Robin Rudowitz

Tracking Implementation of the 2025 Reconciliation Law: Medicaid Work Requirements | KFF KFF's interactive tracks key data and policies that will affect how states implement Medicaid work requirements, which are required under the 2025 budget reconciliation law starting in January 2027. T...

@kff.org released an interactive tool to track national and state data and policy, federal guidance, state implementation decisions and 1115 waivers related to #Medicaid work requirements. Check it out and bookmark the page as we will be making updates over time www.kff.org/medicaid/med...

5 Key Facts About Medicaid and Provider Taxes | KFF This issue brief uses data from KFF’s 2025-2026 survey of Medicaid directors to describe states’ current provider taxes, explore how the 2025 reconciliation law changed the federal rules governing pro...

The 2025 reconciliation law imposes restrictions on states’ ability to generate #Medicaid provider tax revenue - for details check out our updated @kff.org brief: www.kff.org/medicaid/5-k...

Bar chart shows the number of people in 1000s on home care waiting or interest lists by whether or not states screens people on any waiting lists for eligibility prior to adding them to the list. The chart shows that a disproportionate number of people on waiting lists for home care live in states that don’t assess eligibility for people waiting.

Forty-one states have waiting or interest lists for people seeking home care through Medicaid.

In 2025, 29 states reported an increase in their home care waiting lists, while only 12 states reported a decrease:https://on.kff.org/48fSeu7

Bar chart shows the number of states reporting each type of cap on waiver spending or enrollment for any home care waiver, among the 49 states and DC that responded to the survey. The chart shows that nearly all states manage Medicaid home care spending with caps on spending or enrollment or by limiting services.

Medicaid’s significant spending on home care and the mechanisms available to limit this spending could spur states to cut home care services in response to the recently-enacted reconciliation law: https://on.kff.org/48so73J

Challenges with Implementing Work Requirements: Findings from a Survey of State Medicaid Programs | KFF To better understand how states are preparing for Medicaid work requirements, states were asked to discuss anticipated challenges to implementing work requirements by the end of 2026, including relate...

#Medicaid survey also provides insights into anticipated challenges states could face implementing new work requirements by January 2027. www.kff.org/medicaid/cha...

Medicaid Enrollment & Spending Growth: FY 2025 & 2026 | KFF This brief analyzes Medicaid enrollment and spending trends for FY 2025 and FY 2026, based on data provided by state Medicaid directors as part of the 25th annual survey of Medicaid directors.

For FY 2026, states expect Medicaid spending growth of 7.9% even with flat enrollment due to upward spending pressures from provider rate increases, higher health care needs among enrollees post-unwinding, and increasing LTC, Rx, and BH care costs. www.kff.org/medicaid/med...

States were facing a more tenuous fiscal climate in FY 2026 and were also beginning to prepare for another major set of major changes to the #Medicaid program. www.kff.org/medicaid/50-...

A View of Medicaid Today and a Look Ahead: Balancing Access, Budgets and Upcoming Changes | KFF This report highlights key policy priorities and issues state Medicaid programs focused on in FY 2025 and are prioritizing in FY 2026.

@kff.org released our 25th Annual Survey of state #Medicaid programs with lots of detailed information about state policy choices related to provider rates and taxes, benefit, delivery systems and prescription drugs. Check it out: www.kff.org/medicaid/50-...

Map of the United States showing the share of veterans ages 19 and older enrolled in Medicaid by state, categorized in three groups: 6%-8%, 9%-12% and 13%-15%. States are color-coded. Source: KFF estimates based on the 2023 American Community Survey, 1-Year Estimates

The share of veterans enrolled in Medicaid varies across states, ranging from as low as 6% in North Dakota and New Hampshire to as high as 15% in Louisiana, Montana, New Mexico, and New York. https://on.kff.org/4p2i3Vl

How Schools Have Responded to the Youth Fentanyl Crisis | KFF With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, deaths due to drug overdose among adolescents more than doubled, primarily driven by the synthetic opioid, fentanyl.

