HHS, CMS Form Advisory Committee to Guide Medicare, Medicaid Reform

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have announced the formation of an expert Healthcare Advisory Committee to provide strategic guidance on improving care financing and delivery across Medicare, Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program, and Affordable Care Act exchanges. The committee will advise HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, focusing on chronic disease prevention and management, reducing bureaucratic red tape, and advancing real-time data systems for faster claims processing and quality measurement. It will also explore improvements to Medicaid and the sustainability and modernization of Medicare Advantage programs. CMS is currently accepting nominations for experts in relevant fields, with selections expected later this year. This initiative aims to cut waste, reduce paperwork, expand preventive care, and enhance accountability while keeping patients central to reforms. The call for nominations is open for 30 days following its Federal Register publication.