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State Health Coverage for Immigrants and Implications for Health Coverage and Care | KFF
Noncitizen immigrants, particularly those who are undocumented, face significant barriers to accessing health coverage and care and are significantly more likely than citizens to be uninsured. Some states have taken up options in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to expand coverage for lawfully present immigrants and/or established fully state-funded programs to fill gaps in coverage for immigrants. This brief provides an overview of state health coverage programs for immigrants regardless of status and examines how health coverage for immigrants vary by state coverage policies using data from the 2023 KFF/LA Times Survey of Immigrants.
Final Prior Authorization Rules Look to Streamline the Process, but Issues Remain | KFF
This brief examines the final CMS regulations governing prior authorization in Medicare Advantage, Marketplace, Medicaid, and other plans, how they might address some current consumer concerns, and some issues that remain.
What You Need to Know About Medicaid Managed Care, Amid the New Federal Rules | KFF
Managed care is the most common delivery system for Medicaid. Most states (42, including DC) use comprehensive managed care plans to provide care to at least some of their Medicaid enrollees, according to KFF’s updated explainer. Roughly 3 out of 4 Medicaid enrollees receive care through managed care organizations and payments to these organizations account<span class="readmore-ellipsis">…</span><a href="https://www.kff.org/medicaid/press-release/what-you-need-to-know-about-medicaid-managed-care-amid-the-new-federal-rules/" class="see-more light-beige no-float inline-readmore">More</a></p>
Preventive Services Tracker | KFF
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires new private health insurance plans to cover many recommended preventive services without any patient cost-sharing. This tracker presents up-to-date information on the adult preventive services nongrandfathered private plans must cover, by condition, including a summary of the recommendation, the target population, the effective date of coverage, and related federal coverage clarifications.
Revisions to Federal Standards for Collecting and Reporting Data on Race and Ethnicity: What are They and Why do They Matter? | KFF
This brief discusses why and how federal standards for collecting race and ethnicity data have been revised, highlights some of the key changes to data collection and reporting starting in 2024, and discusses the implications of these changes. The brief also includes analysis of how self-reported racial and ethnic classifications have changed among the U.S. population over time.
Coverage of Sexual and Reproductive Health Services in Medicare | KFF
This brief describes Medicare coverage of sexual and reproductive health services, including contraception, and compares that coverage with private insurance plans and Medicaid. These benefits are particularly relevant to nearly 1 million women of reproductive age (20-49) who are eligible for Medicare due to having a long-term disability.
Florida’s Recent Heat Protection Preemption Law Could Disproportionately Affect Hispanic and Noncitizen Immigrant Workers | KFF
The Florida legislation prevents city and county governments from requiring that employers, including government contractors, provide heat protections for outdoor workers outside of those required under state or federal law. These protections include requiring water breaks and other cooling measures for outdoor workers. The law could impact nearly 1.8 million nonelderly adult outdoor workers in Florida, who are disproportionately Hispanic and noncitizen immigrant workers.
An Estimated 1 in 4 Medicare Beneficiaries With Obesity or Overweight Could Be Eligible for Medicare Coverage of Wegovy, an Anti-Obesity Drug, to Reduce Heart Risk | KFF
In a new analysis, KFF finds that 3.6 million people with Medicare could be eligible for coverage of Wegovy (semaglutide) now that the Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of the anti-obesity drug to reduce the risk of heart attacks and stroke in certain patients. This change potentially allows access to Wegovy for<span class="readmore-ellipsis">…</span><a href="https://www.kff.org/medicare/press-release/an-estimated-1-in-4-medicare-beneficiaries-with-obesity-or-overweight-could-be-eligible-for-medicare-coverage-of-wegovy-an-anti-obesity-drug-to-reduce-heart-risk/" class="see-more light-beige no-float inline-readmore">More</a></p>
Donor Government Funding for Global Family Planning Declines to Lowest Level Since 2016 | KFF
A new KFF analysis finds donor government funding for family planning efforts in low- and middle-income countries totaled US$1.35 billion in 2022, a decline of 9% (US$129 million) compared to 2021 ($1.48 billion). This figure marks the lowest level of funding since 2016 ($1.31 billion). While some of the decline was because of decreases in<span class="readmore-ellipsis">…</span><a href="https://www.kff.org/global-health-policy/press-release/donor-government-funding-for-global-family-planning-declines-to-lowest-level-since-2016/" class="see-more light-beige no-float inline-readmore">More</a></p>
A New Use for Wegovy Opens the Door to Medicare Coverage for Millions of People with Obesity | KFF
The FDA recently approved a new use for Wegovy, the blockbuster anti-obesity drug, to reduce the risk of heart attacks and stroke in people with cardiovascular disease who are overweight or obese - a decision that opens the door to Medicare coverage of Wegovy, which is prohibited by law from covering drugs used for obesity. This brief analyses how many Medicare beneficiaries could be eligible for the new use of Wegovy and the potential impact on Medicare spending.
