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Health insurance premiums in New Mexico could rise up to 30%

New Mexico expects health insurance premiums to rise by up to 30% and says 89,000 Medicaid recipients could lose coverage under new rules.

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Sep 3 • 11:06 PM EDT • Health • kob.com
‘I didn’t get into healthcare to watch it disappear’: Tensions boil over Eastern Oregon hospital cutbacks

With steep Medicaid cuts coming, austerity measures are already well underway at Blue Mountain Health District.

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Sep 3 • 7:43 PM EDT • Health • opb.org
Ferguson moves to prepare WA for looming Medicaid changes

Gov. Bob Ferguson signed an executive order Thursday aimed at helping thousands of Washington patients who could soon lose Medicaid coverage.

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Sep 3 • 7:00 PM EDT • Health • seattletimes.com
Over 250,000 Oklahomans received a letter about new Medicaid work requirements. What does it say?

The yellow letters were mailed to Oklahomans with coverage under the state’s voter-approved Medicaid eligibility expansion, which includes adults making up to 138% of the federal poverty level, or $22,025.

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Sep 3 • 6:17 PM EDT • Health • kgou.org
Arizonans bracing for more Medicaid coverage changes

Arizona’s Medicaid system, already facing declining enrollment, is bracing for impacts from H.R. 1.

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Sep 3 • 6:04 PM EDT • Health • azcapitoltimes.com
Gov. Bob Ferguson targets H.R. 1 fallout for Apple Health Medicaid in executive order

Gov. Bob Ferguson signed an executive order Thursday aimed at reducing the effects of H.R. 1, a federal law he said cuts health care and food assistance.

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Sep 3 • 5:02 PM EDT • Health • komonews.com
Democrats eye expanded Medicare coverage if they take U.S. House

Reversing Medicaid cuts and restoring ACA subsidies top the list, but Democrats are also talking about lowering the age of eligibility for Medicare benefits.

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Sep 3 • 4:22 PM EDT • Business • washingtonpost.com
Democrats eye expanded Medicare coverage if they take U.S. House

Reversing Medicaid cuts and restoring ACA subsidies top the list, but Democrats are also talking about lowering the age of eligibility for Medicare benefits.

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Sep 3 • 4:22 PM EDT • Health • washingtonpost.com
‘Open your mail’: Pennsylvania begins notifying over 700,000 Medicaid enrollees about work requirements

In Philadelphia, city officials have plans to increase awareness and support services for residents who will be affected by the Medicaid changes.

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Sep 3 • 6:00 AM EDT • Health • whyy.org
Childhood cancer patients and families target of new Ohio Department of Health program

By extending its existing Complex Medical Help Program, the Ohio Department of Health will add new staff to connect families with resources, from Medicaid coverage to doctors to clinical trials.

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Sep 2 • 10:37 PM EDT • Health • statenews.org
Medicaid changes to restrict Husky Health eligibility for non-citizens based on immigration status

HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — New federal rules will restrict Medicaid eligibility for certain Connecticut residents who are not United States citizens starting Oct. 1. The Connecticut Department of Soc…

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Sep 2 • 7:31 PM EDT • Health • wtnh.com
Gov. Greg Abbott doubles down on rare fight for Medicaid

Abbott’s spokesman reiterated that Texas is not doing anything wrong that would disqualify hospitals from receiving nearly $10 billion in Medicaid funding annually.

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Sep 2 • 3:19 PM EDT • Health • texastribune.org
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D.C. area nurses join nationwide protests over sharing of health data with Palantir

Registered nurses in D.C. and other cities nationwide protested the company Palantir last week, arguing the firm's technology is helping ICE track down immigrants using Medicaid records. Court filings show ICE shared Medicaid data with Palantir even after a federal judge limited what information could be passed to immigration officials.

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Sep 2 • 1:11 PM EDT • Health • wamu.org
How Medicaid Accountable Care Organizations Advance Maternal Health Care Quality: Drivers of Change and Challenges From the Perspective of ACO Leaders, Clinicians, and Care Coordinators

In the wake of a US maternal health crisis, Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) may be a key opportunity to improve maternal health care.

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Sep 2 • 10:10 AM EDT • Health • milbank.org
Millions Will Lose Medicaid Because They Aren't Able To Get Enough Work Hours, Study Predicts

By Dennis Thompson HealthDay ReporterWEDNESDAY, Sept. 2, 2026 (HealthDay News) — About 1 in every 5 eligible adults in Medicaid expansion states might lose their benefits due to new work requirements that take effect in 2027, a new study says. These folks likely will be unable to fulfill the minimum ...

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Sep 2 • 6:30 AM EDT • Health • usnews.com
Indigenous Groups Are Exempt From Medicaid Work Rules, But Native Hawaiians Aren’t

Native Hawaiians will have to comply with the new work requirements in President Donald Trump’s signature One Big Beautiful Bill Act, despite facing significant obstacles to employment and healthcare.

