications for Government Scientists

Kennedy is reportedly planning to ban government scientists from publishing in leading medical journals such as the New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA, and The Lancet, claiming they are corrupted by pharmaceutical interests. Instead, Kennedy proposes creating new, in-house, government-run journals for federally funded research, arguing NIH funding alone proves scientific legitimacy.

Critics, including public health experts, warn this move could undermine scientific credibility, limit peer review, and politicize medical research. The proposal follows significant research funding cuts under the Trump administration, heightening concerns about government overreach in shaping science.

Contributor: Beyond the Sloganeering—A Data-Driven Analysis of Recent 340B Growth

The 340B Drug Discount Program has grown rapidly, reaching $148 billion in 2024, despite a shrinking vulnerable patient population. Critics, including insurers and employers, argue that hospitals are driving growth through profit-driven strategies, especially with high-cost specialty drugs. Although 340B advocates blame drug price inflation, a comprehensive analysis found that from 2018 to 2024, the overwhelming majority of the program’s growth—over 79% at list price and over 100% at discounted prices—was due to increased utilization, not price hikes. Even among top-selling drugs and those with high price increases, utilization remained the primary driver.

Oncology Biosimilars Offer Potential Relief From Financial Burden of Cancer Care

Oncology biosimilars may help alleviate some of the financial toxicity faced by both patients and health care systems due to cancer care, according to a pair of abstracts presented at the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting. A comprehensive analysis of 2022 data reveals that financial toxicity in cancer care varies widely by insurance type, income, race, and geography, with uninsured and low-income patients facing the greatest burden. Prescription costs alone can consume over 11% of a low-income patient’s income, and overall medical costs can exceed $130,000 annually. Disparities also affect women, minorities, and less-educated individuals.

In contrast, rising use of oncology biosimilars has helped lower Medicare cancer drug spending by 23% in 2022, with further savings possible. Researchers call for policy interventions to improve affordability and equity in cancer care.