Daily Briefing

Tuesday, June 30, 2026

Federal Policy

Federal Policy·7:32 AM MT

Trump Administration Obesity Drug Agreement Faces Implementation Issues

The Trump administration's negotiated agreement with Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk regarding obesity medication pricing and coverage is encountering implementation problems. The deal, which was intended to expand access to GLP-1 medications while controlling costs, contains unspecified loopholes or structural issues affecting its execution. The problems impact how these high-cost medications are covered and reimbursed under federal health programs. Medicaid managed care organizations should monitor whether state programs adjust coverage policies or capitation rates in response to these federal-level complications.

Why it matters for managed care

GLP-1 medications represent one of the fastest-growing pharmacy cost drivers for Medicaid MCOs, and any federal pricing or coverage framework directly affects plan formularies, prior authorization protocols, and budget forecasting.

statnews.com →Pharmacy · Managed Care · Finance

Federal Policy·7:33 AM MT

GAO Adds Fourth Priority Recommendation for Social Security Administration

The Government Accountability Office identified one additional priority recommendation for the Social Security Administration in June 2026, bringing the total to four open priority recommendations. SSA has not implemented any of the three recommendations GAO identified in May 2025. The priority areas include preventing potential overpayments in Disability Insurance, improving online application access for Social Security benefits, and managing IT investments cost-effectively. GAO emphasizes these recommendations warrant urgent attention from SSA leadership to strengthen internal controls, improve service delivery, and identify opportunities for efficiency and cost savings.

Why it matters for managed care

Medicaid managed care organizations with dual-eligible members or integrated care arrangements need visibility into SSA operations because SSA disability determinations affect Medicaid eligibility and coordination of benefits for dual-eligible populations.

gao.gov →

Federal Policy·7:31 AM MT

ONC Awards New Contract to Oversee TEFCA Data Exchange Framework

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) has awarded a new contract to oversee the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA), the federal framework governing nationwide health information exchange. The move comes as the volume of health records exchanged through TEFCA increases significantly. The new oversight contractor will monitor compliance with TEFCA's technical and legal requirements for data sharing among qualified health information networks. This expansion of oversight signals federal emphasis on ensuring secure, standardized data exchange as TEFCA adoption accelerates.

Why it matters for managed care

Medicaid MCOs must comply with TEFCA data sharing requirements when exchanging member health information, and expanded federal oversight may lead to stricter enforcement of technical standards and data use agreements that affect MCO health information exchange infrastructure and vendor relationships.

healthcaredive.com →Managed Care

Managed Care

Managed Care·7:33 AM MT

Cityblock CEO: Most Health Care AI Invests in Billing, Not Care Delivery

Dr. Toyin Ajayi, CEO of Cityblock Health, argues that approximately 60 percent of health care AI investment focuses on billing, coding, and risk adjustment rather than care delivery. Cityblock serves over 100,000 Medicaid and dual-eligible members across ten states. Ajayi contends that redirecting AI investment toward care delivery for high-need populations can lower costs while improving outcomes. She discusses how Cityblock currently uses AI to enhance care and patient experience for Medicaid managed care enrollees.

Why it matters for managed care

MCOs investing in AI for administrative functions may miss cost-saving opportunities from AI-driven care interventions targeting high-cost, high-need Medicaid populations.

kff.org →Managed Care

Managed Care·IL·7:31 AM MT

Chicago Safety-Net Hospital Faces Closure Over Medicaid MCO Payment Delays

Roseland Community Hospital on Chicago's South Side is struggling to make payroll due to delayed payments from CountyCare, Cook County's largest Medicaid managed care organization. The facility barely met its June 30 payroll and CEO Tim Egan described the financial situation as critical. The hospital serves a predominantly Medicaid population in an underserved area. Payment delays from Medicaid MCOs threaten the facility's ability to remain operational.

Why it matters for managed care

MCO payment delays can destabilize essential safety-net providers, risking network adequacy violations and triggering state scrutiny of prompt payment compliance.

beckershospitalreview.com →Managed Care · Finance

Managed Care·CO·7:30 AM MT

Denver Health CEO Discusses Housing Program for Medicaid, Uninsured Patients

Denver Health CEO Donna Lynne describes the health system's Housing Outreach, Partnerships and Engagement (HOPE) program, which provides 34 apartments to patients experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity. The program, which won the 2026 AHA Dick Davidson NOVA Award, includes 20 recuperative care units with average 2-3 day stays and 14 longer-term apartments for up to six months. Denver Health serves a patient population that is 47% Medicaid and 15% uninsured; the program reduces length of stay and readmissions for homeless patients, who typically stay 2.5 times longer than housed patients. The health system partners with Colorado Coalition for the Homeless and Denver Housing Authority to transition patients to permanent housing.

