Bulletin Board
Bulletin Board
Medicaid Expansion in Jeopardy?
The Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion resulted in 40 of the 50 states (and the District of Columbia) expanding their Medicaid programs because of the health reform law’s promise of additional federal funding to help pay for care for the expansion population. But now, with Congress and the new administration contemplating spending cuts that may include reductions in the federal financial commitment to Medicaid, a number of states may soon reverse those Medicaid expansions. Expansion repeal efforts are already underway in Idaho, Montana, and South Dakota. Nine states – Arizona, [...]
The Potential Impact of Medicaid Work Requirements
Many policymakers in Washington, D.C. are again talking about imposing work requirements on the Medicaid population. Limited work requirements were imposed during the late 2010s in some states, although many were overturned by the courts. But as policymakers consider such requirements again, a natural question is what kind of difference work requirements might make. According to recent data from the Kaiser Family Foundation, not as great a difference as many might suspect. According to a recent Kaiser Family Foundation analysis, In 2023, most Medicaid adults under age 65 were working [...]
Federal Health Policy Update for February 6
The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for January 31 – February 6. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. Introduction With the pause in external communication that the new administration imposed on HHS two weeks ago, including announcements, advisories, regular publications, and web site updates, there has been very little public communication from or activity involving HHS in the past week, including no new regulations or grant or meeting notices. While an HHS spokesperson explained that the moratorium has [...]
Hospitals End 2024 in Encouraging Financial Position
Hospitals finished 2024 in generally good financial condition, according to a new report. Hospital net revenue rose six percent in 2024 and outpatient revenue was up 10 percent, according to the report. With expenses rising but at a rate lower than inflation, hospitals ended 2024 with average operating margins of 7.6 percent – their highest rate for the year. At the same time, however, bad debt and charity care increased, most likely because of the contraction of Medicaid eligibility following the end of pandemic-related eligibility expansion and the continued trend [...]
Executive Order Seeks to Reduce Federal Regulations
A new executive order issued by the Trump administration calls for a significant reduction in federal regulations. Describing many current federal regulations as overly complex, burdensome, and obstacles to economic growth and innovation, the order directs that Unless prohibited by law, whenever an executive department or agency (agency) publicly proposes for notice and comment or otherwise promulgates a new regulation, it shall identify at least 10 existing regulations to be repealed. The executive order also states that For fiscal year 2025, which is in progress, the heads of all agencies [...]