Update: What We’re Watching, July 8, 2025
Hill to the Heartland: Federal Health Policy Briefing
President Trump signed his tax and spending policy bill. Federal officials discussed reforms to the prior authorization process for certain Medicare, Medicaid and health insurance marketplace plans. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) met for two days to vote on vaccine recommendations for fall 2025. Here is some of the 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.
1. Budget Reconciliation Update
On July 4, President Donald Trump signed H.R. 1 into law during an Independence Day ceremony at the White House. The bill, passed after close votes in both chambers, includes new work requirements for adult Medicaid recipients without disabilities and creates new limits on provider taxes. It also shifts a greater share of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) administrative costs to states.
Watch upcoming posts as KHI takes a deeper dive into the bill and how it will affect Kansans.
🔗 Read the bill: H.R. 1
🔗 Read more from NPR: Trump on Fourth of July signs ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ to implement his agenda
2. HHS Updates
Prior Authorization Reform Pledge
On June 23, U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz met with health plans and members of Congress, including Senator Roger Marshall, to discuss the prior authorization process for Medicare Advantage, Medicaid managed care and health insurance marketplace plans. According to a press release from HHS, health insurers committed to six key areas for reform aimed at improving patient and provider experiences, including:
- Standardizing electronic prior authorization submissions using the Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources application programming interface.
- Reducing the volume of medical services subject to prior authorization by Jan. 1, 2026.
- Honoring existing authorizations during insurance transitions to ensure continuity of care.
- Enhancing transparency and communication around authorization decisions and appeals.
- Expanding real-time responses to minimize delays in care, with real-time approvals for most requests by 2027.
- Ensuring medical professionals review all clinical denials.
🔗 Read more from HHS: HHS Secretary Kennedy, CMS Administrator Oz Secure Industry Pledge to Fix Broken Prior Authorization System
🔗 Read the press release from Senator Marshall’s office: Senator Marshall & the Trump Administration to Streamline the Prior Authorization Process in Medicare
🔗 Read more from the Hill: HHS promotes insurer pledge to scale back prior authorization
Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices
The new panel appointed by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., minus one appointee who withdrew, met on June 25 and 26. During the meeting, the panel voted to recommend only those seasonal influenza vaccines that do not contain thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative used in some multi-dose vaccines to prevent bacterial and fungal growth. Thimerosal has been widely considered safe by public health agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), based on decades of research. Normally, ACIP recommendations require the CDC director’s approval to take effect, but with the role currently vacant, Secretary Kennedy is expected to review the ACIP’s decisions. The next meeting, which is open to the public, is scheduled to be held in August or September.
🔗 Read more about the ACIP meeting: ACIP Meeting Information
🔗 Read more from Reuters: Kennedy’s new vaccine panel loses member ahead of first meeting
🔗 Read more from The Hill: Vaccine panel backs RFK Jr. in opposing thimerosal, a flu shot preservative
🔗 Read more from the CDC: Thimerosal and Vaccines
3. SAMHSA to End “Press 3 Option” for LGBTQ+ Youth on Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
Beginning July 17, the national 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline will discontinue its specialized support option for LGBTQ+ youth, known as the “Press 3 option.” Launched as a pilot in fiscal year (FY) 2022, the program received $33 million in funding in FY 2024. According to a statement from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), all callers will continue to have access to trained crisis counselors, but the dedicated LGBTQ+ line will no longer be available. Since its launch, the Press 3 option has served more than 1.2 million individuals. In Kansas, local 988 providers such as the Johnson County Mental Health Center have reaffirmed that their trained crisis counselors remain available around the clock and are equipped to address the needs of diverse populations, including the LGBTQ+ community.
If you or someone you know needs support now, call or text 988 or chat with someone at 988lifeline.org.
🔗 Read more from SAMHSA: SAMHSA Statement on 988 Press 3 Option
🔗 Read more from SAMHSA: Lifeline Performance Metrics
🔗 Read more from KCTV 5: Local resources remain after the discontinuation of a LGBTQ+ help line option
4. Federal Education Funding Freeze
On July 1, the U.S. Department of Education announced they are reviewing more than $6.2 billion in federal K-12 education funds nationwide, including an estimated $45 million for Kansas schools, that was previously approved by Congress. The funding was meant for five federal programs, including programs that support migrant education, effective instruction, English language learning, STEM education, and before- and after-school and summer programs. Affected funding included support for programs such as those offered by the Boys and Girls Clubs, which operates 14 locations in Kansas. Similar programs in other states have already warned that they may have to cut services if funding is not released.
🔗 Read more from the Learning Policy Institute: States Face Uncertainty as an Estimated $6.2 Billion in K-12 Funding Remains Unreleased: Here’s the Fiscal Impact by State
🔗 Read more from the Topeka Capital-Journal: U.S. Department of Education withholding $45 million in funding for Kansas
🔗 Read more from KWCH: Trump administration withholds over $6 billion for after-school, summer programs and more
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.