The Medical Frailty Exemption from Medicaid Work Requirements: Key Takeaways from the CMS Interim Final Rule
This brief describes new guidance and potential challenges states will face in operationalizing the medical frailty exemption.
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Key Facts about the Uninsured Population
Issue BriefThe number and share of people without insurance grew in 2024, increasing for the first time since 2019, according to KFF's analysis of data from the American Community Survey (ACS). This issue brief describes trends in health coverage in 2024, examines the characteristics of the uninsured population , and summarizes the access and financial implications of not having coverage.
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The Medical Frailty Exemption from Medicaid Work Requirements: Key Issues to Watch for in Upcoming CMS Guidance
Issue BriefThis brief describes early state plans to operationalize the medical frailty exemption for Medicaid work requirements and identifies key issues and questions states are facing, some of which may be answered in forthcoming CMS guidance.
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Understanding Medicaid Cost Sharing and Policy Changes from the 2025 Reconciliation Law
Issue BriefThis brief explains current Medicaid cost sharing rules and changes made to cost sharing rules by the 2025 reconciliation law, reports on cost sharing amounts states currently impose on ACA expansion adults, and highlights literature on the impact of cost sharing.
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Medicaid Mental Health and Substance Use: Expansion Trends and the Fiscal Pressure Ahead
Issue BriefThis brief examines recent state trends in Medicaid behavioral health coverage and payment and state coverage of select treatment models for people with serious mental illness—a population that has historically faced significant barriers to care. This includes details about coverage of Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) (as a provider type), Assertive Community Treatment (ACT), and Coordinated Specialty Care for First Episode Psychosis (CSC-FEP).
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What to Know About the BALANCE Model for GLP-1s in Medicare and Medicaid and the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge
Issue BriefThis brief describes current coverage of GLP-1s in Medicare and Medicaid, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) efforts to expand access and lower costs for GLP-1s through temporary demonstration programs including the BALANCE Model, and potential impacts on beneficiaries and program budgets.
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Changes to the Medicare Advantage Program Enhance Some Consumer Protections But Roll Back Others
Issue BriefCMS recently finalized policies as part of the 2027 Medicare Advantage final rule that both enhance consumer protections and roll back changes to the Medicare Advantage program that were intended to protect consumers. These changes have gotten less attention than payment issues and changes to the star ratings system, which also affect plan payments, but could have implications for Medicare beneficiaries.
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Affordability Is the Issue Now, But Look for the Uninsured to Make a Comeback
From Drew AltmanA new column on the uninsured from President and CEO Dr. Drew Altman explains: “The uninsured is not the most politically salient problem in health care now, that’s affordability, nor is it the non-problem some say it is. But it’s coming back. And the problem of the chronically ill uninsured is glaring.” Read more.
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HHS Public Health Policy Actions Under the Trump Administration 2025-2026
TrackerA comprehensive timeline of public health policy actions by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under the Trump administration from 2025-2026, with key dates, descriptions, and impacts.
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Are the Tradeoffs from Prior Authorization Worth It?
From Drew AltmanIn his latest column, President and CEO Dr. Drew Altman asks if prior authorization review could be eliminated entirely, discussing how it might be done and the tradeoffs.