The Priority Review

Category

Policy

Law, pricing, reimbursement and public health policy.

13 stories · page 1 of 2

  1. CMS, SBA, Take Command discuss CHOICE Arrangements for Ohio small businesses

    The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Small Business Administration, and Take Command met to explore CHOICE Arrangements, a tax-advantaged contribution model that lets Ohio employers replace traditional group plans with individual coverage options. CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz said CHOICE Arrangements help Ohio employers better manage healthcare costs while empowering workers to choose coverage that meets their individual needs.

  2. Actinium Pharmaceuticals names Sean Maenpaa senior vice president of business development

    The appointment takes effect on October 12, 2026, and the new executive will lead partnering, licensing and strategic transactions across Actinium's targeted radiotherapy pipeline. He brings more than two decades of oncology business development experience, including senior roles at Bayer, Clovis Oncology, Telix Pharmaceuticals and BWXT Medical.

  3. $78 million for rural Texas health workforce and chronic disease prevention

    The Trump Administration announced $78 million in Rural Health Transformation Program funding to 216 rural healthcare providers through the Rural Texas Strong initiative. The investment will support chronic disease prevention, workforce recruitment and retention, and upgrades to medical equipment and facilities across Texas.

  4. MiniMed completes separation from Medtronic

    MiniMed announced on Oct. 15, 2026 that it has completed its separation from Medtronic, becoming a fully independent company. Medtronic accepted 55,032,401 Medtronic ordinary shares in exchange for 252,813,348 shares of MiniMed common stock, a 5.4x subscribed offer.

  5. CMS announces $2.3 million RHTP funding for Missouri rural healthcare

    The Trump Administration announced more than $2.3 million in Rural Health Transformation Program funding to Missouri, allocating $1.46 million for workforce recruitment and retention and $879,000 to launch a certified nurse midwife training program. The investment aims to expand childcare support for rural healthcare workers and increase maternal care access across the state.

  6. Paragon Labs expands leadership with former Apogee executives

    Paragon Labs announced that former senior leaders from Apogee Therapeutics have joined its team, led by Michael Henderson, M.D., to support clinical development of Paragon-discovered assets. The move follows Apogee's 2026 acquisition by AbbVie for over $10.9 billion.

  7. Rona Therapeutics grants Roche exclusive worldwide license for ALK7-targeting RNAi therapy

    Rona Therapeutics announced it has granted Roche an exclusive worldwide license for its investigational RNAi candidate targeting activin receptor-like kinase 7 (ALK7). The agreement gives Rona up to $100 million in upfront and near-term milestone payments and up to $1.06 billion in potential development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments, plus tiered royalties on global net sales.

  8. Bristol Myers Squibb partners with Saudi Schizophrenia Association to launch Small Wins initiative

    BMS and the Saudi Schizophrenia Association ('Ehtiwaa') collaborated to distribute more than 70 personalized Small Wins toolkits in Riyadh to support people living with schizophrenia. The kits guide patients through four steps-pick a card, try an activity, recognize the win, and add it to a Small Wins jar-to boost daily engagement and self-esteem.

  9. CMS publishes 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D Star Ratings

    CMS published the 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D Star Ratings on Oct. 8, 2026. Approximately 37% of MA-PDs (188 contracts) earned four stars or higher, and the ratings will impact 2028 MA quality bonus payments.

  10. CMS releases 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D Star Ratings

    The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services published the 2027 Star Ratings on October 8, 2026, and the ratings will impact 2028 MA quality bonus payments. Approximately 37% of MA-PD contracts (188 contracts) earned four stars or higher, and 27% of PDPs (11 contracts) received four or more stars for 2027.

  11. CMS convenes certified IDR leaders to discuss federal program improvements

    CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz and officials from the Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and the Treasury met with representatives from all certified IDR entities on October 1, 2026. The meeting addressed the increasingly high IDR-associated costs affecting the United States healthcare system and the move of the Federal IDR Portal into the IDR Gateway, which will launch in late 2026.

  12. CMS announces $90 Medicare Part B premium rebate for 20.8 million beneficiaries

    CMS announced a $90 Medicare Improvement Fund Premium Rebate for eligible Medicare Part B beneficiaries, with most receiving a direct deposit around October 8, 2026. The rebate is available to 20.8 million Americans in Original Medicare Part B who are not receiving Medicaid premium assistance or paying an Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount.