Federal Policy
9Federal Policy·7:40 AM MT
CMS has issued guidance interpreting recent Medicaid legislation in a manner that cancer patient advocates argue fails to deliver promised protections from coverage cuts. Blood Cancer United's Gwen Nichols warns that vulnerable oncology patients face exposure to benefit reductions or coverage limitations despite congressional assurances. The interpretation affects how states and managed care organizations implement Medicaid changes affecting cancer treatment access and continuity of care. The guidance creates immediate operational uncertainty for MCOs managing oncology benefits and prior authorization protocols.
Why it matters for managed careMCOs must review oncology benefit designs and utilization management protocols to ensure compliance with CMS guidance while managing potential member grievances and continuity of care issues for cancer patients.
Federal Policy·2:03 PM MT
The Government Accountability Office identified seven federal agencies with programs reporting improper payment rates of 10 percent or higher for 2-4 consecutive years from fiscal years 2021-2024, including HHS Medicaid programs. Five of seven agencies lacked documented policies to ensure timely reporting to Congress as required under the Payment Integrity Information Act of 2019. GAO found that OMB guidance does not direct noncompliant agencies to submit required annual reports, limiting congressional oversight. The report recommends agencies establish formal procedures to ensure compliance with PIIA reporting requirements for programs with persistent improper payment issues.
Why it matters for managed careMedicaid consistently ranks among federal programs with the highest improper payment rates, and GAO's finding that agencies lack reporting procedures suggests continued gaps in oversight and accountability that affect managed care integrity efforts and federal-state payment accuracy initiatives.
Federal Policy·2:11 PM MT
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is working with state health information exchanges to access Americans' medical records as part of an initiative examining autism and vaccine data. In Nebraska, a state nonprofit health information organization receiving federal funding is cooperating with the project. The effort involves collecting and analyzing health data from multiple states through existing health information sharing infrastructure. The scope and timeline of data access remain unclear, as does whether patient consent protocols or HIPAA safeguards will apply to the federal review.
Why it matters for managed careMedicaid managed care organizations may face federal data requests through state HIE participation and must clarify their obligations under existing data sharing agreements, HIPAA business associate arrangements, and state privacy laws.
Federal Policy·2:10 PM MT
The Trump administration has taken action to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives across federal agencies. The brief examines the status of these actions and their potential impact on racial health disparities. For Medicaid managed care organizations, these changes may affect federal health equity requirements, data collection mandates, and program priorities that have shaped health plan operations and reporting obligations. The brief does not specify effective dates for all changes, though the administration's directives are already underway.
Why it matters for managed careFederal DEI elimination could reshape Medicaid MCO health equity reporting requirements, stratified quality metrics, and HEDIS measures tied to disparity reduction.
Federal Policy·1:56 PM MT
The Trump administration has issued directives eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion programs across federal agencies, including HHS. These actions affect workforce policies, grant programs, and research initiatives previously focused on reducing racial health disparities. Implementation timelines vary by agency and program type. Medicaid managed care organizations may see changes to federal guidance on health equity strategies, data collection requirements for stratified quality measures, and expectations around addressing disparities in member populations.
Why it matters for managed careFederal elimination of DEI frameworks may alter CMS expectations for MCO health equity plans, HEDIS stratified reporting, and contractual requirements to address racial and ethnic disparities in access and outcomes.
Federal Policy·1:56 PM MT
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is pursuing access to Americans' medical records through state health information exchanges to examine potential links between autism and vaccines. The effort involves partnerships with state-level health information organizations that facilitate medical record sharing among health systems. At least one state organization, a Nebraska nonprofit, has received millions in federal funding and is cooperating with the project. The scope, timeline, and specific data access mechanisms remain unclear.
Why it matters for managed careMedicaid managed care organizations may face new federal data reporting requirements or direct data requests related to autism diagnoses and vaccination records, requiring review of existing data-sharing agreements and HIPAA compliance protocols.
Federal Policy·7:40 PM MT
States are using federal Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) grants to address maternal health access gaps in rural counties, with a mandatory October 30, 2026 deadline to obligate first-year awards. Initiatives include financial supports to sustain low-volume labor and delivery units, emergency OB equipment for rural hospitals, and workforce expansion through doulas, community health workers, and certified nurse midwives. Over 130 rural labor and delivery units have closed since 2020, leaving one in three U.S. counties without hospital-based obstetric care. States including Alabama, Alaska, New Mexico, California, and Iowa are prioritizing maternal health infrastructure, telehealth-enabled prenatal care, and incentive payments for rural providers serving high-need populations.
Why it matters for managed careMedicaid MCOs with rural networks must align with state RHTP maternal health strategies, particularly around alternative provider credentialing (doulas, CHWs, midwives), telehealth infrastructure for prenatal/postpartum care, and value-based payment models for sustaining low-volume rural OB services before the October 2026 funding deadline.
Federal Policy·7:40 PM MT
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) publicly blamed HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for a resurgence in vaccine-preventable diseases, citing a New York Times report that hospitals are seeing illnesses previously controlled by childhood immunizations. The statement comes as doctors report increased cases of diseases they rarely encountered in recent years. The criticism targets Kennedy's well-documented skepticism of vaccines and his influence over federal health policy. No immediate policy change or enforcement action has been announced.
Why it matters for managed careDeclining childhood vaccination rates could increase preventable disease burden in Medicaid and CHIP populations, driving higher utilization and costs for managed care organizations with significant pediatric enrollment.
Federal Policy·7:00 PM MT
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) publicly criticized HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for contributing to a resurgence in vaccine-preventable illnesses, citing a New York Times report that hospitals are seeing increased cases of diseases previously rare due to vaccination. The senator's statement on social media directly linked Kennedy's leadership to the public health trend reported by doctors. This marks a notable Republican critique of the HHS secretary on vaccination policy. The timing follows broader debates about vaccine policy and public health messaging under the current administration.
