Sent on behalf of ANA CEO, Angela Beddoe.
Week of May 12, 2025
House Committee Passes Medicaid Reforms. The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce passed their budget reconciliation bill after a marathon 26-hour markup. The bill includes drastic cuts in healthcare spending and Medicaid reforms, which if passed will reduce federal Medicaid spending by $625 billion over 10 years and result in an estimated 7.6 million Medicaid beneficiaries losing coverage by 2034. The bill also delays implementation of the long-term care nurse minimum staffing rule until 2035, freezes provider tax arrangements, revises state directed payment limits, incorporates stricter Medicaid eligibility verification, modifies cost-sharing requirements for the Medicaid expansion adult population, and imposes Medicaid work requirements on able-bodied, nonelderly adults.
While many of these provisions are concerning, the American Nurses Association (ANA) and its coalition allies were able to dissuade the committee from including more aggressive provisions that were being considered-such as adopting per capita caps, reducing the current provider tax rate, and reducing the enhanced federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) for the adult expansion population. It is important to note that this bill text is likely to change once it is added to the larger budget reconciliation package and makes its way to the House floor for a vote and then on to the Senate for consideration. ANA continues to follow the budget reconciliation process and meet with key lawmakers in both chambers to share how proposed and potential Medicaid reforms will impact nurses and the patients they serve.
Health Agencies Focus on Deregulation. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) https://www.hhs.gov/press-room/fda-10-to-1-deregulatory-plan-to-lower-costs-empower-patients.html. Click or tap if you trust this link." data-auth="NotApplicable" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hhs.gov%2Fpress-room%2Ffda-10-to-1-deregulatory-plan-to-lower-costs-empower-patients.html&data=05%7C02%7Cnicole.demers%40aaacn.org%7C7254704329e5417fe97908dd9667e674%7C92e90195ea884986ab8b91bb944a470d%7C0%7C0%7C638832095170027276%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=essDTUn1j9RKWPxCkYClQ%2B2Cq%2B8GrTMrnV6rD4PN24g%3D&reserved=0" data-linkindex="7">announced May 13 https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fwww.federalregister.gov%2fdocuments%2f2025%2f05%2f14%2f2025-08384%2frequest-for-information-rfi-ensuring-lawful-regulation-and-unleashing-innovation-to-make-american&c=E,1,JsxgKlzsw0OvtZI9eS4gjh7oQBagzJTywknclEw9gh4QOzjqAQrmfzDjMhuZNNOBfhSlfzpZ7jVDDw-da64DWMpSFgZllZwfArOxsiAZAVm1nc16nlWD0VZg&typo=1. Click or tap if you trust this link." data-auth="NotApplicable" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flinkprotect.cudasvc.com%2Furl%3Fa%3Dhttps%253a%252f%252fwww.federalregister.gov%252fdocuments%252f2025%252f05%252f14%252f2025-08384%252frequest-for-information-rfi-ensuring-lawful-regulation-and-unleashing-innovation-to-make-american%26c%3DE%2C1%2CJsxgKlzsw0OvtZI9eS4gjh7oQBagzJTywknclEw9gh4QOzjqAQrmfzDjMhuZNNOBfhSlfzpZ7jVDDw-da64DWMpSFgZllZwfArOxsiAZAVm1nc16nlWD0VZg%26typo%3D1&data=05%7C02%7Cnicole.demers%40aaacn.org%7C7254704329e5417fe97908dd9667e674%7C92e90195ea884986ab8b91bb944a470d%7C0%7C0%7C638832095170043094%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=zDhNuHz0eqSi9Whn0dOFflFoOU7CPzVGqvHtTnvNrHw%3D&reserved=0" data-linkindex="8">a Request for Information (RFI) on outdated and unnecessary regulations under the agency's purview. HHS stated that this effort is in alignment with President Trump's https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/unleashing-prosperity-through-deregulation/. Click or tap if you trust this link." data-auth="NotApplicable" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.whitehouse.gov%2Fpresidential-actions%2F2025%2F01%2Funleashing-prosperity-through-deregulation%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cnicole.demers%40aaacn.org%7C7254704329e5417fe97908dd9667e674%7C92e90195ea884986ab8b91bb944a470d%7C0%7C0%7C638832095170058935%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=cbz2xORlTltv04cA9Q9CjJNvceDyPA%2BtJdBorEUCshU%3D&reserved=0" data-linkindex="9">deregulation Executive Order (EO) directing federal agencies to remove 10 regulations for every new proposed regulation. This follows https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fwww.cms.gov%2fmedicare-regulatory-relief-rfi&c=E,1,r5WKM6U8igsGphfnKwEtb9fO1AVNchL22xIevie1Ya7uPI6i_yy9sSbfwUeG_kSbeYj9BQkZPMrAzqnU9Oh-hsj7Ura0-jYLIqvWsEE1F9RNzOXAbvyKKtX1ahs,&typo=1. Click or tap if you trust this link." data-auth="NotApplicable" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flinkprotect.cudasvc.com%2Furl%3Fa%3Dhttps%253a%252f%252fwww.cms.gov%252fmedicare-regulatory-relief-rfi%26c%3DE%2C1%2Cr5WKM6U8igsGphfnKwEtb9fO1AVNchL22xIevie1Ya7uPI6i_yy9sSbfwUeG_kSbeYj9BQkZPMrAzqnU9Oh-hsj7Ura0-jYLIqvWsEE1F9RNzOXAbvyKKtX1ahs%2C%26typo%3D1&data=05%7C02%7Cnicole.demers%40aaacn.org%7C7254704329e5417fe97908dd9667e674%7C92e90195ea884986ab8b91bb944a470d%7C0%7C0%7C638832095170076464%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=UFezNfY8lwDirUoDJNM2%2FzjyD0HACWXL17U7UJeHmRE%3D&reserved=0" data-linkindex="10">a Medicare-specific RFI issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) seeking feedback on deregulation within the Medicare program. ANA is reviewing the RFIs and will provide comments urging removal of regulatory barriers to nurse practice.