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Sep 2 • 6:01 AM EDT • Health • civilbeat.org
Healthcare tops the Democrats’ to-do list if they win control of the House in 2026

Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said his party would unify around undoing Trump’s Medicaid cuts and reviving ACA funds that the GOP ended. Some Democrats want to go bigger.

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Sep 2 • 5:00 AM EDT • Politics • nbcnews.com
High-Signal Publisher
Osborn, Ricketts spar on health care, immigration, beef imports at Nebraska State Fair

Candidates questioned on Medicaid, ICE funding and foreign beef imports.

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Sep 1 • 10:35 PM EDT • Health • ksnblocal4.com
Augusta Health CFO Joe Meador Appointed by Governor Spanberger to Virginia Board of Medical Assistance Services

Gubernatorial appointment places Augusta Health executive on the state board overseeing Medicaid coverage for more than 1.7 million Virginians FISHERSVILLE, VIRGINIA — Augusta Health today announced that Joe Meador, CPA, FACHE, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, has been appointed by Governor Abigail Spanberger to the Virginia Board of Medical Assistance Services (BMAS), the […]

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Sep 1 • 9:27 AM EDT • Health • augustahealth.com
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Texas hospitals to lose $27 million in Medicaid funding daily

Starting Sept. 1, the Trump administration will withhold about $9.8 billion in extra annual funding that helps hospitals cover the difference between Medicaid payments and the actual cost of services.

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Aug 31 • 7:34 PM EDT • Health • texastribune.org
Florida grand jury finds DeSantis administration misused $10 million, but no charges have been filed

Despite the lack of charges, the report ignited a new round of criticism aimed at Gov. Ron DeSantis and other top state Republicans over the charity receiving $10 million from a state Medicaid settlement intended to help poor children get health insurance.

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Aug 31 • 1:15 PM EDT • Politics • pbs.org
GLP-1 drugs are almost single-handedly forcing employers to reconsider workers' health care

Another hospital system sues CVS Health, how Medicaid cuts will change everything, and more

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Aug 31 • 11:27 AM EDT • Health • statnews.com
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New Mexico Health Care Authority hosts news conference for Medicaid changes

Federal changes are coming to programs like Medicaid and SNAP in 2026 and 2027. The New Mexico Health Care Authority is hosting a virtual conference to help explain the changes

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Aug 31 • 7:21 AM EDT • Health • koat.com
Federal grant cuts hit Colorado studies to make healthcare more efficient

Dr. Lisa DeCamp thought she might have a win-win idea that would improve health for kids with asthma while saving Medicaid money. She may never know if it would have worked after the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality ended her…

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Aug 31 • 6:00 AM EDT • Health • denverpost.com
Proposed Medicaid Cuts Could Cost Maternal and Children’s Health Care Billions

An estimated $19.7 billion in Texas health care funding is at stake under proposed changes to Medicaid payments. The proposed rules from the Centers for

dailyyonder.com logo
Aug 31 • 6:00 AM EDT • Health • dailyyonder.com
Louisiana takes a step toward adopting Medicaid work requirements

Louisiana’s proposed work requirements for Medicaid enrollment largely adhere to the new guidelines Congress and President Donald Trump laid out last year. The new state regulations are expected to go into effect for Medicaid recipients in January.

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Aug 31 • 5:00 AM EDT • Health • lailluminator.com
How Guthrie plans to help PA Medicaid patients

The health system is expanding its volunteer program to keep patients insured when the Trump administration’s stricter Medicaid rules go into effect.

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Aug 31 • 4:00 AM EDT • Health • spotlightpa.org
Study: Rural, dual-eligible patients less likely to receive timely home health rehab

Medicare patients who were rural and dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid were less likely to receive home health rehabilitation services within 48 hours of discharge from the hospital, according to an August study published in the Journal of the American Medical Directors Association.

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Aug 31 • 12:37 AM EDT • Health • mcknightshomecare.com
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Susan Collins and Democrats are fighting a TV ad war over her votes on Trump’s Medicaid cuts

As Democrats spend money to highlight her vote to procedurally advance the “big, beautiful bill,” Collins is running her own ads noting that she ultimately voted against the measure.

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Aug 29 • 5:00 AM EDT • Politics • nbcnews.com
High-Signal Publisher
Kiggans, CMS Administrator Oz Discuss Healthcare Affordability, Access in Coastal Virginia

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA — Today, Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (VA-02) welcomed Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz...

