Stay up to date on the latest across Washington, D.C. with this weekly brief. Read below for news from Oct. 19 to Oct. 23.
CMS awards nearly $249M in RHTP funds to Alaska
Alaska will receive nearly $249 million as part of the RHTP, CMS announced Thursday.
The funds will support 254 projects aimed at strengthening healthcare in rural areas of the state. Specific projects supported by the funding include:
- Expanding maternal and child healthcare services
- Strengthening the rural healthcare workforce
- Bringing new technology to village clinics
It is the full amount of funding the state will receive for fiscal year 2026. CMS previously announced $160 million in funding for 142 projects.
Mississippi receives $32M in RHTP funding
CMS will award Mississippi $32 million in RHTP funds for projects dedicated to strengthening the healthcare workforce and expanding emergency mental health services access.
In particular, the funds will support 60 awards for providers and workforce programs across the state.
In total, Mississippi will receive $205,907,220 during fiscal year 2026. The agency announced $104 million in funding for the state last month.
HHS expands nationwide sickle cell disease care
HHS established Tuesday new Regional Coordinating Hubs across the U.S. for sickle cell disease care through seven awards.
The awards were granted through the department’s new Sickle Cell Disease Regional Care Excellence (SoRCE) Program. The program will be administered through HHS’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
The program expands such care from five to seven regions, according to the announcement. Each hub will partner with at least three clinical community spokes, including a clinical center and at least one community-based organization.
HRSA plans to award a contract for nationwide technical assistance, training, coordination and more for various organizations and stakeholders.
CMS defers $1.2B in Medicaid funds from California, puts New York on notice after raid
The Trump administration is withholding additional funds from California as part of its war with certain states over Medicaid fraud.
CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz said Tuesday that the White House will defer $1.2 billion in Medicaid funds from the Golden State, in particular over the state's growing personal care services for enrollees.
In addition, federal and state officials raided about a dozen adult daycare locations in New York City, according to a New York Times report. The investigation focused on center operators that regulators claim submitted fraudulent Medicaid bills for individuals who were deceased or had received no services. Full story.
HHS launches national kidney care plan
HHS announced Tuesday a coordinated plan to improve the nation’s kidney care.
The Kidney Care National Plan has three priorities: preventing kidney failure, improving dialysis care while expanding patient choice and reforming the transplant system. Department-wide agencies will use the plan to advance policy, payment, research, regulatory and oversight actions, according to the announcement. Full story.
Trump EO creates women’s health NIH division, White House task force
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday establishing a new division at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and a White House task force centered on women’s health.
Through the executive order, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will establish a Women’s Health Division at NIH within 90 days. Kennedy will also co-chair the newly established White House Women’s Health Task Force alongside White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. Full story.
Maryland receives $16.4M in RHTP funding
Maryland will receive $16.4 million as part of its RHTP funding for fiscal year 2026, CMS announced Monday.
Projects supported by the investment include training citizens for healthcare jobs, expanding registered apprenticeships and reducing training and certification financial barriers. The funds will also support workforce recruitment.
In total, Mississippi will receive $168,180,838 during fiscal year 2026.
DOJ streamlines healthcare fraud voluntary self-disclosure
The Department of Justice and the HHS Office of Inspector General unveiled a new policy directing healthcare organizations to voluntarily self-disclose any potential criminal fraud to the former agency alone.
Both agencies have had policies in place that reduce repercussions for organizations that voluntarily self-disclose a fraud arrangement previously unknown to the government. Full story.