Federal Reforms to Medicaid Financing: What Counties Should Know (Part 2)
This webinar is available on-demand. If you have issues accessing the recording, please email nacomeetings@naco.org.
This two-part webinar series will examine the vital role Medicaid plays in supporting county-administered behavioral health and primary care services. It will also explore how proposed and ongoing federal financing reforms could impact counties—fiscally, operationally and in their ability to serve residents.
The series will highlight key areas for county engagement and advocacy, offering insights on how local leaders can help shape Medicaid’s future.
Watch Recording
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Speakers
Blaire Bryant
Naomi Freel
Advocacy
Federal cuts to Medicaid: What counties should know
Medicaid is a joint federal, state and local program that provides health coverage to low-income individuals, including children, pregnant women, elderly adults and people with disabilities. The program accounts for over half of all federal funding to states and is the largest source of federal funding in state budgets.
HHS releases rule repealing federal nursing home staffing mandate, supporting county long term care facilities
On December 2, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published an interim final rule that repeals the federal nursing home staffing mandate, a regulation that would have required long-term care facilities to meet strict minimum staffing levels.
Congress passes SUPPORT Act reauthorization
On September 18, the U.S. Senate passed the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act of 2025 (SUPPORT Act Reauthorization) (H.R. 2483) by voice vote, following House passage earlier this year. With strong bipartisan backing in both chambers, the legislation now heads to the President’s desk for signature.
SUPPORT Reauthorization Act of 2025: What it means for counties
On December 1, the bipartisan SUPPORT for Patients and Communities (SUPPORT) Reauthorization Act of 2025 (H.R. 2483) was signed into law. The reauthorization renews vital federal funding for programs that seek to prevent opioid overdoses and expand treatment and recovery options.
CMS releases new guidance on Medicaid provider tax provisions in OBBBA
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released new guidance outlining how it will implement significant Medicaid financing changes enacted in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). These provisions restrict states’ ability to use health care-related taxes, commonly known as provider taxes, to help finance the non-federal share of Medicaid.
States submit Rural Health Transformation Program funding applications
On November 5, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that all 50 states submitted applications for the Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program.
CMS announces new funding opportunity for the Innovation in Behavioral Health Model
On October 16, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for Cohort II of the Innovation in Behavioral Health (IBH) Model. This new round of funding builds on the initial IBH model announced in 2024 and continues CMS’s efforts to improve outcomes for individuals with moderate to severe mental health conditions and substance use disorders (SUDs) by advancing integration between behavioral and physical healthcare.