2025 RECONCILIATION BILL
The NDNRC wants to make sure that people with disabilities are aware of potential changes to their healthcare with the new administration taking office. The disability community utilizes Medicaid, and the ACA (Affordable Care Act) Marketplace plans at a higher rate than those without disabilities due to their unique needs.
By updating this newsletter with resources and educational pieces on where disability health policies stand, we hope to ensure that the disability community continues to have access to accessible and affordable healthcare coverage no matter what changes occur in the foreseeable future.
Community Catalyst put out a press release that noted how the House passed a bill that would cut Medicaid by billions, which could take away health coverage from up to 15 million people, including low-income families, older adults, and people with disabilities. The bill would not help lower high health care costs and negatively impact the disability community that uses Medicaid.
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) released a statement on the House-passed bill, stating it would harm low-income families by cutting health coverage and food assistance, specifically key programs that help people with disabilities. As this bill moves to the Senate, disability advocates urge leaders to stop any law that negatively affects the health of the disability community.
Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) has been tracking the health provisions in the 2025 Federal Budget Reconciliation Bill. This tracker covers health sections of the bill and compares the changes to current law, serving as useful tool for disability health policy advocates.
KFF conducted a policy watch on work requirements on a national level. These requirements have people who are using Medicaid submit paperwork every six months, usually causing confusion and barriers. These requirements also do not increase employment in those who use Medicaid.
KFF has a tracker for Medicaid within each state, providing advocates with resources and materials specific to their populations and area. KFF also covered how the 2025 Reconciliation Bill will impact the uninsured rate in each state.
The CHIRblog released a blog about the issues that federal agencies might face in improving health plan price transparency data. These problems would potentially stop the ability of consumers, researchers, and policymakers to use the data for making informed healthcare decisions.
The CHIRblog also covered how the House reconciliation bill would remove automatic re-enrollment and temporary financial help for people using the ACA Marketplace. This change could cause millions of people to lose affordable health coverage, especially with other proposals that will shorten enrollment periods and limit help for enrollees in getting coverage.
The CHIRblog further explained in a blog how recent proposals will weaken the ACA by making it harder for people to enroll in and keep their health insurance. These changes could lead to higher costs and increase how complicated the program is.
The Commonwealth Fund covered in a blog how cuts to Medicaid funding could lead to negative impacts in the health of almost 24 million women who use Medicaid services for things like prenatal care, cancer screenings, and mental health support. This would negatively impact women in rural areas, who are low-income, and those with disabilities.
Archives of our weekly updates are available on the NDNRC website.