Heather Saunders
@heathersaunders.bsky.social
Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Policy | Program on Medicaid and Uninsured | Senior Research Manager @KFF
New @kff.org brief about the intersections of homelessness, mental illness, and shortages of inpatient and specialized outpatient treatment. Read more: www.kff.org/mental-healt...
A Look at the New Executive Order and the Intersection of Homelessness and Mental Illness | KFF
This brief describes the new executive order, examines the intersection of homelessness and mental illness, reviews the history of the deinstitutionalization movement, and discusses specialized treatm...
kff.org
NEW @kff.org, 988: On its three-year anniversary, 988 continues to grow, exceeding half a million contacts monthly. Suicide deaths held steady from 2022 to 2023—too soon to know 988's impact, but this marks a break from prior upward trends. See more: www.kff.org/policy-watch...
Demand for 988 Continues to Grow at Third Anniversary | KFF
This policy watch examines 988 on its third anniversary, drawing from the latest Lifeline data available through May 2025 and suicide death data from CDC WONDER for the period 2013 to 2023. 988 receiv...
kff.org
NEW @kff.org, 988: On its three-year anniversary, 988 continues to grow, exceeding half a million contacts monthly. Suicide deaths held steady from 2022 to 2023—too soon to know 988's impact, but this marks a break from prior upward trends. See more: www.kff.org/policy-watch...
Demand for 988 Continues to Grow at Third Anniversary | KFF
This policy watch examines 988 on its third anniversary, drawing from the latest Lifeline data available through May 2025 and suicide death data from CDC WONDER for the period 2013 to 2023. 988 receiv...
kff.org
⚡ KFF’s @liz-williams.bsky.social compares the increases in the federal Medicaid cuts in the Senate-passed reconciliation bill with the House-passed bill across states. #QuickTake on.kff.org/44zOKRr
Should the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ reach President Trump’s desk, “it would represent the biggest rollback in federal support for health coverage ever,” writes KFF’s @larrylevitt.bsky.social. For @nytopinion.nytimes.com, Larry writes about the potential impact of the bill:
Opinion | We’ve Never Seen Health Care Cuts This Big
nytimes.com
The Senate-passed reconciliation bill would cut federal Medicaid spending by $1 trillion, per CBO. The cuts would represent 15% of federal spending on Medicaid over 10 years — over $200 billion more than the cuts in the House-passed bill. on.kff.org/3ZWnUBp
Under the Senate-passed reconciliation bill, federal Medicaid spending in rural areas is estimated to decline by $155 billion. That is more than the House-passed bill — and far more than the $50 billion appropriated for the rural health fund. on.kff.org/45S2fOC
NEW RURAL BRIEF @kff.org : Senate reconciliation bill would cut federal Medicaid funding in rural areas by $155B—$36B more than the House bill. www.kff.org/policy-watch...
How Might Federal Medicaid Cuts in the Senate-Passed Reconciliation Bill Affect Rural Areas? | KFF
Under the Senate-passed reconciliation bill, federal Medicaid spending in rural areas is estimated to decline by $155 billion, more than in the House-passed bill, and far more than the $50 billion app...
kff.org
NEW RURAL BRIEF @KFF: Senate reconciliation bill would cut federal Medicaid funding in rural areas by $155B—$36B more than the House bill. www.kff.org/policy-watch...
How Might Federal Medicaid Cuts in the Senate-Passed Reconciliation Bill Affect Rural Areas? | KFF
Under the Senate-passed reconciliation bill, federal Medicaid spending in rural areas is estimated to decline by $155 billion, more than in the House-passed bill, and far more than the $50 billion app...
kff.org
NEW @kff.org: House reconciliation bill could reduce Medicaid spending in rural areas by $119B over 10 yrs. Over half of the reductions would be in 12 states with large rural populations and expanded Medicaid: KY, NC, OH, IL, VA, MI, NY, WA, PA, OK, LA and AR. See: www.kff.org/policy-watch...
How Might the Reconciliation Bill’s Medicaid Cuts Affect Rural Areas? | KFF
This analysis estimates that the House-passed reconciliation bill could lead Medicaid spending in rural areas to decrease by $119 billion and a 1.5 million drop in enrollment over 10 years.
kff.org
NEW @KFF Brief – Medicaid Work & Reporting Requirements (MH/SUD)--Currently, no mandatory flexibility for temporary crises (e.g., acute mental health episodes). Those briefly falling short of hours may lose coverage at renewal or denial at application. See: www.kff.org/medicaid/iss...
Implications of Medicaid Work and Reporting Requirements for Adults with Mental Health or Substance Use Disorders | KFF
This brief describes key challenges that Medicaid work requirements may pose for adults with mental health or substance use disorders. In May, the House passed a budget reconciliation bill that includ...
kff.org
New @KFF explainer on proposed work requirements: www.kff.org/medicaid/iss...
A Closer Look at the Medicaid Work Requirement Provisions in the “Big Beautiful Bill” | KFF
On May 22, the House passed a budget reconciliation bill that includes significant changes to the Medicaid program. On June 16, the Senate Finance committee released proposed reconciliation language w...
kff.org
NEW @KFF Brief – Medicaid Work/Reporting & MH/SUD: Expansion adults would be subject to work or securing exemption. Data limitations mean exemptions are unlikely to be fully automated, requiring self-reporting--key challenge seen previously. www.kff.org/medicaid/iss...
