Below are recent industry news stories procured from a host of different sources. Unified Growth Partners / Coverage Champs does not endorse any views reported in these stories.
The Medicare and Medicaid cuts sure are big, but they're not beautiful
Washington Post – Opinion letters criticize major funding cuts in Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” warning the bill puts at least 17 million Americans—especially low-income and rural populations—at risk by reducing healthcare access. The letters highlight potential hospital closures, reduced preventive care, and worsening health outcomes for vulnerable groups. KFFKFF Health News+4The Washington Post+4Investors+4
Trump administration hands over Medicaid recipients' personal data, including addresses, to ICE
AP News – CMS has agreed to give ICE access to records of ~79 million Medicaid enrollees (names, addresses, SSNs) to facilitate immigration enforcement, drawing criticism from privacy advocates who say it may deter individuals from seeking care. Legal challenges are already underway from 20 states. Insurance News | InsuranceNewsNet+3AP News+3The Economic Times+3
Your health insurance premiums could soon go up 15 percent—or more
Vox – Premiums on the ACA marketplaces are expected to surge ~15% in 2025, largely due to expiring subsidies and budget cuts in recent GOP legislation, potentially leading to around 5.1 million more uninsured Americans. The report warns of a sicker insurance risk pool and financial strain for middle-income earners. Vox+1DOL+1
The Big, Beautiful Health Care Squeeze Is Here. What That Means For Your Coverage.
Investor’s Business Daily – The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBBA) includes $1.2 trillion in Medicaid/ACA subsidy cuts over a decade, possibly leaving nearly 17 million uninsured and increasing underinsurance. New rules include tightened income verifications, Medicaid work requirements, and a shift toward HSAs and ICHRAs. Insurance News | InsuranceNewsNet+6Investors+6MedLearn Publishing+6
Health insurance through Affordable Care Act faces big premium hikes
Washington Post – ACA marketplace insurers are filing for the steepest rate increases in seven years, with a median hike of 15% and over a quarter seeking hikes of at least 20%, driven by expired subsidies, rising healthcare costs, and workforce shortages. These increases threaten coverage stability for 24 million enrollees. The Washington Post+1Reddit+1
Dr. Oz Tells Medicaid Recipients to Stop Eating Carrot Cake
The Daily Beast – CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz used carrot cake as a prop to urge Medicaid recipients toward healthier living, supporting program cuts and work requirements while downplaying fears of massive coverage loss. He linked fiscal sustainability to personal responsibility. The Daily Beast
Senate floats second bill to pursue Medicaid cuts this fall
KFF Health News – Senate Republicans are planning another reconciliation bill later this year, potentially targeting Medicaid expansion rollback and other cuts that were removed from the initial OBBBA. This signals continued legislative pressure on entitlement programs. Yahoo+15KFF Health News+15Investors+15
Federal health provisions summarized: Medicaid, Medicare, ACA changes
KFF – The 2025 federal budget reconciliation law (signed July 4) introduces sweeping changes across federal health programs, affecting enrollment, eligibility verification, Medicare funding, and Health Savings Accounts. It also accelerates Medicaid work requirement timelines and expands audit powers. KFF
Big, Beautiful reconciliation bill passes—with major Medicaid implications
MedLearn Monitoring (RACMonitor) – The newly enacted OBBBA is being called the largest social-safety-net rollback ever, with projected deficits of $2.4–2.8 trillion by 2034, driven in large part by deep cuts to Medicaid. Critics fear this will trigger a major shift in program stability and access. Investors+2MedLearn Publishing+2KFF Health News+2
Trump's Medicaid cuts are coming for rural Americans
The Guardian – Rural states, including North Carolina, may see devastating financial and coverage losses due to over $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts under OBBBA, with expansion programs potentially automatically ending via “kill-switch” laws. Observers fear critical rural healthcare systems could collapse. The Washington Post+2The Guardian+2Newsweek+2
20 states sue to block ACA new enrollment and eligibility rules
AM Best News – Attorneys general from 20 states filed lawsuits against CMS to block tighter ACA enrollment and eligibility criteria imposed by recent federal rules, arguing they unlawfully impede access and violate procedural standards. AP News+2AM Best News+2El País+2
How swing voters are responding to Trump’s Medicaid cuts—data
Newsweek – Analysis reveals 22% of swing-voter social media sentiment opposes Medicaid cuts, vs. 15% in support, though 63% remain neutral. A significant portion referenced Trump's earlier promises not to reduce Medicaid. Newsweek
Tariffs are already making your health insurance costs go up
Yahoo News – Insurers have notified states that ongoing tariffs on medical equipment and devices are leading to rising costs, which will be passed on to individual and small-group plan premiums. This adds another inflationary factor to rising insurance costs. KFF Health News+7Yahoo+7The Guardian+7
CMS notifies individuals potentially impacted by data incident
CMS Newsroom – CMS alerted Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries about unauthorized account creation incidents on Medicare.gov, affecting an undetermined but significant number of individuals. The agency is advising account verification to prevent potential fraud. cms.gov
Medicare Advantage, Medicaid MCOs had strong gross margins in 2023
KFF – A 2023 financial performance review shows Medicare Advantage plans posted about $1,982 per enrollee gross margin, while Medicaid managed-care plans earned $753 per enrollee—indicating robust profitability in public insurance segments. KFF
Study: Telehealth parity laws shift public insurance costs
arXiv – Research finds telehealth parity laws in Medicare led to increased outpatient use, shifting some costs from Medicare to patients and affecting preventable hospital stay rates, especially in areas with broadband access. Interstate licensure compacts also contributed to rising enrollment among seniors. arxiv.org
News: Nearly 5.6 million health center patients could lose Medicaid under new work rules
Commonwealth Fund – New Medicaid work requirements could drop coverage for about 5.6 million community health center patients nationwide, and cost federal revenue as much as $32 billion from lost reimbursements. Commonwealth Fund
CMS launches national health care fraud takedown
CMS Newsroom – CMS participated in a nationwide enforcement operation targeting over 300 defendants for Medicare and Medicaid fraud, signaling ongoing federal efforts to protect program integrity. cms.gov
Community health centers warn revenue loss from Medicaid cuts
Commonwealth Fund – Hospitals and clinics across multiple states are preparing for steep financial fallout—potentially billions in lost funding—if the OBBBA cuts to Medicaid become state-level caps. Investors
Advocates raise concern over accelerated Medicaid work requirements
Washington Post (via other sources) – Some GOP lawmakers are pushing to enact work mandates sooner than originally scheduled under OBBBA, raising concerns that eligibility would shrink rapidly and unpredictably. Wikipedia