Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

A policy shift ending Medicaid funding for youth sex-change treatments was analyzed by Dr. Quentin Van Meter, the immediate past president of the American College of Pediatricians. Van Meter stated that blocking these interventions is appropriate and not a denial of care, arguing instead for ongoing mental health treatment for underlying issues. He further argued that 'puberty is not a disease' and cited conflicting medical studies as evidence against sex-change procedures.

A veteran pediatrician, Dr. Quentin Van Meter, praised the policy shift ending Medicaid funding for youth sex-change treatments. He argued that this restriction was 'compassionate' and appropriate, advocating instead for ongoing mental health treatment to address underlying issues. Van Meter further asserted that puberty is not a disease and cited concerns regarding potential risks associated with these interventions.

A federal CMS pilot program offers limited coverage of three GLP-1 weight-management medications for qualifying Metro Nashville retirees on Medicare or Medicare Advantage. The program, separate from Metro’s health plan, requires a $50 monthly copay and mandates prescriptions be processed through a CMS system, not Metro’s plan. Vanderbilt University is studying the drugs’ potential for asthma and obesity.

A coalition of 25 states and the District of Columbia is suing the Trump administration over new Medicaid work requirements, arguing the policy unlawfully restricts access to healthcare. The lawsuit challenges an Interim Final Rule (IFR) requiring individuals to prove exemptions for work, volunteer, or education mandates, which the states claim violates federal law and Congress' intent.

Vice President JD Vance's anti-fraud task force has withheld $1.4 billion in federal funding from home health and hospice providers suspected of fraud, targeting operations in California, Minnesota, and other states. The task force aims to stop fraudulent activities and deliver savings to the American people. The suspensions are part of a broader effort to combat systemic fraud.

Dr. Mehmet Oz, CMS Administrator, has targeted five states—Minnesota, California, Florida, New York, and Maine—for Medicaid fraud crackdowns, citing concerns over durable medical equipment (DME) and hospice abuse. The Trump administration, through a task force led by Vice President JD Vance, is investigating foreign involvement, including Cuban, Russian, and Chinese mafia groups, in fraud schemes. Over 400 hospices in Los Angeles were suspended due to suspicious high survival rates and foreign ownership.

CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz has sent urgent letters to all 50 governors demanding immediate action to combat Medicaid fraud by revalidating high-risk providers within 10 business days and submitting broader anti-fraud strategies within 30 days. The directive targets providers with lax enrollment standards and those operating without proper credentials, emphasizing federal pressure to address billions in annual losses.

Donald Trump claimed diet soda may kill cancer cells, a statement relayed by Dr. Mehmet Oz during an interview with Donald Trump Jr. Physicians have since warned the public that diet soda does not prevent cancer, prompting a reminder about the lack of scientific evidence supporting Trump's claim.