Examining New Medicaid Resources to Expand School-Based Behavioral Health Services | KFF
In light of worsening mental health among youth, strategies have been implemented to improve access to behavioral health services in recent years, including expanding school-based care for students. Leveraging Medicaid to improve and address gaps in school-based behavioral health services has been a key strategy in recent years as youth mental health concerns have grown. Provisions from the Safer Communities Act of 2022 utilize Medicaid to expand both school-based health care and other mechanisms of youth behavioral health care. This issue brief explores the implementation of these provisions from the Safer Communities Act thus far, with a focus on the guidance issued from CMS.
Donor Government Funding for Family Planning in 2022 | KFF
This report provides an analysis of donor government funding to address family planning in low- and middle-income countries in 2022, which totaled US$1.35 billion and was a decline of 9% (US$129 million) compared to the 2021 amount (US$1.48 billion). While the decline was due to decreases in funding by most donor governments, a significant share can be attributed to exchange rate fluctuations resulting from the rise in value of the U.S. dollar against most currencies during 2022.
The Vast Majority of Nursing Facilities Will Need to Hire More Staff to Comply with the Final Federal Rule When Fully Implemented, Unless They Qualify for an Exemption | KFF
Based on a new KFF analysis, fewer than 1 in 5 (19%) nursing facilities currently meet the minimum staffing standards set out in the final requirements of the federal rule released today by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). CMS adopted staffing standards that are similar to the staffing requirements in the rule<span class="readmore-ellipsis">…</span><a href="https://www.kff.org/medicaid/press-release/the-vast-majority-of-nursing-facilities-will-need-to-hire-more-staff-to-comply-with-the-final-federal-rule-when-fully-implemented-unless-they-qualify-for-an-exemption/" class="see-more light-beige no-float inline-readmore">More</a></p>
At the Supreme Court: What’s at Stake for Emergency Abortion Care? | KFF
On April 24, the Supreme Court will hear Idaho v. United States—the second case this term involving access to abortion. In a new brief, KFF examines what’s at stake, focusing on whether the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA)—a federal law requiring nearly all hospitals to ensure emergency room patients are stable before<span class="readmore-ellipsis">…</span><a href="https://www.kff.org/womens-health-policy/press-release/at-the-supreme-court-whats-at-stake-for-emergency-abortion-care/" class="see-more light-beige no-float inline-readmore">More</a></p>
With Current Staffing Levels, About 1 in 5 Nursing Facilities Would Meet Fully-Implemented Minimum Staffing Standards in the Final Rule | KFF
This analysis uses the most recently-available data to examine the percentage of nursing facilities that currently meet the minimum staffing requirements in the final rule.
Abortion Back at SCOTUS: Can States Ban Emergency Abortion Care for Pregnant Patients? | KFF
On April 24, 2024, the Supreme Court will hear the second case this term involving access to abortion: Idaho v. United States. At stake in this case is whether the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act, a federal law requiring hospitals to provide stabilizing treatment to patients who present to their emergency rooms, preempts state abortion laws and requires hospitals that accept Medicare to provide abortion care when it is necessary to stabilize a patient’s condition, even when this abortion care violates state law.
Recent Trends in Community Health Center Patients, Services, and Financing | KFF
Community health centers are a national network of over 1,300 safety-net primary care providers, serving more than 30 million patients in 2022. They are located in medically underserved urban and rural communities and serve all patients regardless of their ability to pay. Health centers also played a major role in the nation’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, particularly for hard-to-reach populations. This brief analyzes the changes in health center patients, services, and financing from 2019 (pre-pandemic) through 2022, using the Uniform Data System (UDS), to which all health centers are required to report annually.