Innovation Center Debuts New Strategy. The CMS Innovation Center (the Innovation Center) https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fwww.cms.gov%2fpriorities%2finnovation%2fabout%2fstrategic-direction&c=E,1,99F1gk0WcbTKBCoucD46BuFGCzj1SPVbXXeBjzJdYpFWL9kuLEy9nPCMGo97gHX95Y1dLFJdhcOFBImx9Ekbu_4KYOSxoK2SIz_Bcz0hVe9hVVHhuG1-wu0wG-Q,&typo=1. Click or tap if you trust this link." data-auth="NotApplicable" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flinkprotect.cudasvc.com%2Furl%3Fa%3Dhttps%253a%252f%252fwww.cms.gov%252fpriorities%252finnovation%252fabout%252fstrategic-direction%26c%3DE%2C1%2C99F1gk0WcbTKBCoucD46BuFGCzj1SPVbXXeBjzJdYpFWL9kuLEy9nPCMGo97gHX95Y1dLFJdhcOFBImx9Ekbu_4KYOSxoK2SIz_Bcz0hVe9hVVHhuG1-wu0wG-Q%2C%26typo%3D1&data=05%7C02%7Cnicole.demers%40aaacn.org%7C7254704329e5417fe97908dd9667e674%7C92e90195ea884986ab8b91bb944a470d%7C0%7C0%7C638832095170092256%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=D1V90ssAEyo%2BjSFAzS9sktA030XruBH4GBP7%2FUqopJQ%3D&reserved=0" data-linkindex="11">announced this week a new strategy for how the agency will help advance HHS' overarching goal to Make America Healthy Again. The three-pronged approach to bolstering preventative care across the country is defined by three pillars-promoting evidence-based prevention, empowering people to achieve health goals, and driving choice and competition. The Innovation Center also highlighted its focus on protecting federal taxpayers by ensuring that models are fiscally sound and taking additional action around model risk, rate setting, and other financial aspects. With the announcement, the Innovation Center also released a white paper, blog post, and other resources detailing the strategy.
President Trump Commits to Lowering Drug Costs. President Trump signed https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/05/delivering-most-favored-nation-prescription-drug-pricing-to-american-patients/. Click or tap if you trust this link." data-auth="NotApplicable" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.whitehouse.gov%2Fpresidential-actions%2F2025%2F05%2Fdelivering-most-favored-nation-prescription-drug-pricing-to-american-patients%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cnicole.demers%40aaacn.org%7C7254704329e5417fe97908dd9667e674%7C92e90195ea884986ab8b91bb944a470d%7C0%7C0%7C638832095170107999%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=9JCK8bDTwYBLdkDiTKkhadeKSEwdO2Fc6tsXuFqP%2BkQ%3D&reserved=0" data-linkindex="12">a May 12 EO directing his Administration to take action to lower prescription drug prices for Americans. Specific to HHS, the EO instructs the agency to establish a mechanism for patients to buy drugs from manufacturers at a "most-favored nation" price. If manufacturers fail to offer that price, the EO empowers the agency to take other aggressive action. The EO was accompanied by a https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/05/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-announces-actions-to-put-american-patients-first-by-lowering-drug-prices-and-stopping-foreign-free-riding-on-american-pharmaceutical-innovation/. Click or tap if you trust this link." data-auth="NotApplicable" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.whitehouse.gov%2Ffact-sheets%2F2025%2F05%2Ffact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-announces-actions-to-put-american-patients-first-by-lowering-drug-prices-and-stopping-foreign-free-riding-on-american-pharmaceutical-innovation%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cnicole.demers%40aaacn.org%7C7254704329e5417fe97908dd9667e674%7C92e90195ea884986ab8b91bb944a470d%7C0%7C0%7C638832095170123531%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=YN7GGf0FbDhYPbx%2BJsS9kP8lupFYZh07shVJ71HIB1k%3D&reserved=0" data-linkindex="13">fact sheet providing more detail. ANA will continue to monitor any developments and for any impact on nurses and patients.
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Barbara Opatick
Operations Coordinator
Office of the Chief Nursing Officer / EVP
American Nurses Association
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 400
Silver Spring, MD 20910
301.628.5015
barbara.opatick@ana.org
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Nicole DeMers
Association and Board Services Manager
AAACN
Pitman, NJ
856.256.2359
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