As we enter 2026, Congress faces a crowded healthcare agenda shaped by narrow margins, an approaching midterm election, and unfinished policy debates carried over from the prior year. Lawmakers will spend the early months of the year focused on funding the government, extending expiring healthcare provisions, and advancing cost-related policies that are likely to feature prominently in the midterm campaign. At the same time, the Trump administration is expected to continue moving quickly through rulemaking, guidance, and executive actions that will have significant implications across the healthcare sector.

This +Insight highlights the key legislative and administrative developments to watch – from affordability and coverage debates to Medicare, Medicaid, drug pricing, digital health, and innovation initiatives moving through federal agencies. Read on to learn why these developments matter now, and how they could influence planning, compliance, and strategic decision-making in 2026 and beyond.

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Lynn Nonnemaker, Ph.D., Kristen O’Brien, Rachel Stauffer, Erica Stocker, Katie Waldo, Rodney Whitlock, Ph.D., and Eric Zimmerman