Ten Things to Know About Consolidation in Health Care Provider Markets | KFF
As policymakers and regulators pay more attention to consolidation in health care provider markets, this brief examines and summarizes the evidence about consolidation, including recent trends, the impact on prices and quality, and proposals to address consolidation and increase competition.
Ten Things to Know About Consolidation in Health Care Provider Markets | KFF
Mergers and acquisitions involving hospitals and other health care providers are drawing attention from federal and state regulators, including the Federal Trade Commission, and policymakers amid concerns that such consolidations can reduce competition and contribute to the high costs of health care. A new KFF brief examines and summarizes the evidence about consolidation among health<span class="readmore-ellipsis">…</span><a href="https://www.kff.org/health-costs/press-release/ten-things-to-know-about-consolidation-in-health-care-provider-markets/" class="see-more light-beige no-float inline-readmore">More</a></p>
Section 1115 Waiver Watch: Medicaid Pre-Release Services for People Who Are Incarcerated | KFF
In April 2023, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released guidance encouraging states to apply for a new Section 1115 demonstration opportunity to test transition-related strategies to support community reentry for people who are incarcerated. To date, CMS has approved Section 1115 reentry waiver requests from three states (California, Montana, and Washington). This Waiver Watch reviews CMS guidance and summarizes key features of the three approved 1115 reentry waivers.
Explainer: How States Are Using Medicaid Waivers to Help Incarcerated Individuals Get Care and Transition Back into Their Communities | KFF
Compared to the general population, individuals who are incarcerated have higher rates of mental illness, substance use disorder, and chronic disease. However, the federal “inmate exclusion” policy prohibits Medicaid coverage for people who are incarcerated (except for limited inpatient hospital services). When people leave incarceration, they are at greater risk of overdose death and suicide,<span class="readmore-ellipsis">…</span><a href="https://www.kff.org/medicaid/press-release/explainer-how-states-are-using-medicaid-waivers-to-help-incarcerated-individuals-get-care-and-transition-back-into-their-communities/" class="see-more light-beige no-float inline-readmore">More</a></p>
Could the Comstock Act Be Used to Limit Abortion Access Nationwide? | KFF
In a new brief, KFF examines how the Comstock Act, an 1873 anti-vice law banning the mailing of obscene matter and articles, could be used by an anti-abortion presidential administration to sharply restrict the availability of abortion nationwide. The Biden Administration’s Department of Justice has said the Comstock Act should not be interpreted literally with<span class="readmore-ellipsis">…</span><a href="https://www.kff.org/womens-health-policy/press-release/could-the-comstock-act-be-used-to-limit-abortion-access-nationwide/" class="see-more light-beige no-float inline-readmore">More</a></p>
The Comstock Act: Implications for Abortion Care Nationwide | KFF
This brief provides background on the Comstock Act, reviews how it has been interpreted by the Biden Administration’s DOJ, and considers how it could be enforced by an administration that is hostile toward abortion to severely restrict the distribution of drugs and supplies used for abortion, with implications for abortion access in all states across the country.
Retiree Health Benefits: Going, Going, Nearly Gone? | KFF
This data note analyzes five national surveys to assess trends in retiree health coverage among people ages 65 and older. These five surveys produce somewhat different estimates of retiree health coverage, but together paint a clear picture: the share of Medicare-age adults with employer- or union-sponsored retiree health coverage has been shrinking and appears to be on the way to extinction.
Nearly a Quarter of People Who Say They Were Disenrolled from Medicaid During the Unwinding Are Now Uninsured | KFF
Nearly a quarter (23%) of adults who say they were disenrolled from Medicaid since early 2023 report being uninsured now, finds a new KFF national survey examining how the unwinding affected enrollees. Overall, 19% of adults who had Medicaid prior to the start of unwinding say they were disenrolled at some point in the past<span class="readmore-ellipsis">…</span><a href="https://www.kff.org/medicaid/press-release/nearly-a-quarter-of-people-who-say-they-were-disenrolled-from-medicaid-during-the-unwinding-are-now-uninsured/" class="see-more light-beige no-float inline-readmore">More</a></p>
Five Key Facts About Black Immigrants’ Experiences in the United States | KFF
Black immigrants come to the U.S. seeking more opportunities for themselves and their children, and most report improved educational opportunities and employment and financial situations as a result of moving to the U.S. However, Black immigrants report disproportionate levels of unfair treatment and discrimination in their workplaces, communities, and when seeking health care, reflecting the intersectional impacts of racism and anti-immigrant sentiment.
