Medicaid administrative burden hits providers
Administrative burden is one of the strongest predictors of whether providers remain in Medicaid, according to a recent provider survey. Overall, 28% of providers report dissatisfaction with Medicaid administrative processes, and only 51% say they are satisfied, according to the survey from Gainwell Technologies, a Medicaid program consulting firm. The findings point to a growing…
States boost Medicaid budgets as enrollments decline
Amid ongoing and projected Medicaid enrollment decreases, most states are boosting their Medicaid budget proposals. Nationally, Medicaid enrollment is shrinking. From December 2024 to December 2025, national Medicaid and CHIP enrollment has decreased 4%, from 78.9 million to 75.7 million, according to CMS. That has continued into 2026, with Wells Fargo analysts reporting a 2%…
Federal scoring system spurs state action on certificate-of-need laws
Spurred on by the Trump administration, five states plan to undertake changes in their certificate-of-need (CON) laws this year: Their plans were highlighted in late 2025 applications for a share of the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation (RHT) program, authorized by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). That law allowed the Trump administration to…
News Briefs: Hospital labor costs rose by almost 40% between 2019 and early 2022
As published in hfm magazine, a monthly roundup of top news for healthcare finance professionals.