Tricia Neuman

CMS is shutting down the National Training Program, whose mission is "to communicate Medicare and other CMS-program information that...can be used to effectively train the public." The site will be discontinued Oct 15, the first day of Medicare 2026 open enrollment cmsnationaltrainingprogram.cms.gov

Hopkins Medicine ends talks with UnitedHealthcare, leaving patients scrambling Hopkins Medicine ends contract talks with UnitedHealthcare, affecting 60,000 patients

When, for whatever reason, contract negotiations blow up between large insurers like UnitedHealthcare and flagship health systems like Johns Hopkins, Medicare Advantage patients deal with the fallout — which can mean changing where they get care, higher costs and unwanted stress.

House Reconciliation Bill Could Trigger $500 Billion in Mandatory Medicare Cuts The reconciliation bill reported out of the House Budget Committee would increase the deficit compared to current law by at least $2.3 trillion. If enacted into law in its current form, and Congress t...

Here’s a tidbit from CBO that hasn’t gotten a lot of attention. CBO says the House bill will trigger about $500 billion in Medicare savings unless Congress takes action. www.kff.org/quick-take/h...

President Trump’s drug pricing executive order could go in one of two ways. It could be a sweeping hit on drug companies, prices and potentially access, or it could be implemented in a way that has minimal impact. Either way, it will likely be challenged by the industry in the courts.

Mapping Hospitals By Congressional District | KFF Changes to Medicaid funding, eligibility and enrollment could impact hospital finances. This interactive map shows the number of hospitals in each congressional district. There is at least one hospita...

The House is starting to consider substantial cuts to Medicaid - cuts that could have direct and indirect effects on hospitals and local economies. Our new analysis shows that every congressional district has at least one hospital. Most have many more. www.kff.org/medicaid/iss...

The Administration is moving forward with the popular idea of most favored nation drug prices. Next up are wonky but important policy questions, like how would this work with the Medicare negotiations program, what’s the impact on prices for others, and how would it interact with tariffs?

Will the Trump Administration Fast Track the Privatization of Medicare | KFF The privatization of Medicare has been taking place without much public debate – a trend that has implications for the 68 million people covered by Medicare, health care providers, Medicare spending, ...

Will we learn from Dr. Oz's confirmation hearing what the Trump Administration has in mind for Medicare's future? What does the future hold for beneficiaries, providers, plans & spending?

www.kff.org/policy-watch...

Will the Trump Administration Fast Track the Privatization of Medicare | KFF

DOGE is now raising alarms about Medicare fraud. President Trump fired The HHS OIG who oversees investigations into fraudulent programs and contracts within HHS, including Medicare.

Six decades ago President Johnson used participation in Medicare as leverage to desegregate hospitals.

Today President Trump issued an order to use Medicare participation as leverage to get health care providers to stop providing gender-affirming care to youth.

Hospital Margins Rebounded in 2023, But Rural Hospitals and Those With High Medicaid Shares Were Struggling More Than Others | KFF This data note examines trends in hospital margins from 2018 through 2023 and how operating margins varied across different types of hospitals in 2023. It shows the industry overall experienced a rebo...

As incoming Trump admin and new Congress may consider federal cuts to #Medicaid there could be implications for coverage, state budgets and providers. #KFF brief shows operating margins were lower than avg among hospitals with high Medicaid shares in rural and urban areas www.kff.org/health-costs...

Medicare Spending was 27% More for People who Disenrolled from Medicare Advantage than for Similar People in Traditional Medicare | KFF This analysis looks at traditional Medicare spending among people who choose to disenroll from Medicare Advantage and obtain coverage under traditional Medicare during the annual Medicare open enrollm...

You can read our full analysis here led by Jeannie Fuglesten Biniek

While few switch from Medicare Advantage to traditional Medicare each year, these findings leave us wondering why they disenroll (given the extra benefits) and use more services and incur higher costs in the following year than similar people in traditional Medicare?

Among Medicare beneficiaries with certain types of cancers, spending was higher for people who disenrolled from Medicare Advantage ($4,907 or 28%), on average, than for similar beneficiaries who were continuously in traditional Medicare.

Interestingly, skilled nursing facility spending accounted for the largest share of the difference in average Medicare spending per person (34%), followed by outpatient hospital spending (23%), and inpatient hospital spending (20%).

We found that Medicare spent MORE for people in traditional Medicare in the year after they disenroll from Medicare Advantage than for similar people continuously covered under traditional Medicare.

How much more?

About 27% more, on average. That’s $2,585 per person in 2022.

As Medicare’s open enrollment period winds down, some will keep their coverage, some will change plans, and some will drop their Medicare Advantage plan and switch to traditional Medicare.

KFF crunched some numbers to see what happens when people make that switch...

Medicare Advantage 2025 Spotlight: A First Look at Plan Offerings | KFF This brief provides an overview of the Medicare Advantage plans that are available for 2025 and key trends over time. The average Medicare beneficiary will have the option of 34 Medicare Advantage pre...

Our latest finds plenty of Medicare Advantage options in 2025.The average beneficiary can choose among 34 MA prescription drug plans. Choice is great but it's not easy to compare premiums, cost-sharing, provider networks, extra benefits and drug formularies -for starters. www.kff.org/medicare/iss...