Why it matters for managed careChanges in federal vaccination policy or messaging from HHS leadership could affect Medicaid managed care plans' immunization quality measures, HEDIS rates, and preventive care coordination for pediatric and adult populations.
State Policy
4State Policy·WI·7:40 AM MT
Wisconsin's APRN Modernization Act, passed in August 2025, takes effect September 1, 2026, granting Advanced Practice Registered Nurses full practice authority without requiring collaborative arrangements with physicians. Wisconsin becomes one of approximately two dozen states with full practice authority for APRNs. The change affects how Medicaid managed care organizations credential, contract with, and reimburse APRNs as independent practitioners. MCOs must update provider networks, credentialing policies, and reimbursement methodologies to reflect APRNs' expanded scope of practice.
Why it matters for managed careMedicaid MCOs in Wisconsin must revise provider contracting, credentialing standards, and network adequacy calculations by September 2026 to accommodate APRNs practicing independently without physician oversight.
State Policy·WI·7:00 AM MT
Wisconsin's APRN Modernization Act, passed in August 2025, takes effect September 1, 2026, eliminating the requirement that advanced practice registered nurses practice under collaborative arrangements with physicians. Wisconsin joins a growing number of states granting APRNs full practice authority. The change affects network composition and workforce planning for Medicaid managed care organizations that rely on APRNs for primary care, behavioral health, and specialty services. MCOs should review provider contracts, credentialing processes, and network adequacy standards to ensure compliance with the new scope of practice rules.
Why it matters for managed careMCOs must update provider networks, credentialing criteria, and delegation agreements to reflect expanded APRN scope of practice, which may improve network adequacy in underserved areas but requires compliance updates before the September 2026 effective date.
State Policy·LA·9:54 AM MT
Louisiana enacted a law one year ago requiring state agencies to report undocumented immigrants to federal authorities, which has resulted in eligible immigrant families avoiding Medicaid applications for themselves and their qualifying children. The law applies broadly to state benefit programs including Medicaid. Eligible children, including U.S. citizens in mixed-status families, are reportedly foregoing enrollment due to fear of family separation or deportation. The chilling effect has reduced uptake of services among populations with legal eligibility, creating coverage gaps and uncompensated care risk.
Why it matters for managed careMCOs face lower enrollment and increased uncompensated care risk when eligible children and pregnant women avoid enrollment due to immigration-related policies, affecting revenue and utilization forecasts.
State Policy·LA·7:00 AM MT
Louisiana's year-old immigration reporting requirement is deterring eligible immigrants and their children from enrolling in Medicaid despite qualifying for coverage. The law creates a chilling effect on enrollment as families fear immigration consequences, even when children are U.S. citizens or otherwise eligible. State data shows enrollment declines among immigrant populations since implementation. The measure affects Medicaid managed care organizations through reduced enrollment and heightened barriers to reaching eligible populations, particularly children and pregnant women.
Why it matters for managed careReduced enrollment among eligible populations affects MCO premium revenue, risk pool composition, and network utilization patterns while creating challenges in meeting access and outreach requirements.
Legal
4Legal·HI·7:00 PM MT
The HHS Office of Inspector General decertified Hawaii's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit effective June 4, 2025, ending federal reimbursement for the unit's operations. Inspector General T. March Bell cited the unit's failure to secure any Medicaid fraud convictions between 2022 and 2025 as the reason for decertification. Hawaii loses access to 75% federal matching funds that support fraud investigation and prosecution activities. This marks a rare enforcement action against a state fraud control unit and signals heightened OIG expectations for measurable fraud enforcement outcomes.
Why it matters for managed careHawaii MCOs lose a critical fraud investigation partner, potentially increasing plans' exposure to undetected provider fraud and abuse while shifting more program integrity responsibility to health plan special investigations units.
Legal·HI·2:02 PM MT
The HHS Office of Inspector General will not recertify Hawaii's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, cutting off $3 million in federal funding after the unit failed to produce any indictments or convictions over four years. Inspector General March Bell notified Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez of the decision in a letter. The decertification means Hawaii loses federal matching funds for its MFCU operations. This is the first known instance of OIG defunding a state MFCU for performance failure.
Why it matters for managed careMFCU oversight affects managed care organizations' fraud and abuse exposure, and this unprecedented defunding signals heightened federal scrutiny of state enforcement capabilities in all states.
Legal·2:02 PM MT
Federal prosecutors opened trial in Fort Lauderdale on June 1 for the final contested case from Operation Nightingale, a fraud scheme that sold approximately 15,000 fake nursing credentials over three years. For the first time, prosecutors are connecting the diploma mill scheme to a patient death. The trial represents the conclusion of a federal enforcement action that exposed thousands of individuals with fraudulent nursing degrees working in healthcare facilities nationwide.
Why it matters for managed careMedicaid managed care organizations face heightened provider credentialing liability and potential network integrity violations if contractors employed nurses with fraudulent licenses, particularly given the first federal prosecution linking fake credentials to patient harm.
Legal·1:56 PM MT
Federal prosecutors have opened trial in Fort Lauderdale for the last contested case in Operation Nightingale, a fraud scheme that sold up to 15,000 fake nursing credentials over three years. For the first time, prosecutors are connecting the credential fraud to a patient death. The case marks the culmination of federal enforcement actions that began more than three years ago when agents first exposed the scheme selling fraudulent nursing degrees and certifications.
Why it matters for managed careMedicaid managed care organizations must verify provider credentials and may face network adequacy issues or compliance exposure if contracted nurses obtained credentials through this scheme.