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 [...]
Dispute Resolution Continues Despite Shutdown
The No Surprises Act’s Independent Dispute Resolution process continues during the federal government shutdown. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has issued a notice advising disputing parties to continue submitting disputes for resolutions but warns that a prolonged shutdown [...]
Federal Health Policy Update for October 3
The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for September 26 to October 3. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. Health Care During the Government Shutdown With the federal government [...]
Health Care During the Government Shutdown
With the federal government technically without spending authority now that FY 2026 has begun without an approved FY 2026 budget, the federal role in health care will change in some respects and be greatly reduced in others. The Department of [...]
Hospitals to Face More Readmissions Penalties in 2026
Hospital readmissions penalties will increase, as will the size of the typical penalty, in the coming year. Beginning in FY 2026, the proportion of hospitals that will be penalized at least one percent for excessive readmissions under the Centers for [...]
Why Urban Hospitals Close
A new GAO analysis explores why urban hospitals – most of them community safety-net hospitals – fail and close. According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office, urban hospitals generally close for one or a combination of five reasons: financial decline [...]
New Medicaid Work Requirement Could Slam Hospital Finances
The Medicaid work/community engagement requirement included in the “One Big Beautiful Bill” Act could cost hospitals millions of dollars – losses that could translate into potential declines of 11.7-13.3 percent in hospital operating margins, according to a Commonwealth Fund analysis [...]
MACPAC Meets
Members of the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission met recently in Washington, D.C. The following is MACPAC’s own summary of its two days of public meetings. MACPAC’s September 2025 meeting began with a summary of Public Law 119-21, [...]
Federal Health Policy Update for September 25
The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for September 19-25. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. Federal Funding for Fiscal Year 2026 Telehealth and Acute Hospital Care at Home [...]
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 [...]
