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US District Court Partially Vacates CMS Rule on Medicaid Work Requirements, Broadening Medical Frailty Exemption

US District Court Partially Vacates CMS Rule on Medicaid Work Requirements, Broadening Medical Frailty Exemption

On October 29, 2026, the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts issued a ruling that partially vacated a portion of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) interim final rule regarding Medicaid work requirements. The court determined that CMS exceeded its authority by narrowing the interpretation of the medical-frailty exemption established by Congress. Specifically, the court found that Congress's five subcategories for medical frailty (including individuals who are blind, have substance use disorders, or disabling mental disorders) set a definitional floor, and CMS could not impose an additional functional-impairment requirement for individuals within these categories. For instance, CMS's rule would have required a blind individual to also prove a significant impairment to their ability to meet work requirements, which the court deemed beyond the agency's power. The court vacated the conflicting regulatory language and permanently enjoined its enforcement, though it upheld the rul...
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KFF Dashboard Provides Ongoing Data on U.S. Vaccine Attitudes and Knowledge

KFF Dashboard Provides Ongoing Data on U.S. Vaccine Attitudes and Knowledge

The KFF (formerly Kaiser Family Foundation) is providing ongoing, current data on U.S. vaccine attitudes and knowledge through its KFF Health Information and Trust Polling Dashboard. This resource builds upon the earlier KFF COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor Dashboard, which focused specifically on COVID-19 vaccines and concluded its most recent surveys in late 2023. The updated dashboard now covers a broader range of vaccine-related topics, including public trust in health information sources, confidence in federal health agencies, and parental trust in childhood vaccines. KFF, a nonprofit organization funded by an endowment and external donors, primarily focuses on U.S. populations across various health topics. Their data also tracks awareness of and belief in false or unproven health claims, such as misconceptions about mRNA vaccine safety or the efficacy of Vitamin A against measles. Ongoing tracking polls provide insights into Americans' views on vaccine safety from April 2025 through June 2026, with data coll...
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Insight Secures $825,000 Federal Funding for Keokuk Area Hospital Reopening as Rural Emergency Facility

Insight Secures $825,000 Federal Funding for Keokuk Area Hospital Reopening as Rural Emergency Facility

Insight, a healthcare provider headquartered in Flint, Michigan, is making significant progress in its plans to reopen the Keokuk Area Hospital as a rural emergency hospital. The company has secured $825,000 in federal funding through the USDA Rural Healthcare Facilities program to support this initiative. Last month, Insight awarded architectural and engineering contracts for the project, with plans to submit proposals to state officials in 2027. A bid for construction will be issued at a later date. According to Sameem Qazi, special projects manager at Insight, the project will prioritize essential building and life-safety improvements necessary to support emergency and outpatient services. Since 2023, Insight has invested $3.7 million in the facility's upkeep and maintenance, demonstrating its commitment to restoring vital healthcare services to Keokuk and the surrounding Lee County community.
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Kansas Health Institute Addresses Rise in Uninsured Children Through Policy and Community Engagement

Kansas Health Institute Addresses Rise in Uninsured Children Through Policy and Community Engagement

The Kansas Health Institute (KHI) is actively addressing a rise in uninsured children in Kansas through various policy and community engagement efforts. Experts like Heather Braum, Senior Policy Advisor at Kansas Action for Children, and Anne Dwyer, Associate Research Professor at Georgetown University's Center for Children and Families, are focusing on Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Erica Andrade, President & CEO of El Centro, is also involved, working to ensure access and equity for Latino communities. These individuals and organizations are collaborating to build coalitions, share information with lawmakers, and find common ground to improve health insurance coverage for children and families in the state.
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Georgetown University Center Focuses on Health Insurance Reforms and Policy Solutions

Georgetown University Center Focuses on Health Insurance Reforms and Policy Solutions

The Center on Health Insurance Reforms at Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy is actively working to enhance health insurance and healthcare accessibility across the United States. This center engages in real-world research, comprehensive policy analysis, and provides practical advice to both state and federal policymakers. Their primary objective is to guide these policymakers in developing and implementing evidence-based solutions that aim to increase the affordability of healthcare and improve access to necessary medical care for all citizens. The center emphasizes a commitment to advancing policies that ensure individuals can obtain the coverage and care they need at a reasonable cost. This initiative underscores the ongoing efforts within academic institutions to influence public policy through rigorous research and expert guidance, addressing critical issues within the U.S. healthcare system.
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Kansas Health Institute Examines Rising Uninsured Children Rate in the State

