Five months before the 2018 midterm elections, California Republicans see their opponents’ embrace of exploring single-payer healthcare as an opportunity.

On Monday, June 11, CMS released guidance for states to leverage Medicaid in fighting opioid abuse and misuse—with the document making specific mention of efforts to reduce negative impact in infants and outlining potential benefits of health information technology.

Private equity firm KKR & Co. announced its plan to buy Envision Healthcare for $5.57 billion and debt. The all-cash transaction will value Envision at $9.9 billion, according to Bloomberg.

Stryker approached Boston Scientific with a takeover bid on Monday, June 11, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Nancy Pelosi didn’t endorse any single-payer proposals as other Democrats have in the Senate, though she did reiterate her support for a government-run insurance option.

Attorney General Sessions doesn’t go as far as arguing the entire law would be invalid, but the provisions he deemed “inseverable” from the mandate include some of the ACA’s key protections, like not allowing insurers to charge more or deny coverage based on a consumer’s pre-existing conditions.

The rapid expansion of UnitedHealth Group’s Optum division into patient care has continued, with Moody’s Investors Service identifying it as one of the acquiring firms of a physician staffing firm in Tacoma, Washington.

A rumored White House Office of Management and Budget plan would move more of the federal government’s safety net programs, like food stamps, into HHS.