Federal Medicaid Changes and Budget Delays
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has alerted states, including New York, to begin winding down continuous Medicaid coverage programs. This includes New York’s policy guaranteeing coverage for children from birth to age six, which is currently authorized under an 1115 waiver through March 2027. While CMS isn’t immediately revoking funding or coverage, it says it won’t approve new or extended waivers that support continuous eligibility or Medicaid-funded workforce programs, which could impact more than 800,000 children in New York. Read more here.
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) introduced the “Protect Medicaid and Rural Hospitals Act,” which would reverse two of those cuts and double the Rural Health Transformation Fund to $100 billion over 10 years. Read the bill text here.
Federal funding is set to expire on September 30. The Senate is actively working on its appropriations bills, but House Republicans have delayed movement until after the August recess. That subcommittee has a $184.491 billion allocation, which is over $1 billion less than current levels. The first hearing is expected in early September, increasing concern over a potential government shutdown. Read more here.
Dr. Brian Christine, a urologist nominated by HHS Secretary RFK Jr. to serve as Assistant Secretary for Health, testified before the Senate HELP Committee last week. If confirmed, he would be the department’s highest-ranking physician. Here is a video of an exchange between Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine (Dem.) and Dr. Christine (skip the first minute or two that isn’t related to healthcare).