NEWS & VIEWS

June 5, 2025

HHS Budget Proposal Outline

The White House released an outline for the Health and Human Services (HHS) Fiscal Year 2026 budget proposal last week. Some highlights from the HHS budget proposal include:

• Consolidation: HHS proposes to reduce operating divisions from 28 to 15. Some parts of the department, such as the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, would be absorbed into the Office of the Secretary. 
• Administration for a Healthy America: HHS aims to allot $14 billion in funding and combine multiple agencies, such as HRSA and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, into a new entity called the Administration for a Healthy America. It's tasked with carrying out Kennedy's "Make America Healthy Again" agenda, mainly affecting food, drugs and public health. The agency would also have authority over programs for primary care, maternal health, behavioral health, and some workforce development and research programs.
• 340B Drug Pricing Program: The pharmaceutical discount program for safety-net providers would become CMS's responsibility after more than 30 years under HRSA. The $12 million budget that HRSA has to oversee 340B program would move to CMS.
• Fraud: The HHS budget strongly emphasizes the importance of entities within HHS and at the Justice Department that investigate and prosecute bad actors in Medicare, Medicaid and other HHS programs. In addition to $1.7 billion in mandatory funding for the Healthcare Fraud and Abuse Control program, HHS proposes $941 million in new discretionary spending.

Impacts of One Big Beautiful Bill Act

on ACA Marketplace

On May 22, the House of Representatives passed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which will be taken up by the Senate in the coming weeks. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projected that an earlier version of the bill would reduce health insurance coverage for at least 8.6 million Americans and is still evaluating the full impact of the final bill. Considered alongside what the bill did not include—namely the extension of enhanced premium tax credits—estimates suggest nearly 16 million Americans will become uninsured. 

The 2025 ISHN Conference is NEXT WEEK!

It is not too late to join over 700 school, community, and health professionals at the 2025 ISHN Conference! Preconference sessions kick off on Monday, June 9th, with insightful discussions and expert-led workshops. The two-day conference on June 10th and 11th offers a rich agenda filled with thought-provoking keynote speakers, numerous breakout sessions, and more than 60 exhibitors.

Public Health Nurses + School Health Nurses

= Student Success

In an article published in Public Health Nursing, Erin Maughan recommends the strategic coordination of public health nurses and school nurses to uplift the health of children, families, and communities.

Schools are uniquely positioned to promote public health, teaching students about topics such as healthy behaviors and wellbeing while also providing health screenings for students and sharing resources for families.

CHIP Renewals

Since January 2024, children have had 12 months of continuous eligibility for Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) MA 10 coverage. In May, the Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) updated the Medicaid Policy Manual regarding CHIP MA 10 renewals. CHIP members may qualify for ex parte renewals unless they have overdue premium payments or there is outdated information in their casefile. Benefits will be terminated if they fail to return requested documentation items and/or fail to pay outstanding premiums. CHIP members closed/denied at renewal date for being over income or for non-payment of premiums are NOT eligible for a 90-day reconsideration period. Those families can submit a new application and are not required to pay the premiums owed. References from the policy manual 2035.32.00 and 2205.15.05

CHIP and other Coverage

In April, the Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) updated the Medicaid Policy Manual regarding the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) MA 10 waiting periods. The state may no longer impose a waiting period following the loss of health insurance for CHIP applicants - this includes voluntarily dropping employer based or other types of health insurance. The effective date for this change was 6/1/24 per guidance from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Reference from the policy manual 2433.00.00

Immigrant Families

Many immigrant families with children face challenges in meeting housing, food, and health needs as well as worries about immigration policies. A  new Urban Institute analysis using data from the Urban Institute’s December 2024 Well-Being and Basic Needs Survey, finds that:

• 34% of all adults in immigrant families with children reported that their families faced food insecurity
• 22% had unmet needs for medical care due to costs
• 19% percent had problems paying family medical bills.

The numbers are higher for mixed-status families with children, where one or more members are undocumented and others are citizens, permanent residents, or otherwise lawfully present in the US.

The Urban Institute offers additional state specific data on the number and characteristics of children in immigrant families with the Children of Immigrants data tool.  

Preventable Maternal Substance Use Deaths

Substance use is now a leading cause of maternal death in the U.S., contributing to more than one of five pregnancy-related deaths.

Public health researchers examined overdose deaths during and after pregnancy, which surged 76 percent between 2018 and 2021. These preventable deaths point to deep gaps in the health system — from limited access to treatment and inconsistent postpartum care to racial bias in how substance use is screened and addressed. The authors highlight steps states can take to save lives, including expanding treatment access, training providers in trauma-informed care, and investing in services that support families and reduce stigma.

Level of Care Assessment Representative

Introduction for Individuals and Families 

This webinar will include a high-level overview and introduction of the Level of Care Assessment Representatives vendor and process for obtaining a nursing facility level of care assessment for Home and Community-Based Services and nursing facility admissions. This webinar is intended for individuals with disabilities, their families, and interested stakeholders. 

Date: June 13, 2025

Time: 11 a.m. -12 p.m. ET

Platform: Microsoft Teams Click Link to Join!

During the session, you’ll learn:

• About the Level of Care Assessment Representative vendor and what they do
• How the assessment process will change, and stay the same
• What to expect moving forward

IN 211 University

The June session of 211 University will review call center data for Boone, Hamilton, Putnam, Hendricks, Marion, Hancock, Morgan, Johnson, and Shelby Counties. Click here to join the session on June 25, 2025 at 10am. No registration is required. Previous sessions are available on YouTube. 

Tobacco Use in the LGBTQ+ Community

The Truth Initiative's research highlights that LGBTQ+ young people exhibit higher rates of cigarette and e-cigarette use compared to their non-LGBTQ+ peers, a disparity influenced by decades of targeted marketing by the tobacco industry and compounded by societal stressors such as discrimination and harassment. This increased prevalence of tobacco use among LGBTQ+ youth underscores the need for tailored public health interventions and policies that address both the marketing practices of the tobacco industry and the unique challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community.

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Tobacco Prevention & Cessation program on social media!

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