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, May 1, 2025
Hill to the Heartland: Federal Health Policy Briefing
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced plans to review the use of synthetic food dyes in food marketed to children. Kansas organizations discussed how funding cuts to mental health and substance use services could affect access to care, and the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in a case that could reshape preventive health care coverage. 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. HHS Updates
Budget Leak: A draft version of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ fiscal year 2026 budget proposal was recently leaked to the media. While the document is unofficial and its contents may not reflect the final budget proposal, it could offer insight into the administration’s priorities. The finalized HHS budget will shape health care funding nationwide, including support for programs critical to Kansas, such as Medicaid, Head Start, rural health initiatives, behavioral health services and public health grants. Further information will be available once the official budget proposal is released.
🔗 Read more from AP News: Draft budget plan proposes deep cuts across federal health programs
Synthetic Food Dye Announcement: On April 22, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and FDA Commissioner Martin Makary announced the FDA will establish a national standard and timeline for the food industry to transition from synthetic to natural food dyes. Key details in the announcement include initiating the revocation process for Citrus Red No. 2 and Orange B., working with industry to eliminate the six remaining synthetic dyes by the end of 2026, and partnering with the National Institutes of Health to conduct research on the impact of synthetic dyes on children’s health and development.
🔗 Read more from U.S. Food and Drug Administration: HHS, FDA to Phase Out Petroleum-Based Synthetic Dyes in Nation’s Food Supply
🔗 Read more from Reuters: U.S. to phase out many synthetic food dyes, Kennedy and FDA head say
2. Federal and State Leaders Comment on Measles Outbreak
Measles cases are now affecting at least 29 states, including Kansas. HHS Secretary Kennedy shared a statement on X emphasizing the most effective way to prevent measles spread is vaccination. In Southwest Kansas, a region currently experiencing increased measles cases, Governor Laura Kelly promoted the MMR vaccine. Gov. Kelly, joined by Kansas State Senator Bill Clifford and Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) Chief Medical Officer Dereck Totten, reiterated the need for children to receive the MMR vaccine. Recognizing the potential spread across the state, which currently has the third highest number of measles cases, public health leaders in the Kansas City metropolitan area have urged residents to proactively ensure that they and their families remain up to date on routine vaccinations, including the MMR vaccine to prevent further spread of the virus.
🔗 Read more from National Public Radio (NPR): Health secretary RFK Jr. endorses the MMR vaccine – stoking fury among his supporters
🔗 Read more from the Topeka Capital-Journal: Amid measles outbreak, governor promotes MMR vaccine: ‘This is not political’
🔗 Read more from the Kansas City Star: If measles reaches the KC metro, Wyandotte County could be particularly vulnerable
🔗View the measles dashboard from KDHE: Measles Data
3. Impacts of Cuts to Kansas Mental Health and Substance Use Services
In March 2025, federal COVID-19 era funding was cut by roughly $11.4 billion. This cut included $7 million in unspent funds that the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services had distributed to 46 organizations. As a result, some prevention, treatment and recovery programs that rely heavily on federal grants have been scaled back, paused or discontinued. In Wichita, this resulted in decreased staff for a United Way of the Plains program that provided housing support for those experiencing homelessness or transitioning from mental health treatment. Additionally, rural outreach efforts like those in Kingman County are no longer being pursued, with the reduction in funding creating uncertainty for local coalitions. These changes have introduced uncertainty among stakeholders and raised concerns about future potential impacts on other federal funding streams.
🔗 Read more from the Wichita Eagle: Trump cuts: What’s next for Kansas mental health, substance use treatment programs?
4. Supreme Court Weighs Preventive Services Coverage Requirement
The Supreme Court is considering Kennedy v. Braidwood Management, Inc., a case challenging a part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that requires most private health plans cover certain preventive services at no additional cost to patients. The case centers on whether members of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force were properly appointed and whether their recommendations can mandate insurance coverage. On April 25, the Court asked for additional briefing on the Task Force’s appointment authority. A decision, expected by summer 2025, could affect access to preventive services like cancer screenings, heart disease prevention and other key benefits for millions of Americans.
