Update: What We’re Watching, Oct. 13, 2026

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Update: What We're Watching, Oct. 13, 2026

Hill to the Heartland: Federal Health Policy Briefing

Hill to the Heartland: Federal Health Policy Briefing is a product series providing regular updates on federal health policy discussions. Sign up here to receive these summaries and more, and also follow KHI on Facebook, X, LinkedIn and Instagram.

Federal agencies announced new funding to expand dental care for children with neurodevelopmental disorders and strengthen behavioral health systems and recovery housing. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) canceled approximately 315,000 marketplace enrollments covering more than 760,000 individuals as part of new anti-fraud actions. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) appointed eight new members to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, and federal agencies finalized changes to health care price transparency requirements for health plans and insurers.

Here is some of the health-related news we are watching that could have an impact on Kansas.

The views expressed in the following news stories, news releases or documents are not necessarily those of the Kansas Health Institute (KHI). They are being shared with the intent of keeping Kansans informed of the latest developments related to federal health policy.

U.S. Health and Human Services Updates

1. CMS Finalizes Changes to Health Care Price Transparency Requirements

On Oct. 5, HHS, through CMS, along with the U.S. Departments of Labor and Treasury, finalized changes to the federal Transparency in Coverage rules for non-grandfathered group health plans and health insurers. The changes are intended to make publicly available pricing data easier to locate and compare by standardizing reporting.

Read the press release from CMS: New Regulations Make It Easier to Find, Compare, and Report Healthcare Pricing and Coverage Information

Read the fact sheet: Transparency in Coverage Final Rules (CMS 9882-F)

Read the executive order: Making America Healthy Again by Empowering Patients with Clear, Accurate, and Actionable Healthcare Pricing Information

Read more from The Hill: Trump administration announces new additions to hospital price transparency regulations

2. HHS Invests $51 Million to Expand Dental Care for Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders

On Sept. 23, HHS, through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), announced $51 million in awards to 28 health centers to improve access to dental care for children with neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy and intellectual disabilities. The funding will support expanded and tailored preventive and other dental services, workforce development and testing of approaches that could be replicated in other communities. The Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas in Pittsburg received a $2 million award.

Read the press release from HHS: HHS Invests $51 Million to Expand Dental Care for Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Read more from HRSA: FY 2026 Improving Access to Dental Services for Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders Awards

Read the press release: Sen. Moran Announces $2 Million Federal Investment for Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas in Pittsburg

3. Federal Marketplace Anti-Fraud Actions

On Sept. 22, CMS announced that it canceled approximately 315,000 federal Marketplace enrollments, covering more than 760,000 individuals, that CMS identified as unauthorized. CMS estimates the cancellations will result in the return of approximately $2.2 billion in advance payments of premium tax credits.

CMS also announced a temporary moratorium on new agent and broker registrations for the 2027 plan year for individuals who do not have an active 2026 Exchange Agreement. Additional changes include requiring existing agents and brokers to reverify their identities, requiring verifiable Social Security numbers or immigration document numbers on applications involving an agent or broker, and requiring electronic consumer authorization before an agent or broker can act on an application or enrollment.

Read the press release from CMS: CMS Cracks Down on Fraud, Waste, and Abuse in the Federal Health Insurance Marketplace

Read the fact sheet: Federal Marketplace (FEE and SBE-FP) Anti-Fraud Actions

Read more from Modern Healthcare: CMS cuts 760,000 enrollees from exchanges

Read more from the Kansas Hospital Association: Federal and National News

4. HHS Awards More Than $42 Million to States to Strengthen Behavioral Health Systems and Recovery Housing

On Sept. 18, HHS, through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), announced $42.3 million in supplemental funding to states and territories through two behavioral health block grants to advance President Trump's executive order on Ending Crime and Disorder on America's Streets. Of the total, $17.3 million will be awarded to Community Mental Health Services Block Grant recipients to strengthen behavioral health systems through workforce development, partnerships, policy development and technical infrastructure. Another $25 million will support Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services Block Grant recipients in expanding licensed, certified or chartered sober and recovery housing. An additional $2 million was awarded to the Addiction Technology Transfer Center Network to support implementation.

Kansas receives funding through the Community Mental Health Services Block Grant and the Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services Block Grant. HHS did not provide state-by-state allocations in its announcement.

Read the press release from HHS: HHS Awards More Than $42 Million to States and Territories to Advance 'Treatment First' Model In Support of President Trump's Executive Order

Read more from HHS: Block Grants for the Prevention and Treatment of Substance Abuse

Read the press release from SAMHSA: SAMHSA Awards More Than $42 Million to States and Territories to Advance 'Treatment First' Model in Support of President Trump's Executive Order

Read the executive order: Ending Crime and Disorder on America's Streets

5. New U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Members

On Sept. 17, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., through the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), appointed eight new members to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), bringing the panel back to its full 16-member roster. The new members include physicians with expertise in pediatrics, hematology-oncology, cardiology, gastroenterology, radiology and family medicine, as well as a professor of health finance. The task force develops evidence-based recommendations on preventive services. Its recommendations help determine coverage requirements for preventive services under the Affordable Care Act.

Read the press release from HHS: Secretary Kennedy Announces New Appointments to U.S. Preventive Services Task Force

Read more from U.S. Preventive Services Task Force: Our Members

Read more from Fierce Healthcare: Kennedy appoints 8 new US Preventive Services Task Force members

Read more from MEDPAGE TODAY: RFK Jr. Picks New USPSTF Members

Stay tuned for further updates on policy shifts that may affect health programs and services in Kansas. For related work on how federal policies could impact Kansans, please check out Hill to the Heartland.