Implications of Medicaid Work and Reporting Requirements for Adults with Mental Health or Substance Use Disorders | KFF
This brief describes key challenges that Medicaid work requirements may pose for adults with mental health or substance use disorders. In May, the House passed a budget reconciliation bill that includ...
kff.org
988 suicide & crisis line’s service for LGBTQ young people has fielded over 1M contacts—but the FY2026 budget request eliminates its funding. As usage rises, its future is uncertain. Our new brief explores the landscape and latest data: www.kff.org/mental-healt... w/ @heathersaunders.bsky.social
Growing Uncertainty About the Future of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline's LGBTQI+ Service | KFF
This brief reviews the latest data on the 988 LGBTQI+ service and explores its future, including recent uncertainties.
kff.org
NEW: Recent federal proposals may affect Medicaid coverage and treatment access at a time when opioid deaths are declining but future trends are uncertain See @kff.org Quick Take: www.kff.org/quick-take/o...
NEW: Recent federal proposals may affect Medicaid coverage and treatment access at a time when opioid deaths are declining but future trends are uncertain See @kff.org Quick Take: www.kff.org/quick-take/o...
⚡ KFF’s @heathersaunders.bsky.social writes about how current federal proposals — particularly potential Medicaid reductions — introduce uncertainty about sustaining recent declines in opioid deaths. #QuickTake on.kff.org/43yc4zw
NEW: As opioid deaths begin trending down, proposed Medicaid cuts could interrupt care. Data show that Medicaid is key in the opioid response—covering 47% of all adults w/OUD, 56% of those receiving medication, and 64% receiving outpatient care. See @kff.org brief: www.kff.org/medicaid/iss...
Implications of Potential Federal Medicaid Reductions for Addressing the Opioid Epidemic | KFF
Medicaid is the main source of coverage for adults with opioid use disorder and among those receiving treatment services. Most adults with OUD in Medicaid are eligible through Medicaid expansion.
kff.org
Three in four adults enrolled in Medicaid have one or more chronic conditions. See new @kff.org brief with state and national numbers and condition breakouts-- www.kff.org/medicaid/iss...
5 Key Facts About Medicaid Coverage for Adults with Chronic Conditions | KFF
Nearly three in four adults enrolled in Medicaid have one or more chronic conditions. Medicaid spending doubles for adults with 1-2 chronic conditions and quadruples for those with 3 or more chronic c...
kff.org
The @KFF #Medicaid team has been busy - check out our round-up of recently released resources: connect.kff.org/medicaid-top...
medicaid topic roundup february 2025
connect.kff.org
Five for-profit, publicly traded companies – Centene, Elevance (formerly Anthem), UnitedHealth Group, Molina, and CVS Health – account for 50% of Medicaid MCO enrollment nationally. www.kff.org/medicaid/iss...
A Look at Medicaid Enrollment and Finances of the Five Largest Medicaid Managed Care Plans | KFF
This brief examines enrollment and financial data through the end of September 2024 from quarterly company earnings reports and calls, financial filings, and other company materials as well as from na...
kff.org
With discussions of #Medicaid work requirements back on the agenda through federal legislative proposals or 1115 waivers, @KFF updated our brief looking at the data: www.kff.org/medicaid/iss...
Understanding the Intersection of Medicaid and Work: An Update | KFF
Amid renewed interest in Medicaid work requirements as part of a broader legislative package designed to significantly reduce federal Medicaid spending, KFF has updated its analysis of the work status...
kff.org
NEW: several federal datasets and health surveys came offline on Friday We @kff.org explain what these data are & how they’re used in interventions to address our nation’s biggest health challenges @jenkatesdc.bsky.social @mattrae.bsky.social @lindseydawson.bsky.social www.kff.org/policy-watch...
A Look at Federal Health Data Taken Offline | KFF
This post looks at federal government databases with key health data that went offline on Jan. 31, 2025, including several related to HIV, some of which had returned by Feb. 2, 2025. It briefly descri...
kff.org
Context for the CDC eliminating data from its website today. This was in Project 2025.
The confirmation hearings for RFK Jr. this week will likely focus a lot on vaccines and food and drug safety, which are certainly big issues. At the same time, HHS is an enormous agency that, among other things, oversees health coverage for over half the population. www.kff.org/policy-watch...
How Does the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Impact Health and Health Care? | KFF
This policy watch provides a short overview of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), describing its history, budget, organizational structure and its major programs and responsibilities.
kff.org
The health insurers with the highest rate of claim denials in the federal ACA marketplace.
KFF guide to potential Trump health policy administrative actions – based on campaign positions, statements and record during Trump 45 administration
Potential Health Policy Administrative Actions in the Second Trump Administration | KFF
Potential health policy administrative actions under the incoming Trump administration based on campaign positions and statements by President-elect Trump, President Trump’s record during his first…
buff.ly
New: Trump officials have paused all external communications at health agencies like CDC, FDA, NIH. No health alerts and the famed MMWRs; no updates to key websites or social media posts. And no indication how long the pause will last. With @rachelroubein.bsky.social + Lena Sun.
Trump officials pause health agencies’ communications, citing review
The agencies are charged with making decisions that touch the lives of every American and are the source of crucial information to health-care providers.
washingtonpost.com
See new column and our round-up of work requirement approvals and pending requests at the end of President Trump’s first term and more recent activity: www.kff.org/medicaid/iss...
Medicaid Work Requirements: Current Waiver and Legislative Activity | KFF
With Donald Trump returning to the presidency and Republican control of the Senate and House, work requirements are likely to be back on the agenda—through federal legislation or Medicaid waivers. Thi...
kff.org
Larry Levitt@larrylevitt.bsky.social · 2y agoWork requirements in Medicaid are likely coming. The Congressional Budget Office projects they would increase the number of people uninsured but not increase work. Medicaid enrollment would fall due to administrative roadblocks. www.kff.org/from-drew-al...
Half of health center patients had #Medicaid and #Medicaid was the largest source of revenue (43%) for health centers in 2023. These data can shed light on implications of potentially deep cuts to Medicaid that could be debated in 2025. See updated CHC brief: www.kff.org/medicaid/iss...