🔗 Read more from Health Affairs: Supreme Court hears argument over fate Of preventive services under ACA
5. Kansas Health Philanthropies Release New Medicaid-Focused Report
On April 29, REACH Healthcare Foundation and the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund released a report examining the potential impacts of Medicaid funding reductions in Kansas. The report looked at several policy options to reduce federal Medicaid spending and estimated 1- and 10-year costs to Kansas. Analysis indicated that in Kansas, these proposals, if implemented, could result in billions of dollars in lost federal funding over the next decade.
🔗 Read more from the Kansas Reflector: Kansas Medicaid advocates share dire forecast of potential congressional funding cuts
🔗 Read more from the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund: Medicaid Cuts & Kansas: How federal legislative proposals would impact funding for KanCare
News From the Kansas Delegation
Members of the Kansas congressional delegation have also been active in April on a range of health care and related policy matters.
Representative Tracey Mann (KS-01), along with other members of Congress, reintroduced the States Handling Access to Reciprocity for Employment (SHARE) Act of 2025 on March 25 to streamline state licensing processes and make it easier for qualified health care providers to work across state lines. On April 16, Representative Derek Schmidt (KS-02) announced he had signed on as a cosponsor. The Kansas Legislature has passed several interstate compacts, including those for nursing, social work, physician assistants and school psychologists. The federal bill introduced supports the state legislation by removing federal barriers to criminal background checks.
🔗 Read the bill language: H.R. 2332
🔗 Read the press release from Representative Mann’s office: Reps. Mann, Neguse Reintroduce Legislation to Address Health Care Shortage
🔗 Read the press release from Representative Schmidt’s office: Schmidt Backs Legislation to Address Healthcare Workforce Shortage
At a legislative luncheon on April 23 for the Greater Topeka Partnership, Representative Derek Schmidt (KS-02) discussed the potential for Medicaid cuts, noting that it is one of the few major categories of federal spending available for significant changes. While Schmidt believes there are cost-savings opportunities at the federal level, he said he is focused on supporting approaches that will provide the least disruption to Kansas.
🔗 Read more from Topeka Capital-Journal: Could Congress cut Medicaid spending while minimizing disruption to Kansas?
U.S. Representative Sharice Davids (KS-03), along with other members of Congress, introduced H.R. 2762 on April 9 to increase funding for family planning services amid the freezing of federal Title X funds for 16 grantees across the country.
🔗 Read the bill language: H.R. 2762
🔗 Read the press release: Davids, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Protect and Expand Access to Birth Control, Reproductive Health Care Services
Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall joined a bipartisan group of 60 senators in reintroducing the Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (CONNECT) for Health Act, which aims to expand Medicare coverage for telehealth services, make COVID-19 telehealth flexibilities permanent, and improve patient access to care. Without congressional action, current telehealth flexibilities will expire on September 30.
🔗 Read the bill language: S. 1261
🔗 Read the press release from Senator Moran’s office: Sen. Moran Joins Colleagues in Reintroducing Legislation to Expand Telehealth Access
🔗 Read the press release from Senator Marshall’s office: Senator Marshall and Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Expand Telehealth Access
Prior to the final concurrent budget resolution being passed, Senator Jerry Moran spoke on the U.S Senate Floor on April 3 about the importance of strengthening Medicaid in the budget reconciliation process. Now, as part of the next phase, lawmakers are discussing the contents of the budget reconciliation bill, and congressional committees will be marking up their respective portions.
🔗 Watch the speech: Sen. Moran Discusses Importance of Strengthening Medicaid in Reconciliation Process
🔗 Read more from the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB): 2025 Reconciliation Tracker
🔗 Read more from KHI about potential cuts and their impacts to Kansas: Potential Impacts of Federal Policy Decisions on Medicaid and CHIP in Kansas
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.