Luke Zarzecki

Colorado, Washington, D.C., United States

FDA and Drug Pricing Reporter at Inside Health Policy

FDA & drug pricing reporter for @InHealthPolicy , formerly @ColoradoNewsCCM

Articles

Leaked HHS Budget Defunds ACL, Moves Some Programs To ACF

6 days ago | insidehealthpolicy.com | Luke Zarzecki

The Trump administration’s leaked HHS draft budget gives zero funding to the Administration for Community Living (ACL) but moves some of its programs to the Administration for Children and Families (ACF). The White House Office of Management and Budget’s feedback on HHS’ draft budget recommends ACF receive approximately $1.6 billion to administer programs previously housed in ACL.
WH Instructs HHS To Scrap ‘Ending The HIV Epidemic Initiative’ From Trump’s First Term

1 week ago | insidehealthpolicy.com | Luke Zarzecki

The Trump administration appears poised to ask Congress to eliminate the “Ending the HIV Epidemic Initiative” -- a program created by President Donald Trump’s first administration in 2019 -- as well as eliminating prevention and surveillance activities, and reducing funding for other HIV/AIDS programs.
Kennedy Wants To Revamp Vaccine Injury Surveillance System

1 week ago | insidehealthpolicy.com | Luke Zarzecki

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said on Tuesday (April 15) the agency plans to roll out a new vaccine injury surveillance system and make data from the mechanism available to scientists all over the world, potentially building on already established HHS surveillance efforts. At an Indiana Make America Health Again event, Kennedy said he wants to improve surveillance of vaccine injuries, collaborate on data sets and make data-sharing agreements with scientists all over the world.
White House Will Ask Congress To Cut PEPFAR By About 40%

1 week ago | insidehealthpolicy.com | Luke Zarzecki

The White House is looking to cut 40% of funding for the United States President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) program, according to internal budget documents detailing White House budget office input on the State Department’s draft budget request for fiscal 2026. The documents, reviewed by Inside Health Policy , call for $4.6 billion for global health, which is $5.4 billion -- or 54% -- less than fiscal 2025-enacted levels. The Trump administration is seeking to dismantle the U.S...
White House Wants To Cut Global Health Funding By Over 50%

1 week ago | insidehealthpolicy.com | Luke Zarzecki

The White House hopes Congress will eliminate funding for global health programs that include the global vaccine alliance GAVI, the Global Health Worker Initiative, Maternal Child Health and more, according to internal White House budget office feedback on the State Department’s draft fiscal 2026 budget request.
Drug Shortages Remain Steady, Down From 2024 All-Time High

1 week ago | insidehealthpolicy.com | Luke Zarzecki |Jessica Karins

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) found that the number of active drug shortages is at 270, essentially unchanged for the past three quarters but down from the first quarter of 2024 which was at an all-time high of 323. In a new report , ASHP says following delays stemming from Hurricane Helene, critical and life-saving fluids are still of concern. ASHP’s October 2024 report said there were significant shortages of IV fluids, irrigation fluids and peritoneal dialysis...
ICER Lays Out GLP-1 Access Options In Addition To Medicare Coverage

2 weeks ago | insidehealthpolicy.com | Luke Zarzecki

The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) published a white paper laying out several ways to make GLP-1 obesity medications more affordable, coming as CMS coverage was nixed by the Trump administration Friday (April 4). ICER’s Wednesday (April 9) paper lists formulary management, innovative payment arrangements, Medicare demonstrations, action by the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), and more.
No Nixed HIV Staff Returning To HHS

2 weeks ago | insidehealthpolicy.com | Luke Zarzecki

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy has said some personnel originally terminated from HHS will come back, but sources tell Inside Health Policy that there are no plans to bring back staff working on HIV/AIDS efforts, which an economist said could end up being penny wise and pound foolish. A source familiar with the situation told Inside Health Policy that half of the staff at the Global HIV and TB division at the Global Health Center within Centers for Disease Control...
Weight-Loss Drugs Under Consideration At USPSTF

2 weeks ago | insidehealthpolicy.com | Luke Zarzecki

As CMS decides not to move forward with a Biden administration proposed rule that would cover anti-obesity medications (AOMs), the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is developing a draft recommendation statement on whether weight-loss interventions, like Novo Nordisk’s semaglutide and Eli Lilly’s tirzepatide, affect health outcomes such as cardiovascular disease.
CMS Scraps Biden Plan To Cover Anti-Obesity Medications

2 weeks ago | insidehealthpolicy.com | Luke Zarzecki

The Trump administration will not move forward with a Biden administration proposal for CMS to cover anti-obesity medications. CMS excluded the language from the final contract year 2026 Medicare Part D rule out Friday (April 4).