Tariffs Are Driving up Premiums for Small Businesses
Some insurers in the ACA’s small group market are citing tariffs, particularly those affecting prescriptions drugs, as a reason for higher-than-expected premium increases.
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CMS Phasing Out Medicaid Workforce Initiatives
Policy WatchOn July 11, CMS notified states that, going forward, it does not anticipate approving new 1115 demonstration workforce initiatives or extending existing waivers. Such changes may limit states’ abilities to pursue initiatives investing in the Medicaid workforce.
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A Look at the New Executive Order and the Intersection of Homelessness and Mental Illness
Policy WatchThis brief describes the new executive order, examines the intersection of homelessness and mental illness, reviews the history of the deinstitutionalization movement, and discusses specialized treatment services for people with SMI.
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Measles Elimination Status: What It Is and How the U.S. Could Lose It
Policy WatchThis policy watch post examines the United States’ measles elimination status, including what it means to eliminate measles, whether the current measles outbreak could threaten the country’s measles elimination status, and what losing that status might mean for measles control.
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How Might Federal Medicaid Cuts in the Enacted Reconciliation Package Affect Rural Areas?
Policy WatchUnder the reconciliation package, federal Medicaid spending in rural areas is estimated to decline by $137 billion, more than the $50 billion appropriated for the rural health fund.
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A Continuing Saga: Ending Abortion Restrictions in States with Constitutional Protections
Policy WatchThis policy watch provides an update on the status of abortion restrictions in states that passed a constitutional amendment protecting abortion, or where a state court previously interpreted the state constitution as protecting abortion access.
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New Policy Bars Many Lawfully Present and Undocumented Immigrants from a Broad Range of Federal Health and Social Supports
Policy WatchThis policy watch discusses a recent policy change by the Department of Health and Human Services that bars several groups of immigrants from accessing an updated list of "federal public benefits".
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Recent State Actions Impacting Immigrants’ Access to State-Funded Health Coverage and Other Public Programs
Policy WatchThis policy watch summarizes recent proposed actions by states related to state-funded health coverage for immigrants and trends in other legislation enacted during the 2025 session that have implications for immigrants.
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Demand for 988 Continues to Grow at Third Anniversary
Policy WatchThis policy watch examines 988 on its third anniversary, drawing from the latest Lifeline data available through May 2025 and suicide death data from CDC WONDER for the period 2013 to 2023. 988 received 16.5 million contacts since its launch in July 2022, including 11.2 million calls, 2.9 million texts, and 2.4 million chats.
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Kennedy v. Braidwood: The Supreme Court Upheld ACA Preventive Services but That’s Not the End of the Story
Policy WatchOn June 27, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its opinion on Kennedy v. Braidwood Management, ruling that the ACA requirement that most private insurers and Medicaid expansion programs cover preventive services recommended by the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) with no cost-sharing is constitutional.