November 2025

U.S Federal Government Reopens

After 43 days, Congress passed – and the President signed into law – a continuing resolution (CR) to reopen the government on November 12, ending the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. The CR extends government funding through January 30 and includes a three-bill minibus of full-year appropriations bills for the Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Department of Veterans Affairs and military construction projects, and the Legislative Branch. Congress will need to finalize all remaining fiscal year (FY) 2026 funding bills – including the bill that funds the National Institutes of Health (NIH) – prior to the expiration of the new CR on January 30.

The bill also includes an extension of telehealth flexibilities that were put on hold during the shutdown and includes retroactive payment for telehealth services performed during this time. Additionally, this bill includes a blanket prohibition on reductions in force in any department or agency until January 30 and rescinds reductions that occurred during the shutdown.

However, the CR does not contain an agreement to extend the enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits established under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. These credits are set to expire at the end of 2025 and were a key factor contributing to the funding impasse and subsequent shutdown. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has promised Senate Democrats a vote in December on legislation to extend the ACA tax subsidies.

Advocacy is still critical. Even though the government has reopened, Congress has not yet finalized spending for FY 2026. Because of this continued uncertainty, we still need your help to ensure NIH receives adequate funding in FY 2026. Visit the ASH website to quickly send a message to your elected officials in support of NIH and other federal health programs.

ASH Leads 70 Groups to Urge House E&C Health Subcommittee to Act on SCD Comprehensive Care Act

On October 29, 2025, ASH, led a group of more than 70 organizations on a letter urging the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health to include the Sickle Cell Disease Comprehensive Care Act (H.R.5178) in an upcoming hearing or markup. This bipartisan legislation, along with its Senate companion (S.721), would allow state Medicaid programs to provide comprehensive, coordinated care through a health home model for individuals with SCD based solely on their diagnosis. Join ASH’s advocacy and visit the ASH Advocacy Center to encourage your elected officials to act on this legislation.

CMS Releases Physician Fee Schedule Rule for 2026, Implementing Controversial Policies

On October 31, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the CY 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) final rule and fact sheet.  

Notably, 2026 marks the first year that there are two separate conversion factors: one for practitioners working in a qualifying advanced alternative payment model (APM) and the other for those not in a qualifying APM. The conversion factor for the former will increase by 3.77%, to $33.57, and the latter by 3.62%, to $33.40. These reflect the 2.5% increase to the conversion factor from the reconciliation package adopted by Congress in July, and a 0.49% positive update to account for the redistributive effects of the finalized changes to work relative value units (RVUs).  

CMS finalized several other controversial payment policies. For example, the efficiency adjustment policy was crafted by CMS to address perceived overvalued services in the MPFS, implementing a 2.5% reduction on work RVUs and corresponding intraservice times for nearly every service on the fee schedule except time-based codes. The agency also finalized policy that reduces indirect practice expenses (PE) by 50% within the physician payment formula for services performed in a facility setting. Facility settings include inpatient hospitals, on-campus and off-campus outpatient departments, hospital emergency rooms, and ambulatory surgical centers.  The Society is analyzing the final rule and its impact on hematology. ASH will make the analysis available as soon as possible.

ASH Joins Lab Coalition Sign-on Re: H1B Visas

ASH has joined a coalition of organizations in sending a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Noem requesting a national interest exemption (NIE) for pathologists and medical and public health laboratory professionals from the $100,000 H-1B fee proposed by the President. At a time when the nation faces a critical shortage of pathologists and laboratory professionals, additional barriers to hiring health care professionals could further strain the workforce and limit patient access to essential medical services. The Society also signed onto a letter organized by the American Medical Association which also requests an exemption for physicians and other health care providers. ASH continues to prioritize workforce issues and is closely monitoring the situation.

ASH Submits Comments on FDA's Draft Guidance on Assessment of Overall Survival in Oncology Clinical Trials

On October 17, 2025, ASH responded to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’ (FDA) draft guidance for industry on Approaches to Assessment of Overall Survival in Oncology Clinical Trials. ASH thanked FDA for its draft guidance on the use of overall survival (OS) as an endpoint in oncology trials and noted support for the Agency’s recognition of OS as a critical, unbiased measure of clinical benefit and safety. However, ASH also urged the FDA to provide clearer guidance on OS follow-up expectations, crossover handling, and feasibility challenges, particularly for rare or indolent diseases, while ensuring that regulatory requirements remain flexible, practical, and aligned with patient-centered care.

ASH Joins Coalition of 150+ Groups Urging Congress to Enact the FY26 Defense Appropriations Act

ASH joined over 150 other organizations in sending a letter urging Congressional leaders to enact the Fiscal Year 2026 Defense Appropriations Act and protect full funding for the Department of Defense’s Health Research Programs, including the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP). Many programs within the CDMRP support life-saving research for rare conditions such as sickle cell disease and multiple blood cancers. The letter underscores that failure to pass the bill would jeopardize critical medical research and undermine the health of both service members and civilians who rely on these essential programs.