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Aug 28 • 3:57 PM EDT • Health • kiggans.house.gov
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Healthcare Freefall: AI arms race hits rural healthcare as hospitals fight to keep up

Editor’s Note: Colorado’s healthcare system is entering a period of accelerating instability — a “tsunami,” as multiple leaders describe it — driven by collapsing hospital finances, shrinking Medicaid reimbursements, disappearing services and a political fight over who is responsible for this unraveling. Healthcare Freefall is a multipart series examining how Colorado arrived at this moment, […]

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Aug 28 • 2:14 PM EDT • Politics • coloradopolitics.com
Nearly 1 in 5 Medicaid-eligible Adults in Expansion States Are At Risk of Losing Health Coverage Due to Insufficient or Inconsistent Work Hours

A new study found that nearly 20 percent of eligible adults in Medicaid expansion states are in danger of not meeting the minimum work hours that will be required nationwide beginning January 1. Women, unmarried people, White individuals, and those with limited education all had a higher risk of losing their health coverage due to noncompliance with these new requirements.

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Aug 28 • 1:03 PM EDT • Health • bu.edu
AHA recommends changes to home health payments, provider enrollment provisions in CY 2027 proposed rule

The AHA provided comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Aug. 28 on its calendar year 2027 home health prospective payment system proposed rule, focusing on two specific concerns.

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Aug 28 • 10:24 AM EDT • Health • aha.org
Hospitals are plotting a long-shot push to roll back $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts

Inside health systems' efforts to mitigate massive funding cuts.

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Aug 27 • 4:30 AM EDT • Health • statnews.com
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Grand jury: DeSantis admin misappropriated $10M Medicaid settlement to fund politics

PENSACOLA, Fla. -- A state grand jury says the DeSantis administration misappropriated $10 million from a Medicaid settlement into the Hope Florida Foundation i

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Aug 26 • 9:27 PM EDT • Politics • weartv.com
Rural health grants aimed at offsetting Medicaid cuts go to 80 unique institutions

According to a brief from KFF, the fund could offset 37% of the estimated federal Medicaid spending cuts in rural areas.

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Aug 26 • 6:01 AM EDT • Health • alabamareflector.com
Suspended Columbus home health provider disputes patient, investigation claims

A home health care provider facing a Medicaid fraud investigation has provided ABC6 Investigates proof of its Ohio business registration and is disputing a pati

abc6onyourside.com logo
Aug 25 • 5:09 PM EDT • Health • abc6onyourside.com
New Mexico to continue funding gender-affirming care for minors after federal cuts

Trump administration finalized rule to end Medicaid support for care including hormones and speech therapy

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Aug 24 • 8:00 AM EDT • Health • theguardian.com
Healthcare costs, Medicaid cuts draw increased scrutiny from NC Democrats ahead of midterms

Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, North Carolina is expected to lose nearly $50 billion over the next 10 years, according to analysis by the NC Department of Health and Human Services. Democrats say families will be hard hit by the looming cuts.

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Aug 24 • 6:05 AM EDT • Health • ncnewsline.com
NH's Business: Medicaid enrollment across New Hampshire

Fred Kocher sits down with Jessica Williams with the NH Fiscal Policy Institute to talk about the changes we could see to Medicaid within the Granite State in the coming years.

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Aug 23 • 8:57 AM EDT • Business • wmur.com
New Medicaid rules could hit 600,000 Oregonians. Many may not know it

Oregon is racing to notify OHP members about new federal eligibility rules that could leave up to 200,000 people without coverage.

oregonlive.com logo
Aug 23 • 8:00 AM EDT • Health • oregonlive.com
41,000 HUSKY Health members impacted in second security incident this year, DSS says

For the second time this year, the Connecticut Department of Social Services is notifying HUSKY Health members about a security incident involving a Medicaid provider portal. The latest incident affects approximately 41,000 HUSKY Health members after an unauthorized person accessed certain claims and payment information through a provider’s account. The last incident happened in March, and an unauthorized user gained…

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Aug 21 • 5:32 PM EDT • Health • nbcconnecticut.com
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Five group homes. Two scandals. Health Department program under microscope

The Health Department revoked the licenses for group homes owned and managed by Sekou Dukuly, the executive director of the National Port Authority of Liberia, as well as those connected to Andrea Sampson, a former Anoka County Attorney who prosecutors say used some of her properties to traffic women before converting them into group homes and billing Medicaid.

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Aug 21 • 4:06 PM EDT • Health • mprnews.org
Business groups sue to block NJ law fining big employers for workers on Medicaid

Business groups want a judge to void a new statute they say forces employers to ask workers their health status in violation of privacy laws.

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Aug 21 • 7:54 AM EDT • Business • newjerseymonitor.com
Maine health department to review Medicaid oversight after Republican push

The Maine Department of Health and Human Services initiated rulemaking following a push for stricter oversight of the MaineCare program.

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Aug 21 • 5:03 AM EDT • Health • mainemorningstar.com
Report: Health care premiums doubled for 200,000 Washingtonians after Trump cuts

More than 200,000 Washingtonians have seen their health insurance premiums double after Republicans declined to extend enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax

komonews.com logo
Aug 20 • 4:29 PM EDT • Health • komonews.com
Cityblock acquires Homeward Health to move into rural healthcare, lands $116M funding round

Cityblock Health, a company primarily focused on providing care for urban Medicaid and dual-eligible members, is acquiring Homeward Health to expand deep into rural markets, the company announced T | Combined, the two companies will serve nearly 250,000 people and are positioned to reach the120 million people receiving government-funded healthcare in the U.S., Toyin Ajayi, Cityblock Health CEO and co-founder wrote in a blog post.

