One Big Beautiful Bill Act

Applications Highlight Rural Health Targets

Chronic disease prevention. Greater access to mobile health services. Rural clinician recruitment. Improved emergency medical services. Technological advancements. These are among the priorities articulated by rural states in their applications for federal Rural Health Transformation Program funds according to a Stateline analysis of the materials submitted by ten states with large rural populations. All 50 states submitted applications for a piece of the $50 billion pool that was part of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” to help offset some of the massive Medicaid cuts that were a major part of that legislation. Applicants for the Rural Transformation Program money [...]

joe2025-11-12T11:42:39-05:00November 12, 2025|Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Medicaid|

Medicaid Work Rule May Hit Chronically Ill

The introduction of a work requirement for Medicaid eligibility may have the greatest impact on Medicaid beneficiaries with chronic illnesses. According to a new analysis of the approximately five million people who are likely to lose their Medicaid eligibility between now and 2034 because of the new work requirement introduced in the FY 2026 budget reconciliation bill (the “One Big Beautiful Act Bill,”) more than 85 percent have at least one chronic medical condition and more than 40 percent have at least three such conditions. The percentages rise, moreover, among current Medicaid beneficiaries over the age of 50. Some of [...]

joe2025-10-07T13:44:24-04:00October 8, 2025|Medicaid|

Looking at Potential Health Coverage Losses

Changes adopted in the FY 2026 budget reconciliation bill (“the One Big Beautiful Bill” Act) could result in a significant increase in the ranks of the uninsured across the country. According to an Urban Institute analysis supported by the Commonwealth Fund, if current expanded health insurance premium tax credits end with the beginning of the new federal fiscal year on October 1, 4.8 million more people would become uninsured, a 21 percent increase. 3 million fewer people across the U.S. would get subsidized marketplace coverage. Premiums would soar. For people earning less than 250 percent of poverty (about $39,000 for [...]

joe2025-09-18T16:37:45-04:00September 22, 2025|Affordable Care Act, deficit reduction|

Federal Health Policy Update for September 11

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for September 5-11. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. Congress With fewer than three weeks until the end of the federal fiscal year, congressional leaders are beginning to devise a strategy to avoid a federal government shutdown on October 1. Whatever strategy they ultimately adopt will certainly involve some form of continuing resolution (CR). Some conservatives in Congress would like to see a full-year CR that would keep funding at current levels and permit the President to cut spending via rescissions. Appropriators [...]

joe2025-09-11T16:41:56-04:00September 11, 2025|340b, Affordable Care Act, Congress, hospitals, Medicaid, Medicaid disproportionate share, Medicaid DSH, Medicaid DSH allotments, Medicare, Medicare regulations, Medicare reimbursement policy, Telehealth|

The Coming Medicaid Work Requirement

Among the many Medicaid-related aspects of the recently enacted FY 2026 budget reconciliation bill – the One Big Beautiful Bill Act – is a new requirement that much of the Medicaid population be employed or participate in some acceptable form of “community engagement.” But how will the work requirement work? How will it be implemented and enforced? KFF has taken an in-depth look at this matter, reporting on such issues as: What the new law requires. The timeline for the work requirement’s implementation. How much money the states and the federal government stand to save by ending Medicaid How many [...]

joe2025-08-05T17:24:07-04:00August 6, 2025|Congress, Medicaid|