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.
Update: What We’re Watching, April 18, 2025
Hill to the Heartland: Federal Health Policy Briefing
Federal agencies and policymakers have advanced several actions that could shape access to health care and social services across the country. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced plans to review federal guidance on fluoride in drinking water and conduct a study to identify causes of autism spectrum disorder. Read more to see some of the news we are watching this week.
The views expressed in the following news stories, news releases or documents are not necessarily those of the Kansas Health Institute. They are being shared with the intent of keeping Kansans informed of the latest developments related to federal health policy.
1. HHS Updates
Fluoride in Drinking Water: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that he will be directing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to reconvene an independent panel of health experts to examine recommendations on the addition of fluoride in water sources. This review of fluoride in drinking water will also include a scientific evaluation by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on potential health risks.
🔗 Read more from NPR: HHS will review guidance on the addition of fluoride to drinking water
🔗 Read more from the EPA: EPA will Expeditiously Review New Science on Fluoride in Drinking Water
Autism Research: As part of the Make America Healthy Again initiatives, HHS Secretary Kennedy Jr. announced on Apr. 10 that the U.S. aims to identify the cause of autism by September 2025.
🔗 Read more from Reuters: Kennedy sets September deadline to identify cause of rising US autism rates
🔗 Read more from HHS: Autism epidemic runs rampant new data shows 1 in 31 children afflicted
2. Potential Changes to Federal Housing Initiatives
President Trump’s campaign outlined a potential shift away from “Housing First” initiatives, which were first implemented nationally in 2004 under President George W. Bush. While no formal policy changes have been announced, the administration has proposed staffing cuts to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and cuts have already been made to the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness. The campaign expressed support for a “treatment-first” approach, which could affect existing initiatives in Kansas.
🔗 Read more from KFF Health News: Treatment Tops Housing in Trump Homeless Policy
3. Impacts of Medicaid Cuts on Long-Term Care Community
Medicaid is a key funder of long-term care and home-based services for older adults and people with disabilities. Medicaid currently covers more than half of all long-term care spending in the U.S., including 60 percent of extended nursing home stays and home-based services for 4.5 million people. In Kansas, about one-quarter (23.0 percent) of all Medicaid and CHIP enrollees are adults age 65 and older or people with disabilities, and this combined population incurs two-thirds (68.8 percent) of total state expenditures for the Medicaid and CHIP programs. If federal Medicaid funding is reduced, states like Kansas may have to consider how potential cuts could impact their Medicaid program and beneficiaries.
🔗 Read more from Kansas Public Radio: How cutting Medicaid would affect long-term care and family caregivers
4. Kansas Education Funding
In March, the U.S. Department of Education announced that it was reclaiming nearly $3 billion in pandemic relief funds from states – including $22.6 million from Kansas. This week, Governor Kelly sent a letter to Secretary Linda McMahon requesting the reinstatement of those funds, reinforcing an earlier appeal submitted by the Kansas State Department of Education.
🔗 Read the Governor’s Office News Release: Governor Kelly Calls on Trump Administration to Reinstate Federal Funds to Support Teachers, Child Care Providers
🔗 Read the Letter from the U.S. Department of Education: March 28, 2025
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.
Funding for Hill to the Heartland is provided in part by the Sunflower Foundation: Health Care for Kansans, a Topeka-based philanthropic organization with the mission to serve as a catalyst for improving the health of Kansans. KHI retains editorial independence in the production of its content and its findings. Any views expressed by the authors do not necessarily reflect the views of the Sunflower Foundation.
About Kansas Health Institute
The Kansas Health Institute supports effective policymaking through nonpartisan research, education and engagement. KHI believes evidence-based information, objective analysis and civil dialogue enable policy leaders to be champions for a healthier Kansas. Established in 1995 with a multiyear grant from the Kansas Health Foundation, KHI is a nonprofit, nonpartisan educational organization based in Topeka.