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Aug 20 • 2:15 PM EDT • Health • fiercehealthcare.com
Medicaid Psychotherapy Spending Up 156%

This is an exclusive BHB+ article Medicaid spending on core psychotherapy services has more than doubled from 2018 to 2024, according to Behavioral Health

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Aug 19 • 3:46 PM EDT • Business • bhbusiness.com
CT providers work to curb HUSKY losses from ‘Big Beautiful’ bill

Federal changes to Medicaid eligibility take effect in January, and 110K CT residents could lose HUSKY. Hospitals and clinics are preparing.

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Aug 19 • 1:26 PM EDT • Health • ctmirror.org
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Webinar: Medicaid Connections: Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs: Health & Justice

Download the Audio Transcript One in five children under age 18 have special health care needs, representing 15 million children from birth to 21. Children with special health care needs (CSHCN) include those who have chronic physical, developmental, or behavioral health needs that require services of a type or amount beyond that required by children […]

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Aug 19 • 9:23 AM EDT • Health • ccf.georgetown.edu
New National Poll Indicates High Health Care Costs and Hospital Prices Are Top Voter Concerns

A July 2026 survey of 1,000 registered voters found that voters on both sides of the aisle are opposed to federal Medicaid cuts.

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Aug 19 • 8:00 AM EDT • Health • familiesusa.org
High Health Care Costs, Unreasonable Hospital Prices Top Voter Concerns in New National Poll as Midterm Elections Inch Closer

Key findings include overwhelming concern about health care costs; strong opposition to Medicaid cuts; strong bipartisan concern with hospital prices; and deep skepticism about the Administration’s arguments on coverage losses. WASHINGTON, D.C. – A national poll released by Families USA shows that high health care costs, including unreasonably high hospital prices, are top of mind […]

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Aug 19 • 8:00 AM EDT • Health • familiesusa.org
Advocates say Tiffany’s vote for 2025 Medicaid cuts bodes ill for healthcare

Healthcare advocates say they don't approve of Tom Tiffany's vote for the 2025 tax cut bill that cut Medicaid and other benefit programs.

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Aug 19 • 4:30 AM EDT • Health • wisconsinexaminer.com
ASPE Report on WFTCL Impacts on Health Care Costs

The report analyzes state directed payments and provider tax provisions on Medicaid, Medicare, and commercial coverage spending.

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Aug 18 • 3:53 PM EDT • Health • essentialhospitals.org
Sen. Durbin Highlights Medicaid Cuts, Small Business Struggles

Sen. Durbin addresses Illinois healthcare costs and small business struggles during state tour. See his stance on Medicaid cuts and economic pressures.

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Aug 18 • 1:53 PM EDT • Business • legis1.com
CMS announces QualTech event focusing on innovative technology to improve health outcomes

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services yesterday announced the launch of QualTech, a new event created to identify innovative technology that improves health outcomes. CMS is seeking participants from U.S-based teams, academic institutions, nonprofit organizations, private sector companies, industry associations and other stakeholders to propose technology solutions in advance of the event.

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Aug 18 • 11:00 AM EDT • Health • aha.org
Government workers feel the squeeze on health care

Municipalities are struggling with the cost of health insurance for their workers, and states are facing a major decision on Medicaid drug coverage.

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Aug 18 • 10:36 AM EDT • Health • statnews.com
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Arkansas officials confident people on Medicaid expansion will retain health coverage

The Department of Human Services is "considering everything but ending the program," Secretary Janet Mann said.

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Aug 17 • 4:11 PM EDT • Health • arkansasadvocate.com
New Hampshire's Medicaid-Public Health Partnership

Explore New Hampshire’s Medicaid-public health partnership and its impact on the state’s population, gathering key takeaways for success in your own state.

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Aug 17 • 12:00 PM EDT • Health • astho.org
Pennsylvania Highlights Housing Investments to Improve Health

Pennsylvania officials have committed $1 million in state funding to connect vulnerable Medicaid recipients with housing and health services. | State funding will bring housing support for Medicaid recipients with chronic health conditions.

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Aug 17 • 11:50 AM EDT • Health • housingfinance.com
As Trump blocks Medicaid funds, one trans teen's mom asks: What's next?

A longtime Republican living in California says the Trump administration's continuing actions to target transgender youth take a personal toll.

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Aug 16 • 7:54 AM EDT • Health • npr.org
High-Signal Publisher
Trump Team’s Use of Arcane Budget Rule Threatens Medicaid Coverage

The decision by federal officials, citing authority granted under President Donald Trump’s signature tax-and-spending law, suggests the GOP-led state’s predicament could foretell other repercussions in how states are allowed to run the program under federal waivers.

