Federal:
Wednesday Webinar on Medicaid Work Requirements
Beginning January 1, 2027, State Medicaid programs must implement “community engagement requirements” (also known as “work reporting requirements) as a condition of Medicaid eligibility for certain adults, aged 19 through 64. Join us on September 9, at 2:00 pm ET, as part of the NBDF Wednesday Webinar series to learn more about what these new requirements are and what they mean for the bleeding disorders community.
House Votes to Fund Government through December 11
The House returned from August recess and passed the Senate’s continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government through December 11 – the President signed the bill into law on September 2. The House had already passed a CR in July but because it was different from the Senate CR, action was still needed. This now guarantees that there will not be a government shutdown in October and pushes major funding decisions for 2027 until after the November elections.
Court Action on Medicaid Work Requirements
On June 30, a group of twenty-six States sued CMS in federal court over the work requirements guidance. The plaintiffs charge that CMS’s guidance sets out a definition of medical frailty that is harsher than and contrary to the language of H.R. 1. The plaintiffs further assert that CMS’s guidance “arbitrarily and capriciously” fails to consider the burden imposed on States and on Medicaid enrollees. The plaintiffs ask the court to invalidate provisions of the guidance, and to pause implementation and enforcement of those provisions pending judicial review.
In late July, a federal judge declined to grant the emergency interim relief requested by the plaintiffs but said it was not ruling on the merits. This means the case remains alive. Briefing continues with the court keeping an eye on the January 1 implementation deadline.
State:
California: SB 1199 was held in the Senate Appropriations Committee, effectively ending its chances for the 2026-2027 session. NBDF did not support the latest version of the bill which was amended in the Senate Health Committee in June.
AB 1887, which places a strict timeline on health plans’ use of prior authorizations on prescription drugs used to treat rare diseases, passed the Assembly and Senate last week.
Pennsylvania: Governor Josh Shapiro signed the FY 2026-2027 budget, which included nearly $1.2 million in support for HTC access services in the Commonwealth. Both Eastern and Western PA Bleeding Disorders Foundations alongside NBDF advocated for HTC services in Harrisburg this year.
Unfortunately, HB 2226, the Commonwealth’s copay accumulator legislation, was amended to include maximizer language in the House Insurance Committee. NBDF does not support the bill in its current form but will continue to engage legislators on the issue.