Why it matters for managed care

Medicaid MCOs face growing pressure to address social determinants of health and manage total cost of care; Denver Health's program demonstrates a replicable model for reducing avoidable utilization and improving outcomes for high-cost, housing-insecure members through clinical-housing partnerships.

aha.org →Managed Care · Behavioral Health

State Policy

State Policy·IN·7:30 AM MT

Indiana Medicaid Enrollment Drops 174,000 Children in Three Months

Indiana lost 174,000 children from Medicaid between January and April 2025, a 20% decline that represents the steepest percentage drop in the nation, according to Georgetown University's Center for Children and Families. The state also recorded the third-highest absolute enrollment decline nationally during this period. This drop follows the end of continuous enrollment protections that were in place during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Indiana's redetermination process appears to be resulting in significantly higher disenrollment rates than most other states.

Why it matters for managed care

Rapid pediatric enrollment declines directly affect MCO capitation revenue, member months, and risk adjustment calculations, while potentially increasing administrative costs for re-enrollment and care continuity gaps.

indianacapitalchronicle.com →CHIP · Managed Care

State Policy·7:32 AM MT

NASHP Releases Five-State Behavioral Health Workforce Policy Academy Results

The National Academy for State Health Policy published findings from a multi-state policy academy focused on strengthening the behavioral health workforce. Five states participated in the initiative to develop and implement workforce development strategies. The report includes success stories and resources documenting state-level approaches to addressing provider shortages and building capacity. The findings are relevant to Medicaid managed care organizations operating in states that participated or considering similar workforce development partnerships with state agencies.

Why it matters for managed care

MCOs face network adequacy challenges in behavioral health; state workforce initiatives directly affect provider availability, contracting strategies, and compliance with access standards.

nashp.org →Behavioral Health · Managed Care

Legal

Legal·PA·7:31 AM MT

Pennsylvania Joins Multi-State Lawsuit Challenging Federal Medicaid Work Requirement Rules

Pennsylvania has joined a multi-state lawsuit against the Trump administration over new Medicaid work requirement rules. The litigation challenges federal restrictions on how states can handle applicants deemed medically frail, a term that lacks a standardized definition in Medicaid policy. The lawsuit represents a coordinated state effort to block implementation of the work requirement framework. This legal action creates compliance uncertainty for managed care organizations operating in participating states as they await court resolution on exemption criteria and enrollment procedures.

Why it matters for managed care

MCOs in Pennsylvania and other plaintiff states face operational uncertainty around member eligibility determinations, exemption processing, and potential enrollment disruptions pending litigation outcome.

penncapital-star.com →Managed Care

Legal·MS·7:30 AM MT

Mississippi Judge Orders Emergency Medicaid Payment to Prevent Hospital Closure

A judge has ordered Mississippi Medicaid officials to make an emergency payment to Greenwood Leflore Hospital to prevent its imminent closure this week. The Delta hospital argued that without the payment, it would be forced to shut down, threatening a proposed agreement for the University of Mississippi Medical Center to assume operations. The court intervention ensures continued access to hospital services in the region while the UMMC takeover arrangement moves forward. The case highlights the acute financial pressures facing rural hospitals dependent on Medicaid reimbursement.

Why it matters for managed care

Court-ordered emergency payments to prevent provider network disruptions create precedent for Medicaid managed care organizations facing similar rural hospital closures and network adequacy requirements.

mississippitoday.org →Managed Care · Finance

Legal·TX·7:32 AM MT

AstraZeneca Pays $34 Million to Settle Texas Medicaid Kickback Claims

AstraZeneca agreed to pay $34 million to resolve allegations brought by the Texas Attorney General that the company paid kickbacks to improperly influence prescriptions reimbursed by Texas Medicaid. The settlement resolves claims that the pharmaceutical manufacturer violated anti-kickback statutes through payments that influenced prescribing behavior for drugs covered under the state's Medicaid program. The settlement does not include an admission of liability but ends the state's enforcement action against the company.

Why it matters for managed care

This settlement underscores state-level enforcement of anti-kickback provisions and signals continued scrutiny of pharmaceutical manufacturer relationships that may inflate Medicaid drug spending.

statnews.com →Pharmacy · Managed Care

Industry

Industry·7:31 AM MT

PBM Trade Group Escalates Advocacy Against Drugmakers Following Congressional Overhaul

The leading pharmacy benefit manager lobbying organization is intensifying its advocacy campaign against pharmaceutical manufacturers after Congress enacted comprehensive PBM reform legislation earlier this year. The pharmaceutical industry has long blamed PBMs for high drug costs, culminating in legislative action this past winter. The lobbying escalation suggests ongoing tension between PBMs and drugmakers over responsibility for drug pricing and the implementation of new federal oversight provisions that affect both sectors.

Why it matters for managed care

PBM reform implementation will directly affect Medicaid managed care pharmacy contracts, rebate structures, and drug cost transparency requirements that MCOs must navigate with their PBM vendors.

thehill.com →Pharmacy · Managed Care