The Gist Healthcare Podcast Wednesday, November 12, 2025
Nov 12, 2025
The Senate has passed a spending bill, ending the government shutdown but omitting ACA subsidy extensions. Meanwhile, the FDA is set to remove black box warnings from hormone replacement therapies for menopause, sparking positive reactions and market growth. UnitedHealthcare has narrowed its remote patient monitoring coverage to specific conditions, raising questions about the future of RPM in Medicare. Plus, Pfizer's aggressive bidding for Metsera highlights the dynamics of the growing GLP-1 market.
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Shutdown Ends But ACA Subsidies Left Out
- Senate passed a short-term spending bill to end the shutdown without extending enhanced ACA subsidies.
- Eight Democrats broke with their party to reopen the government and preserve federal worker pay and jobs.
Enhanced ACA Credits Drove 2025 Enrollment
- Enhanced ACA tax credits from the American Rescue Plan and Inflation Reduction Act expanded eligibility and capped premiums at 8.5% of income.
- Those credits boosted 2025 marketplace enrollment but are set to expire at year-end, creating political pressure.
FDA Removes Black Box From Menopause Therapies
- The FDA will remove the long-standing black box warning on menopausal hormone therapies, shifting risk framing.
- Estrogen-only products will still carry a warning for endometrial cancer.