RISE summarizes recent regulatory-related headlines.
House committee advances bill with steep Medicaid cuts but roadblocks may be ahead
The House Committee on Energy and Commerce on Wednesday passed legislation that contains $625 billion in cuts to Medicaid by a 30-24 vote along party lines. The bill, which would extend President Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, headed to the House Budget Committee on Friday morning. The Medicaid cuts include stricter eligibility and enrollment standards, such as work requirements. But the legislation in its current form may not pass the House given opposition from two Republican Representatives Chip Roy of Texas and Ralph Norman of South Carolina, who are concerned spending cuts don’t go far enough, according to the New York Times. Meanwhile, some Senate Republicans have warned they won’t support the bill as it currently stands and the chamber can only afford to lose three votes, NBC News reports. “I will not support Medicaid benefit cuts,” Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., told the media outlet, adding that he has “concerns with pieces” of the House bill because of what it would mean to rural hospitals in his state.
HHS moves forward with plans for deregulation with information requests, guidance rescindments
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) this week announced the launch of a public Request for Information (RFI) to identify and eliminate outdated or unnecessary regulations. The initiative is part of a broader federal effort to reduce regulatory burdens and increase transparency, in alignment with President Trump’s executive order on deregulation.
Under the directive, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. has committed HHS to a "10-to-1" deregulatory policy: for every new regulation proposed, at least 10 existing regulatory actions will be rescinded. The effort is designed to lower the cost of living, remove bureaucratic barriers, and allow health care providers to devote more time and resources to patient care.
HHS is asking the public for ideas for deregulatory actions through an online portal. The 60-day public comment period opened on Tuesday.
CMS report: ACA enrollment increased in 2025
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) this week posted The Health Insurance Exchanges 2025 Open Enrollment report, which found 24.3 million consumers enrolled in health insurance coverage through the federal and state marketplaces during the open enrollment period. Nearly three million more people enrolled in the coverage in 2025 than in 2024, a 13 percent increase. Interest in Affordable Care Act coverage has increased since 2022. Nearly eight million more people signed up compared to the 2023 open enrollment period and approximately 10 million more consumers signed up for coverage compared to the 2022 open enrollment period.
CMS seeks public feedback on digital health technology
CMS is seeking public input on how to best advance a secure and patient-centered digital health infrastructure that will help seniors take control of their health and well-being, manage chronic conditions, and access care more efficiently. The RFI invites input from patients, caregivers, providers, payers, technology developers, and other stakeholders on how CMS can:
- Drive the development and adoption of digital health management and care navigation applications
- Strengthen interoperability and secure access to health data through open, standards-based technologies
- Identify barriers preventing the seamless exchange of health information across systems
- Reduce administrative burden while accelerating progress toward value-based, patient-centered care
CMS proposed rule would close Medicaid loophole
CMS this week issued a proposed rule that it says would close a Medicaid tax loophole that it claims states have used to inflate federal payments and free up state funds for non-Medicaid purposes. CMS said in an announcement that the move would save taxpayers more than $30 billion over five years.
Under the law, states can tax stakeholders and use that as part of their state share for Medicaid, if those taxes are uniform and broad based, or they can pass certain regulatory tests.
“This isn’t just wasteful—it’s wrong,” said Drew Snyder, CMS Deputy Administrator and Director of Medicaid & Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Services, in the announcement. “Medicaid was designed to protect low-income seniors, pregnant women, children, and people with disabilities—not subsidize coverage schemes that displace our most vulnerable. We are restoring Medicaid to its original purpose and ensuring the intent of the law is followed.”
The proposed rule would:
- Prohibit states from taxing Medicaid business at higher rates than non-Medicaid business
- Bar the use of vague language to disguise Medicaid-specific taxes
- Maintain statistical testing while adding safeguards to prevent system gaming
- Provide a transition timeline based on the age of existing waivers