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Aug 16 • 7:09 AM EDT • Health • arkansasadvocate.com
Where healthcare could sway voters, Democratic canvassers ramp up an old tactic: talking to people

In Wisconsin, voters weigh candidates who backed cuts to Medicare and Medicaid, and those who want to expand it

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Aug 15 • 6:00 AM EDT • Health • theguardian.com
Trump Team’s Use of Arcane Budget Rule Threatens Medicaid Coverage

Coverage for hundreds of thousands of Arkansas Medicaid enrollees next year is in question after the Trump administration refused to renew a key state waiver. The state might not be the last to have to adjust to an arcane rule change under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

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Aug 14 • 5:00 AM EDT • Health • kffhealthnews.org
Luján, hospital leaders talk Medicaid 'headwinds' and rural health gaps at Rio Rancho roundtable

U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján, a Democrat from New Mexico, told hospital administrators at Presbyterian Rust Medical Center that Republican-backed federal Medicaid cuts won’t just hurt New Mexicans enrolled in the program — they’ll raise care and insurance costs for everyone else, too. Presbyterian Delivery System President Chad Aduddell told Luján the nonprofit system — […]

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Aug 13 • 4:54 PM EDT • Health • nmpoliticalreport.com
Trump administration finalizes rule to end federal support for gender-affirming care

Move blocking funds through Medicaid and Chip to make it harder for vulnerable children to get healthcare, experts say

theguardian.com logo
Aug 13 • 7:00 AM EDT • Health • theguardian.com
NV lawmakers mull maternal health protections for '27 session, punt on child welfare funding fix

Nevada state lawmakers are considering a wide-range of health-related policies in the next year’s legislative session that includes implementing a slate of maternal health protections in a “momnibus” bill, bolstering efforts to investigate Medicaid insurance fraud, and reducing reporting requirements for state health agencies. Also at Tuesday’s interim Health and Human Services committee meeting, discussion […]

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Aug 12 • 8:00 AM EDT • Health • nevadacurrent.com
An Overview of State-Directed Payments and Medicaid Provider Taxes: History and Potential Effects of the Working Families and Tax Cut Legislation on Health Care Costs

Health care provider taxes and state-directed payment policies in the Working Families and Tax Cut legislation are expected to reduce non-Medicaid prices by up to 3.5 percent in markets with provider taxes and reduce spending on Medicaid, commercial and Medicare coverage. Our spending estimates indicate that there will be an additional $29 billion in federal savings on Medicare and commercial coverage for each $100 billion that federal Medicaid spending is reduced.KEY POINTS

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Aug 12 • 8:00 AM EDT • Health • aspe.hhs.gov
Hospitals Say They Found a Tool To Help Reduce Childbirth Risks: Wristbands

North Carolina and other states have embraced “I Gave Birth” wristbands as a way to encourage women to seek help when they have postpartum complications. They’re gaining steam as the Trump administration’s cuts to Medicaid threaten postpartum care.

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Aug 12 • 5:00 AM EDT • Health • kffhealthnews.org
Trump administration bans the use of federal Medicaid funds to cover gender identity healthcare

The Trump administration finalized a rule that will bar Medicaid from covering gender identity healthcare for children.

komu.com logo
Aug 11 • 7:43 PM EDT • Health • komu.com
Trump officials tout Medicaid financing changes ahead of midterms

Republican-sponsored changes in Medicaid will lower hospital prices and Americans’ health insurance premiums, the White House contends in a new report.

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Aug 11 • 6:53 PM EDT • Politics • washingtonpost.com
Trump administration finalizes rule restricting trans healthcare for minors on Medicaid

The Trump administration on Tuesday released a final rule blocking the use of federal Medicaid dollars for transgender healthcare for minors, as well as barring Children’s Health Insurance Program …

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Aug 11 • 6:07 PM EDT • Health • thehill.com
AHA resource: Economic Impact of Disparities in Health Outcomes

The AHA Aug. 11 released a new resource guide designed to address a critical gap by helping leaders understand and quantify the economic burden of disparities of health outcomes. The guide provides practical methods to identify and assess the financial impact of health disparities, along with data-driven approaches to implement interventions that both improve outcomes and reduce costs. READ MORE

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Aug 11 • 11:29 AM EDT • Health • aha.org
The U.S. Healthcare System is Already Mostly Socialized