Nearly 7 in 10 adolescents reported receiving substance use disorder and prevention education at school and over 480,000 adolescents received substance use treatment at school in 2023, underscoring that schools are an important access point for these services among youth. www.kff.org/mental-healt...

Challenges with Implementing Work Requirements: Findings from a Survey of State Medicaid Programs | KFF To better understand how states are preparing for Medicaid work requirements, states were asked to discuss anticipated challenges to implementing work requirements by the end of 2026, including relate...

New @kff.org brief outlines key challenges identified by states related to implementation of new #Medicaid work requirements. Understanding these challenges may help inform the content and timing of forthcoming federal guidance. www.kff.org/medicaid/cha...

KFF graphic featuring a quote from Cynthia Cox, KFF Vice President and Director of the Program on the ACA. It says, “The amount health insurers charge for coverage on the ACA Marketplaces is rising 26%, on average, in 2026... Most enrollees would face even sharper increases in what they pay if they ACA’s enhanced premium tax credits expire.”

Across all states, benchmark ACA premiums will rise an average of 26% next year, though most enrollees would see sharper increases if the enhanced tax credits expire.

KFF’s Cynthia Cox explains the numbers. #QuickTake https://on.kff.org/3WNhiDz

Medicaid and Children’s Health: 5 Issues to Watch Amid Recent Federal Changes | KFF Major federal changes to Medicaid and other health-related policies could impact children’s health in the coming years. This issue brief explores the latest data on Medicaid and children’s health and ...

A number of federal policy changes could have implications for #Medicaid and children's health - here are 5 key issues we are watching: www.kff.org/medicaid/med...

KFF graphic featuring a quote from Ashley Kirzinger, KFF’s Director of Survey Methodology; Associate Director for Public Opinion and Survey Research. It says, “The debate over these enhanced tax credits can be seen as a proxy for the broader public’s concerns about health care affordability which may be why the public is largely in favor of extending these subsidies – even as overall views of the ACA are still very polarized.”

⚡ KFF’s @ashleykirzinger.bsky.social breaks down KFF polling showing broad public support for extending the enhanced ACA premium tax credits — and what’s likely driving that rare agreement across party lines. #QuickTake https://on.kff.org/4n3Gjox

5 Key Facts About Medicaid Coverage for People With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) | KFF Among the estimated 8 million people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), over three million have Medicaid coverage.

#Medicaid is a major source of coverage for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities - see @kff.org new brief with 5 key facts: www.kff.org/medicaid/5-k...

The Impact of H.R. 1 on Two Medicaid Eligibility Rules | KFF This issue brief describes the impact of H.R.1's 10-year delay in implementing provisions in two Medicaid eligibility rules that would have reduced red tape. The delayed rules are projected to decreas...

HR 1 includes a 10-year moratorium on implementation or enforcement of provisions in two #Medicaid rules finalized that would have reduced admin burdens to make it easier for people to enroll in and maintain Medicaid and CHIP coverage. See what provisions are affected: www.kff.org/medicaid/the...

New from CBO:

Extending enhanced ACA premium tax credits, due to expire at the end of this year, would prevent 3.8 million more people from becoming uninsured.

It would cost $350 billion over 10 years.
www.cbo.gov/publication/...

15 years after it passed, we're still debating Obamacare.
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

Potential Storylines From Trump-Era Health Care Cuts This JAMA Forum discusses the ramifications of the Republican tax and spending law and presents storylines that may be used in the next season of the television show The Pitt to illustrate these healt...

Thanks @larrylevitt.bsky.social for highlighting some potential real-life stories of what could happen because of cuts to Medicaid and the ACA. jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...

Quote on a green background by Larry Levitt, KFF Senior Vice President for Health Policy. It says, "Even though the cuts to Medicaid and the ACA will likely lead to millions of people losing their health coverage, many of the changes are highly technical and will take years to play out. In the meantime, shows like The Pitt could play a role in making the coming changes to health care tangible by using entertainment to educate people about health care policy."

