Major Staff Cutbacks In Healthcare At Federal Government
The Trump administration has directed agencies to begin laying off probationary employees. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and related agencies are firing up to 5,200 probationary employees as of today. About 1,300 are employed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and a sizeable number are with the National Institutes of Health (NIH). There are over 2 million federal employees.
Additional article: https://www.modernhealthcare.com/labor/cdc-layoffs-cuts-trump
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#hhs #nih #cdc #staffing #layoffs #trump #doge
Trump Administration Cuts Exchange Navigator Funding
Similar to what happened in its first term, the Trump administration axed Exchange Navigator funding by 90% to just $10 million. The navigator program received $98 million in the 2024 plan year but only enrolled 92,000 consumers, accounting for just 0.6% of selections through federally facilitated exchanges (FFEs) in the open enrollment period. Trump’s Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) used that paltry statistic to justify the reduction. It also said the average cost per enrollment was more than $3,000 for 12 organizations receiving funding.
It seems clear that the funding did not drive enrollment to record levels.
Additional articles: https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/payers/cms-slashes-aca-navigator-program-funding-10-million and https://www.modernhealthcare.com/insurance/health-insurance-navigator-budget-trump and https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-announcement-federal-navigator-program-funding and https://www.beckerspayer.com/payer/trump-administration-eyes-aca-program-integrity.html
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#aca #obamacare #exchanges #marketing #coverage
Republicans Debate Medicaid And Medicare Reductions
Despite GOP leaders’ commitment to avoid disruptive Medicaid reductions, some Republicans continue to eye major changes in order to save up to $800 billion. These include a possible block grant or per capita cap program reducing federal spending over time, changing federal reimbursement to states, and reducing reimbursement for expansion populations. Work requirements and tackling fraud, waste, and abuse (FWA) are also on the table. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) says work requirements would save the federal government just $109 billion over a 10-year period. It would also lead to 1.5 million people losing Medicaid.
In other news, House Ways and Means Chairman Jodey Arrington voiced his support during the markup for implementing site-neutral payments across Medicare. He said it would address “inefficiencies” and reduce “waste” of taxpayer dollars. The move is important but is opposed by the hospital lobbies.
In other news, Kaiser Health News discusses the history of work requirements in Medicaid in Georgia and Arkansas.
In other news, President Donald Trump’s government-wide directive to slash regulations doesn’t appear likely to impact healthcare agencies as most are mandatory under law. Trump’s executive order requires federal agencies to cut 10 regulations for each new one proposed.
Last, a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to restore funding for federal foreign aid contracts, after a court filing revealed the administration has cut contracts for global health expenses despite multiple judges’ orders to pause its federal funding freeze.
Additional articles: https://insidehealthpolicy.com/daily-news/gop-advances-budget-resolution-framing-likely-medicaid-cuts-anti-fraud-rejects-scores-dem and https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/medicaid-work-requirements-states-revamp-trump-administration/ and https://www.modernhealthcare.com/policy/trump-deregulation-executive-order-cms and https://insidehealthpolicy.com/daily-news/judge-orders-funding-restored-usaid-cut-health-funding-through-who-johns-hopkins
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#budgetreconciliation #congress #trump #medicaid #fwa #workrequirements #regulations #medicare #siteneutral
New Jersey Pushes PACE Model
New Jersey plans to go statewide with a program aimed at caring for older adults outside of nursing homes, known as the Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE). The program usually covers those with both Medicare and Medicaid. Participants will be both non-profit and for-profit entities.
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#medicaid #medicare #longtermcare #pace #nj
https://www.modernhealthcare.com/providers/pace-new-jersey-expansion
Aledade Adds 500 PCP Practices
Aledade has added more than 500 primary care practices to its network for 2025. It now will work with more than 2,400 PCPs across the country, which serve close to 3 million patients in value-based care arrangements. This includes participants in the Medicare Shared Savings Program, Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, and commercial plans.
#medicare #primarycare #medicaid #commercial #employercoverage
https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/practices/aledade-adds-500-primary-care-practices-its-network-2025
PCPs Worried About Rise Of Telehealth Weight-Loss Firms
Primary care physicians are concerned about the risks of patients using third-party telehealth prescribers who are singularly focused on prescribing weight-loss drugs.
#glp1s #weightlossdrugs #primarycare
Reasons For Lower Life Expectancy In America
The Kaiser Family Foundation Peterson Health System Tracker has published a chart collection explaining the reasons for lower life expectancy in the United States vs. other developed nations. The United States has a life expectancy of 78.4 years compared with 82.5 among peer nations. Reasons for lower life expectancy include uncontrolled disease states, substance abuse, and other factors.
#healthcare #lifeexpectancy
— Marc S. Ryan
