Wednesday, March 25, 2026

400+ California hospitals cut 3,400 healthcare workers since the One Big Beautiful Bill Act's $1 trillion Medicaid reduction took effect. UC Berkeley Labor Center projects 72,000-145,000 healthcare job losses statewide — 3-5% of California's 2.65 million health positions. Iowa hospital systems closed clinics. A Georgia hospital shut its maternity ward. CBO estimates 11.8 million people will lose Medicaid coverage over the next decade.

MA plans must publish aggregate PA approval/denial metrics by March 31. Eight metrics required. First reporting cycle. CMS killed service-level reporting — plans disclose contract-level aggregates only. KFF data: MA insurers processed 53 million PA determinations in 2024. When the data drops, the headline will be the gap between what plans report and what providers experience.

20th Annual National Medical Biller's Day. Michigan Governor Whitmer issued the 2026 proclamation — date confirmed March 26. Content should be queued and ready to post at 8 AM ET tomorrow. This is a community engagement moment, not a product pitch. Register 2.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed July 4, 2025, cuts $1 trillion from Medicaid over 10 years. Starting January 2027, Medicaid recipients must work 80 hours/month to keep coverage — first-ever work requirement for the program. By December 2026, states must conduct eligibility redeterminations every six months instead of annually. CBO projects 7.5 million more uninsured. 3 in 10 young adults are vulnerable to losing coverage. Enhanced ACA expansion FMAP already sunset January 1, 2026.

April 1: hospital CEOs must personally attest to accuracy of published prices. Percentile-based allowed amounts (10th, 50th, 90th) now mandatory. No penalty reductions for missing files. For three years, hospitals faced toothless enforcement — many ignored the requirement entirely. Now someone has to sign their name.