An uninsured Uber driver with cancer who dropped their ACA coverage due to cost.
An ill construction worker who lost Medicaid due to work requirements.

Just 2 of @larrylevitt.bsky.social’s potential stories for #ThePitt based on federal health cuts: https://on.kff.org/4mWIiLY

@jamahealthforum.com

A Look at Recent Changes to State Vaccine Requirements for School Children | KFF This policy watch examines state-by-state school vaccine requirements and exemptions, including recent policy changes to them and the extent to which they may affect vaccination rates.

FL's recent announcement of plans to eliminate school vaccination requirements would make them the first and only state to do so.

Our NEW @kff.org piece examines school vaccine requirements (and exemptions to requirements) and recent changes across the states: www.kff.org/state-health...

A Look at Recent Changes to State Vaccine Requirements for School Children | KFF This policy watch examines state-by-state school vaccine requirements and exemptions, including recent policy changes to them and the extent to which they may affect vaccination rates.

Amid declining vaccine rates for children, check out new @kff.org brief examining recent state policy changes to school vaccine requirements. www.kff.org/state-health...

KFF graphic for Health Wonk Shop event on September 11 at 12 PM ET, discussing "How Will States Implement Medicaid Work Requirements?"

Four experts, including two state Medicaid directors, will join Health Wonk Shop series moderator @larrylevitt.bsky.social for a discussion on how states will go about implementing the new Medicaid work requirements.

RSVP to join the discussion tomorrow at noon ET: https://on.kff.org/4pcnFwV

@kff.org polling shows that half or adults in rural areas say there are not enough primary care doctors www.kff.org/medicaid/kff...

How Might Federal Medicaid Cuts in the Enacted Reconciliation Package Affect Rural Areas? | KFF Under the reconciliation package, federal Medicaid spending in rural areas is estimated to decline by $137 billion, more than the $50 billion appropriated for the rural health fund.

Federal reductions in #Medicaid from the reconciliation law exceed new funding in the Rural Health Transformation Fund. www.kff.org/medicaid/how...

5 Key Facts About Medicaid Coverage for People Living in Rural Areas | KFF This brief presents five key facts about Medicaid coverage among individuals living in rural areas. It draws on recent data to describe enrollment patterns, differences by state Medicaid expansion sta...

One in 4 people in rural areas are covered by #Medicaid. www.kff.org/medicaid/5-k...

Thank you @punchbowlnews.bsky.social for the invitation to share @kff.org data about #Medicaid and #ruralhealth on a panel with Emily Holubowich, American Heart Association; Dr. Torey Mack, Children’s Hospital Association; and Dr. Julie Yaroch, ProMedica Charles & Virginia Hickman Hospital

A graphic from KFF featuring a quote by Jennifer Tolbert, Director of State Health Policy and Data, Deputy Director Program on Medicaid & Uninsured, KFF. The quote reads: “While robust Marketplace enrollment helped keep the uninsured rate low in 2024, the expiration of the enhanced premium tax credits for Marketplace enrollees, which will happen at the end of 2025 unless Congress acts to extend them, will increase the number of people without health insurance.”

While the uninsured rate held steady at 8.0% in 2024, the pending expiration of enhanced ACA premium tax credits & changes to Medicaid and the Marketplaces in the reconciliation law are expected to boost the number of uninsured people in the coming years. https://on.kff.org/4nsJ0kc

5 Key Facts about Medicaid’s Share of National Health Spending | KFF To provide historical context for how changes to Medicaid spending may impact national health spending trends, this brief explores how Medicaid spending contributes to national health spending and how...

To provide historical context for how changes to #Medicaid spending may impact national health spending trends, @kff.org brief explores how Medicaid spending has contributed to national health spending trends and how different service areas contribute to Medicaid costs. www.kff.org/medicaid/5-k...

New @kff.org brief examines data about homelessness - rates are going up: www.kff.org/medicaid/fiv...