KFF Survey of Medicaid Unwinding | KFF
KFF's survey examines adults who had Medicaid coverage in early 2023, just before states resumed eligibility checks and disenrollments after pandemic-era protections ended. Nearly a quarter (23%) of adults who say they were disenrolled from Medicaid since early 2023 report being uninsured now. Overall, 19% of adults who had Medicaid prior to the start of unwinding say they were disenrolled at some point in the past year.
Gaps in Medicare Advantage Data Remain Despite CMS Actions to Increase Transparency | KFF
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has recently taken actions to increase transparency in Medicare Advantage, however substantial data gaps remain that limit the ability of policymakers and researchers to conduct oversight and assess the program's performance, and for Medicare beneficiaries to compare Medicare Advantage plans offered in their area.
From Drew Altman | KFF From Drew Altman
From Drew Altman Drew Altman is president and chief executive officer of KFF, a position he has held for more than 30 years since founding the modern-day KFF organization in the 1990s. He is a leading expert on national health policy issues and an innovator in health journalism and the nonprofit field. President’s Message This<span class="readmore-ellipsis">…</span><a href="https://www.kff.org/from-ceo-drew-altman/" class="see-more light-beige no-float inline-readmore">More</a></p>
More On Health and Politics: The Peculiar Timing of Republican Health Policy Plans | KFF
In this column, KFF President and CEO Drew Altman examines the conservative Republican Study Committee’s sweeping proposals to remake Medicare, Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act and their potential to make waves in this year’s elections. Whether former President Trump ignores, embraces, or repudiates their ideas will be key.
Upcoming SCOTUS Case Could Weaken the Impact of Regulation on Key Patient and Consumer Protections | KFF
This brief discusses the longstanding legal doctrine, Chevron deference, being challenged in two cases before the U.S. Supreme Court and includes examples of what could be at stake for health care consumers should federal courts no longer use this doctrine to address litigation related to federal health regulations. The focus here is on patient and consumer protection regulation, but overturning the Chevron deference would have implications in all areas of health care.
Long COVID Rates Appear to be Stabilizing, Affecting About 1 in 10 Adults Who Have Had COVID | KFF
Rates of long COVID have begun to flatten. About 1 in 10 adults with COVID have reported having long COVID since rates fell in 2023, according to a KFF analysis of the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If the rate continues to hold steady, new forms of prevention or treatment<span class="readmore-ellipsis">…</span><a href="https://www.kff.org/coronavirus-covid-19/press-release/long-covid-rates-appear-to-be-stabilizing-affecting-about-1-in-10-adults-who-have-had-covid/" class="see-more light-beige no-float inline-readmore">More</a></p>
One in Five Women of Reproductive Age in States with Abortion Bans Say They or Someone They Know Has Had Difficulty Accessing an Abortion Since Dobbs | KFF
According to new KFF polling, in states with abortion bans, one in five (21%) women of reproductive age (18 to 49) and one in seven (14%) of all women say either they or someone they know has had difficulty accessing an abortion since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. The survey finds that among<span class="readmore-ellipsis">…</span><a href="https://www.kff.org/womens-health-policy/press-release/one-in-five-women-of-reproductive-age-in-states-with-abortion-bans-say-they-or-someone-they-know-has-had-difficulty-accessing-an-abortion-since-dobbs/" class="see-more light-beige no-float inline-readmore">More</a></p>
Women’s Views of Abortion Access and Policies in the Dobbs Era: Insights From the KFF Health Tracking Poll | KFF
Our latest poll finds one in five women of reproductive age in states with abortion bans say either they or someone they personally know has had difficulty obtaining an abortion. Majorities of women across states—including in those with abortion bans—think abortion should be legal in all or most cases and support a range of policies that protect abortion access.