Now that Abdul El-Sayed is the Democratic nominee for Michigan’s open Senate seat, the outcome of this crucial race will depend mainly on two things: Whether Republicans succeed in demonizing El-Sayed because he’s brown and a Muslim, and whether they succeed in demonizing him as a left-wing radical. I will defer for the now the question of whether bigotry will be effective this year, although I will address it another day. What I want to address instead is El-Sayed’s signature issue — healthcare. Yes, El-Sayed advocates Medicare for All, a position the usual suspects denounce as “socialism.” I will get to the politics of his stance soon. Today, however, I want to talk about the substance. We should be clear that El-Sayed doesn’t even call himself a socialist. On the contrary, he explicitly disavows the label, saying “I’m a capitalist who just knows about capitalism”. In fact, as I explained in a previous post, the policies that El-Sayed advocates qualify him as a social democrat, not a socialist. Still, El-Sayed advocates a system under which the government would pay almost all medical expenses. Isn’t that socialism? Well, if that is the criterion then much of U.S. healthcare is already socialist. In fact, the government’s role is so large that U.S. healthcare is better described as partially privatized socialism than as anything resembling a free market. Let’s start with the raw numbers on health insurance, which pays the bulk of Americans’ medical expenses. Americans receive health insurance either from private companies or from public programs, overwhelmingly Medicare and Medicaid. Here’s what the breakdown of coverage and spending between private and public looked like in 2024: While a majority of Americans with health insurance get it from private companies, well over 100 million of us are covered by government programs instead. And these government programs pay more total dollars for medical bills than the private insurers do. Why do government programs that cover a minority of the population account for a majority of health insurers’ outlays? Mainly because Medicare covers seniors, and we’re expensive. Also, while Medicaid covers many younger Americans, disabled and elderly beneficiaries account for most of its spending. Even by the raw numbers, then, U.S. health insurance looks as much public as private. But that understates the government’s role: Private health insurance in the U.S. is both highly regulated and heavily subsidized. This is obviously true for the insurance coverage purchased by tens of millions of Americans through the exchanges established by the Affordable Care Act. But employment-based health insurance, which covers 161 million Americans, is far more of a government creation than most people realize. For employment-based insurance exists largely because of huge implicit government subsidies that come with major strings attached. Here’s how that works. If your employer pays you $10,000, that’s taxable income. But if your employer pays $10,000 toward a company health insurance plan that meets certain criteria, it isn’t taxable. That’s a huge effective subsidy, running at more than $300 billion a year. Take that subsidy into account, along with the more than $100 billion per year spent subsidizing policies purchased under the ACA, as well as the outlays on Medicare and Medicaid, and net effect is that the government pays for more than two-thirds of Americans’ health insurance. Granted, there are strings attached. Roughly speaking, employment-based health plans can’t discriminate based on medical history — that is, they can’t deny coverage to employees with pre-existing conditions — and they also can’t offer the plans only to highly compensated employees — a health plan that is only for the C-suite is considered taxable income. So given the restrictions of the federal tax code, employer-based health insurance is a lot like Obamacare, which also prohibits discrimination based on medical history and provides subsidies to make insurance affordable to lower-paid workers. The fact is that virtually all of private healthcare insurance is already well under some form of government control through regulation and tax subsidies. How should we think about this system? First of all, is Medicare socialist? Don’t tell anyone, but the way Medicare operates — it covers every senior’s medical expenses, whatever they turn out to be, while being funded by taxes that depend on one’s income — could be summarized by the old Marxist slogan “From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.” And back in 1961, when Ronald Reagan was the face of a last-ditch effort by the American Medical Association to block the creation of Medicare, he denounced Medicare as “socialized medicine” and warned that it would destroy our freedom. In reality, American freedom survived until Jan. 20, 2025, while Medicare is immensely popular, with an 82 percent favorable rating in the most recent KFF survey. Medicaid, government health insurance for lower-income Americans, comes in at 73 percent. This is in sharp contrast to public views about private insurers, who are widely disliked if not hated and accused of denying essential care. Furthermore, if Medicare is socialism, then the whole U.S. health insurance system, with the government paying most of the bills and placing conditions on private insurers, is almost equally socialist. If you insist on calling any program the government pays for and regulates socialist, then U.S. healthcare would best be described as a partially privatized form of socialism. And one must ask, what is the point of the part that is privatized? Do private insurers add anything positive? Or are they simply parasites, skimming off money that could have been paying for care? The case for viewing insurers as parasites is strong. Many Medicare benefits are now delivered via Medicare Advantage, that is, plans paid for by the government but run through insurance companies. MedPAC, an independent advisory commission, estimates that last year Medicare Advantage plans were overpaid by $84 billion, thanks to practices such as “upcoding,” in which patients’ health problems are overstated to get larger sums from Medicare. Assessing the waste from employer-based insurance is harder, but most evidence suggests that private insurers have substantially higher administrative costs than Medicare does. Furthermore, the complexity of private insurance, with multiple payers all trying to deny care when they can, is a huge burden both on providers — doctors, nurses, and hospitals — and on patients. What do private insurers offer to compensate for these costs? One must go through intellectual contortions to avoid the conclusion that they are, in fact, parasites. Which brings me back to El-Sayed. In supporting Medicare for All, he’s basically calling for an end to the partial, parasitic privatization of a healthcare system that is already hugely dependent on public funding. When one looks at it that way, it’s not at all a radical proposal. Admittedly, the political lift requires overcoming the opposition to higher taxes to pay for Medicare for All. Political realism rather than economics was the reason I and many other progressives supported Obamacare, with all its complexities, rather than demanding an immediate move to Medicare for All. But the political calculus may very well have shifted since the 2000s, as Americans are fed up with a system of unaffordable premiums, rampant claim denials, and byzantine claim administration. Moreover, funding healthcare insurance through taxation would allow for a much more progressive distribution of the cost. That is, compared to the present system, middle-income households would pay less as high-income households would pay more. And the U.S. would stop wasting large sums on pointless administrative costs. So let’s be clear: El-Sayed’s healthcare platform is perfectly reasonable on the merits of cost, fairness and health efficacy. And with private insurers never more hated, while millions of Americans are losing their health insurance, 2026 may be its time. MUSICAL CODA