Kansas Health Institute Examines Rising Uninsured Children Rate in the State

The Kansas Health Institute (KHI) recently hosted a convening to address the increase in Kansas children without health insurance between 2022 and 2024. During the morning session, experts presented research on the demographics and locations of affected children, as well as the implications of this trend for the state. Discussions also covered various policy responses and considerations to tackle the issue. Speakers included Erica Andrade, President & CEO of El Centro; Heather Braum, Senior Policy Advisor at Kansas Action for Children; Dr. Sonder Crane, President for the Kansas Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics; and Anne Dwyer, Associate Research Professor at Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy’s Center for Children and Families.
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Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Hosts Creator Summit on Health and Wellness

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Hosts Creator Summit on Health and Wellness

The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health recently hosted its 2026 Creator Summit on Health and Wellness for All, as part of its Creator Program launched in 2023. The program aims to empower content creators to improve online health information ecosystems. The summit, co-hosted by the School of Global Health at Meharry Medical College, focused on guiding creators to broaden their content from individual health choices to addressing systemic and policy-level factors that influence public health. Participants, including epidemiologist Pari and Indigenous creator Brit Koch, engaged in workshops and discussions designed to help them communicate the larger societal determinants of health. Amanda Yarnell, senior director of the Center for Health Communication, leads the program, which offers online toolkits, courses, and community calls in addition to the annual summit. A key finding presented at a preceding Studio event indicated that 40% of U.S. adults, and nearly 60% of young women under 30, obtain health...
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Flint's Rx Kids Program Linked to Significant Reduction in Newborn Deaths

Flint's Rx Kids Program Linked to Significant Reduction in Newborn Deaths

A new study published in JAMA Pediatrics reveals that the Rx Kids program in Flint, Michigan, has been associated with a substantial decrease in newborn mortality rates. Following the program's launch, neonatal mortality—deaths within the first 28 days of life—fell by 50%, while early neonatal mortality—deaths within the first seven days—decreased by 74%. Researchers analyzed statewide birth and death records from 2021 through 2025, comparing Flint with the rest of Michigan. Before Rx Kids, Flint's neonatal mortality rate was 10.2 deaths per 1,000 live births, more than double the state average of 4.0. In 2025, one year after the program began, Flint's rate dropped to 5.1 deaths per 1,000 live births, while the rest of Michigan's rate remained largely unchanged at 3.9. This improvement has narrowed a long-standing disparity, making the differences in neonatal and early neonatal mortality between Flint and the rest of Michigan no longer statistically significant.
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Employers Urged to Enhance Men's Health Support in the Workplace to Address Care Gaps

Employers Urged to Enhance Men's Health Support in the Workplace to Address Care Gaps

Employers Urged to Enhance Men's Health Support in the Workplace to Address Care Gaps
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Nevada Health Link Simplifies Health Insurance Access for Self-Employed Individuals

Nevada Health Link Simplifies Health Insurance Access for Self-Employed Individuals

Nevada Health Link has become a central platform for Nevadans, particularly the self-employed, to access health insurance. The platform allows individuals to apply and determine eligibility for premium tax credits and other savings based on income and household size. It offers a variety of private health insurance plans, including 'Battle Born State Plans' with built-in discounts. The service ensures that all plans cover the 10 Essential Health Benefits, which include routine checkups, immunizations, emergency care, prescription drugs, and cancer screenings. Open Enrollment in Nevada runs from November 1 to January 15, but Special Enrollment Periods are available for those who lose job-based insurance, provided they apply within 60 days of losing coverage. Assistance is available in multiple languages via phone or through certified enrollment professionals.
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HUD Announces $98 Million Opportunity for Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities

HUD Announces $98 Million Opportunity for Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has announced a funding opportunity for the Project Rental Assistance Program of Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities for Fiscal Year 2027. This program aims to promote the development of innovative state-level strategies to increase access to new and existing affordable supportive housing units for individuals with disabilities. The total program funding available is $98,000,000, with an expected 14 awards ranging from a minimum of $1 to a maximum of $7,094,211. The initiative also supports collaborations between State Housing Agencies and State Health and Human Service/Medicaid Agencies to enhance access to supportive services. The closing date for electronically submitted applications is April 20, 2027, at 11:59 p.m., ET. Eligible applicants include state or local housing agencies currently allocating Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) or overseeing assistance under the HOME Investment Partnerships Act (HOME) program, or s...
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US hospitals brace for tougher 2027 as coverage losses and Medicaid cuts loom

US hospitals brace for tougher 2027 as coverage losses and Medicaid cuts loom

By Christy Santhosh and Kamal Choudhury Nov 5 (Reuters) - US hospital operators are bracing for revenue pressure from more patients losing insurance coverage from the Affordable Care Act, a potential drop in government aid for treating Medicaid patients and deeper reimbursement cuts beginning in