2026 GAHA Annual Meeting and Health Law Update-3-UPDATEDVERSION

3-UPDATEDVERSION_GAHA Annual Conference 2026

Pdf Summary

This presentation summarizes major U.S. federal healthcare policy developments as of May 6, 2026. It explains that the 119th Congress is operating with very narrow margins in both the House and Senate, making party-line legislation difficult.<br /><br />A major legislative focus was the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBBA), which included Medicaid reforms such as work/community engagement requirements, cuts to federal Medicaid funding through provider tax and state-directed payment changes, and tighter limits on noncitizen access to Medicaid and ACA subsidies. It also created a $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program and temporarily increased the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for 2026.<br /><br />The presentation notes that enhanced ACA premium tax credits expired on December 31, 2025, and despite competing proposals, Congress is unlikely to extend them. The later Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 extended many expiring healthcare provisions, including Medicare telehealth flexibilities, hospital-at-home authority, certain Medicare payment supports, public health programs, and PBM transparency reforms.<br /><br />Looking ahead, Congress may pursue another reconciliation bill or year-end package, potentially including Medicare site neutrality, 340B, Medicare Advantage, and ACA-related policy changes. The 2026 elections are expected to favor divided government, likely increasing investigations and executive-branch policymaking.<br /><br />On the executive side, the Trump administration has issued many executive orders and faced extensive litigation. Key priorities include drug pricing, insurance premium reductions, anti-fraud efforts, price transparency, and “Make America Healthy Again” initiatives. CMS and HHS are also pursuing new CMMI models, stronger fraud enforcement, H-1B visa changes affecting healthcare workers, student loan cap changes that may affect health professions, DEI restrictions, and policies limiting gender-affirming care.

Keywords

U.S. healthcare policy

119th Congress

One Big Beautiful Bill Act

Medicaid reforms

ACA premium tax credits

Consolidated Appropriations Act 2026

Medicare telehealth

Rural Health Transformation Program

Trump administration

CMS and HHS