House Holds Busy Week of Health Hearings

Lawmakers to focus on Medicare and Medicaid fraud, healthcare affordability, and competition with China

Mar. 16, 2026 at 11:28pm

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The U.S. House of Representatives will have a packed week of health-related hearings, including discussions on combating fraud in federal healthcare programs, lowering the costs of care, and competition with China over medications. Key topics will include CMS's role in preventing Medicare and Medicaid fraud, proposals to make healthcare more affordable, and oversight of the National Institutes of Health.

Why it matters

These hearings reflect the ongoing policy debates around healthcare costs, program integrity, and U.S. competitiveness in the pharmaceutical industry. The outcomes could lead to legislative reforms and shape the future direction of federal healthcare programs and policies.

The details

The House Energy and Commerce Committee will hold two key health-related hearings this week. The Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee will question CMS officials about the agency's efforts to combat fraud, waste, and abuse in Medicare and Medicaid. The Health Subcommittee will continue its series on healthcare affordability, this time hearing from provider associations. Additionally, the House Appropriations Committee will conduct oversight of the National Institutes of Health, and the House Ways and Means Committee will discuss improving kidney health. The House may also vote on a bill to deport or bar individuals who committed fraud in federal programs like Medicare and Medicaid.

  • The House will return to session on Tuesday after severe weather delayed its return.
  • The Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee hearing on CMS's fraud prevention efforts will take place on Wednesday.
  • The Health Subcommittee hearing on healthcare affordability will be held on Thursday.
  • The House Appropriations Committee hearing with the NIH Director is scheduled for later this week.

The players

Kim Brandt

Deputy administrator and chief operating officer at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

Markwayne Mullin

Republican Senator from Oklahoma, nominated to be Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Bhattacharya

Director of the National Institutes of Health.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

What’s next

The House may vote on H.R. 1958, the Deporting Fraudsters Act of 2026, which would deport or bar individuals from admission to the United States if they committed fraud in federal programs like Medicare and Medicaid.

The takeaway

These hearings highlight the ongoing policy debates around healthcare costs, program integrity, and U.S. competitiveness in the pharmaceutical industry. The outcomes could lead to legislative reforms and shape the future direction of federal healthcare programs and policies.