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Aug 11 • 6:33 AM EDT • Health • paulkrugman.substack.com
March of Dimes report highlights Arkansas’ gaps in maternity care

Upcoming Medicaid cuts “could lead to additional labor and delivery unit closures and put entire rural hospitals at risk,” according to Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families.

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Aug 11 • 6:00 AM EDT • Health • arkansasadvocate.com
Dr. Ramon Tallaj reflects on the family doctor, faith, and health equity

Dr. Ramon Tallaj is chairman of the board and founder of SOMOS Community Care. “SOMOS,” which means “we are” in Spanish, is a physician-led network of 2,600 healthcare providers serving over 850,000 Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries in New York City’s immigrant communities. Tallaj reflects on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of the family doctor, and how faith has played a large role in his life and work.

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Aug 10 • 8:00 PM EDT • Health • oikoumene.org
Cook County Health CEO on Medicaid Cuts, $100M Increase in Charity Care
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Aug 10 • 7:56 PM EDT • Health • news.wttw.com
Some disabled people want to advance their careers. They say Medicaid rules stop them

Medicaid will have new work requirements next year. But some people with disabilities, who already work, say they'd like to work more, but risk losing their Medicaid coverage if they earn too much.

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Aug 10 • 7:00 AM EDT • Health • npr.org
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Wisconsin health providers worry new Medicaid work requirement hurts doctor-patient relationship

The new rule, which was included in Republicans' "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" last year, provides exemptions for a number of groups, including people who are pregnant, have children under age 19 who live with them and people with a recognized disability.

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Aug 10 • 6:00 AM EDT • Health • wpr.org
With Medicaid cuts ahead, Louisiana’s rural health providers battle over payments

As the pool of Medicaid patients shrinks and Medicaid funding runs up against new limits, independently owned health clinics will receive a much larger share of what’s available once their new reimbursement rates go into place.

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Aug 10 • 5:00 AM EDT • Health • lailluminator.com
How should states reach out to Medicaid enrollees affected by changes? Our research gives a hint

Experts ask: How can we better reach out to people facing Medicaid renewal deadlines and support them through the paperwork requirements?

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Aug 10 • 4:30 AM EDT • Health • statnews.com
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KFF HEALTH NEWS: Medicaid Work Rule Leaves Homeless People in the Cold

By Katheryn Houghton KFF Health News August 6, 2026 MISSOULA, Mont. — Tywon Pugh has seizures that make it hard to find and keep a job. “They called me a ‘liability to the job site,’” Pugh said, recalling the words of his manager when a seizure cost him his last job at a fast-food restaurant

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Aug 9 • 11:59 PM EDT • Health • indianacitizen.org
Medicaid Cuts Could Kill Safety-Net Health Centers

Federally qualified health centers are an essential source of medical care for poor and working-class Americans, especially in rural areas and neighborhoods of color. Medicaid cuts in Donald Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill could shut them down.

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Aug 9 • 8:00 AM EDT • Health • jacobin.com
Concerns raised after officials reject renewal of waiver authorizing Arkansas’ ‘private option’ for health insurance

Federal officials' decision to reject Arkansas' request to renew a waiver authorizing the state's Medicaid expansion program has raised concerns among officials and experts about what will come next for the state's healthcare system and the program's more than 200,000 enrollees.

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Aug 8 • 11:00 PM EDT • Health • arkansasonline.com
Fact-Checking 3 Competitive Senate Races in Maine, Michigan and Ohio

Republican attacks have focused on terrorism and illegal immigration, while Democrats have sought to capitalize on the unpopularity of President Trump’s cuts to Medicaid.

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Aug 8 • 5:02 AM EDT • Politics • nytimes.com
Commentary: AI Could Help to Implement Health Policy

Artificial intelligence may enhance implementation of a new federal rule requiring aduts enrolled under the Affordable Care Act expansion of Medicaid eligibility to complete qualifying work hours or community engagement activities or meet exemption criteria to maintain coverage, according to a new commentary.

