Legislative Session Starts; MMA to Focus on 5 Major Issues
February 19, 2026
State lawmakers returned to St. Paul on February 17 for the second half of the 2025-2026 biennium.
HHS Continues to Work on Transition of Paxlovid to Commerical Market
October 19, 2023
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced on October 13 that HHS and Pfizer have reached an agreement that will transition Paxlovid, the COVID-19 therapeutic, to the commercial market.
Preparations for the transition will begin next month, but Paxlovid will remain available for ordering from HHS through December 15.
Individuals on Medicare and Medicaid will access free government-procured Paxlovid through a patient assistance program through the end of 2024. Individuals who are uninsured or underinsured will access free government-procured Paxlovid through a patient assistance program through the end of 2028.
Pfizer will operate a copay assistance program for those with private insurance through 2028. Pfizer has agreed to replenish any government-procured product that is about to expire with up-to-date product and has also agreed to provide HHS with a stockpile of 1 million treatment courses for future COVID-19 surges.
HHS is working on additional details, particularly about the patient assistance program. Pfizer has not yet announced cost details for Paxlovid, but there is media speculation that the cost will be several times the current government negotiated price of $530/course.
Latest News
MMA Leaders Testify on Medicaid Cuts
February 19, 2026
On the second day of the legislative session, MMA leadership was already advocating for one of its top priorities - minimizing the harm of federal changes to Medical Assistance (MA).
MMA Priority Bill on AI and Prior Auth Already Moving at the Capitol
February 19, 2026
Legislation to prohibit the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in prior authorization requirements was heard in the House Commerce Finance and Policy Committee on February 19.