Last week, the House passed a FY26 spending package that would provide $49 billion for the National Institutes of Health (a $415 million increase) and $7.4 billion for the National Cancer Institute (a $180 million increase). The bill does not include an extension of the Advanced Premium Tax Credits, but it does not extend both Medicare telehealth flexibilities for almost two years. The bill also permits Medicare coverage for multi-cancer early detection screening tests and requires pharmacy benefit managers to submit a report to HHS listing drugs that are covered, their wholesale prices, and the out-of-pocket costs for enrollees.

The funding bill was originally expected to pass both chambers of Congress before the January 30 funding deadline. However, a federal agent-involved shooting in Minneapolis has significantly raised the odds of a shutdown.