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Aug 7 • 11:12 AM EDT • Health • news.weill.cornell.edu
Medicaid cuts stand to hit everyone (yes, even you). Here’s why

Even privately insured Californians could see longer ER waits and rising premiums as hospitals absorb Medi-Cal cuts.

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Aug 7 • 8:00 AM EDT • Health • calmatters.org
Costa Welcomes House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar to Central Valley Health Care Roundtable

FRESNO, Calif. - This week, during Affordable Healthcare for Every American Week of Action, Congressman Jim Costa (CA-21) welcomed Congressman Pete Aguilar (CA-33), Chair of the House Democratic Caucus, to the Central Valley for a roundtable hosted by Community Health System to hear directly from local hospitals and health care leaders focused on the federal funding reductions under H.R.1, including changes to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, as well as the Administration's decision to withhold approximately $867.5 million in federal Medicaid funding from Califor

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Aug 6 • 2:11 PM EDT • Health • costa.house.gov
Rural Health Transformation Program Reporting

August 5, 2026 Mehmet Oz, AdministratorCenters for Medicare & Medicaid ServicesDepartment of Health and Human ServicesAttention: CMS-10949P.O. Box 8010Baltimore, MD 21244-8010 RE: Rural Health Transformation Program Reporting Dear Administrator Oz: The Bipartisan Policy Center appreciates the opportunity to comment on CMS’s proposed Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) reporting requirements (file code CMS-10949). The work the … Continued

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Aug 6 • 9:39 AM EDT • Health • bipartisanpolicy.org
Medicaid Work Rule Leaves Homeless People in the Cold

Conservatives who have long pushed for Medicaid work requirements often said vulnerable people would get a pass. But the federal government’s list of exemptions left off homeless people.

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Aug 6 • 5:00 AM EDT • Health • kffhealthnews.org
Minnesota DHS roll out eligibility tool ahead of federal Medicaid work requirement changes

Individuals enrolled in Medical Assistance can check if they meet the federal work reporting requirements set for 2027, as well as review a list of exemptions by using the new renewal lookup tool provided by DHS.

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Aug 6 • 5:00 AM EDT • Health • mprnews.org
Bottoms, Jackson offer competing visions on data centers, Medicaid expansion at business luncheon

Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms and Republican Rick Jackson took the stage at an Athens event center to pitch their policies to a crowd of over 1,000 members of the state’s business community.

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Aug 5 • 5:10 PM EDT • Business • georgiarecorder.com
AHA urges CMS to prioritize hospitals, providers with Rural Health Transformation Program funding

The AHA Aug. 5 provided comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on the distribution of funding for the Rural Health Transformation Program. The program will fund $50 billion to rural providers from fiscal year 2026 to FY 2030.

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Aug 5 • 11:17 AM EDT • Health • aha.org
More Potential Upheaval Awaits Indiana Medicaid

New work requirements, more frequent eligibility reviews and other policy changes will reshape Medicaid for many Hoosiers beginning in 2027.

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Aug 5 • 9:47 AM EDT • Health • publichealthwatch.org
More Medicaid coverage hasn’t curbed increased firearm suicides among most men

New study finds that expanded access to Medicaid was related to a drop in suicide rates among men in only one group: white adults ages 35-49.

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Aug 5 • 4:23 AM EDT • Health • northcarolinahealthnews.org
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19 charged in $4M Pennsylvania home health care fraud schemes

Nineteen people were charged in Medicaid fraud cases involving more than $4 million in alleged false home care billings, authorities said.

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Aug 4 • 10:59 PM EDT • Health • usatoday.com
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‘Your days are numbered’: DOJ, federal agencies target health care fraud, Medicaid schemers in Pennsylvania

Federal agencies and state partners announced criminal charges against 19 people who allegedly defrauded Medicaid with home health schemes.

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Aug 4 • 7:13 PM EDT • Health • whyy.org
Senators Markey, Merkley Reintroduce Legislation to Protect Healthcare for Americans Who Cannot Afford Bail

Bill Text (PDF) Washington, D.C. – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) today reintroduced the Equity in Pretrial Health Coverage Act, legislation that would protect the continuity of federal health benefits under Medicaid, Medicare, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and Veterans Affairs for Americans who […]

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Aug 4 • 2:35 PM EDT • Health • merkley.senate.gov
Stakeholders Testify on Medicaid & Health Care Costs

Stakeholders testify on Medicaid, the cost of care, and program funding needs bedore the Senate Budget Committee.

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Aug 4 • 10:01 AM EDT • Health • c-span.org
Watch live: Senate convenes Medicaid hearing as work requirements face scrutiny

Health experts on Tuesday morning will testify before the Senate Budget Committee on Medicaid, just months after the Trump administration issued a new rule requiring states to implement work requir…

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Aug 4 • 8:56 AM EDT • Health • thehill.com