Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Howard University Hospital In D.C. Could Be Teetering On Edge Of Closure
The Wall Street Journal: D.C.’s Howard University Hospital Could Be Brought To Its Knees By Looming Medicaid, ACA Cuts
For more than a century, Howard University Hospital has been a lifeline for Washington’s low-income communities, treating patients who often have nowhere else to turn. But with a patient population heavily reliant on Medicare and Medicaid—nearly 85%, according to administrators—the hospital has little financial cushion to absorb major reductions in federal funding. President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act enacted the largest federal healthcare spending cuts in U.S. history, totaling over $1 trillion over the next decade, primarily targeting Medicaid. (Siddiqui, 10/23)
In other Medicaid news —
AP: California Union Floats Idea Of Taxing Billionaires To Offset Medicaid Cuts
A major union announced a proposal Thursday to impose a one-time 5% tax on billionaires in California to address federal funding cuts to health care for low-income people. Proponents, including the Service Employees International Union, hope to place the statewide measure before voters next year. The tax would be on the net worth of California’s richest residents. A small portion of the money would also help fund K-12 education since the federal government has threatened to withhold grant money from public schools. (Austin, 10/23)
Axios: Scoop: Planned Parenthood Fights Proposed Termination Of Medicaid Agreements In Ohio
Two Planned Parenthood affiliates in Ohio are fighting a recent state proposal to terminate their Medicaid provider agreements. (King, 10/24)
Stat: Advocacy Group Probes Algorithms For Medicaid Home-Based Care
The massive tax cut bill President Trump signed in July is forcing states to grapple with a pivotal question: With federal Medicaid spending projected to drop drastically, which patients should get care at home, and how much care should they get? (Broderick, 10/24)
The Atlantic: No Appointments, No Nurses, No Private Insurance Needed
Many health facilities try to avoid Medicaid. A Colorado clinic prefers it. (Ouyang, 10/21)
In Medicare updates —
Becker's Hospital Review: AHA Pushes CMS Delay On Medicare Prior Authorization Pilot
The American Hospital Association is urging CMS to delay its Medicare prior authorization pilot — the Wasteful and Inappropriate Service Reduction initiative — by at least six months. “This timeframe is impractical for providers and jeopardizes the administration’s goal of easing provider administrative burden associated with prior authorization,” the organization said in an Oct. 23 letter to CMS. The model is currently slated to launch in Arizona, Washington, New Jersey, Texas, Ohio and Oklahoma Jan. 1, 2026. (Casolo, 10/23)
Modern Healthcare: Medicare Advantage Market Exits Worry Post-Acute Providers
Discharges to post-acute care could get dicier next year in regions where insurers are offering fewer Medicare Advantage plans or exiting markets entirely, unless patients move to traditional Medicare. Medicare-eligible consumers in states such as Vermont, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Dakota and Indiana will see the number of the private plans available in 2026 shrink by one-third to one-half compared to this year. (Eastabrook, 10/23)
Modern Healthcare: Centene Cuts More Medicare Advantage Commissions For Brokers
Centene is cutting commissions for more Medicare Advantage plans and further limiting marketers’ ability to sign up new members.Starting Friday, the health insurer won’t compensate agents and brokers for new enrollments into 13 plans in Arizona, Connecticut, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Oregon and Washington, the company informed agents and brokers in a notice Wednesday. Centene also will remove 36 plans from the portals brokers and agents use to sign up beneficiaries. The annual enrollment period began Oct. 15 and ends Dec. 7. (Tepper, 10/23)
