Updates & Analysis

Today (February 10th), Judge John McConnell of the Federal District Court of Rhode Island issued a new ruling that the Trump Administration is out of compliance with the temporary restraining order (TRO) that he placed on January 31st prohibiting it from “freezing” federal funds. On February 7th, the plaintiffs in this case (including the State of…

In this update:  NYS and NYC Opportunities OMH and OCFS Issue Round Five of Community Mental Health Loan Repayment ProgramOn February 4th, the New York State (NYS) Office of Mental Health (OMH) and Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) issued the fifth application round for the Community Mental Health Loan Repayment Program. The 2024-25…

In this update:  Administration Update Trump Administration Announces Tariffs on Mexican, Canadian, and Chinese ImportsOn February 1st, the Trump Administration announced executive action to impose new tariffs on the United States’ three largest trading partners: Mexico, Canada, and China. This policy included a 25% tariff on Mexican and Canadian imports, and 10% on Chinese imports.…

In this update:  Administration Updates Confusion Continues Around Attempted Federal Funding FreezeThe Trump Administration engaged in a series of actions this week attempting to freeze federal funds that were appropriated by Congress:  Given the confusion surrounding these communications, a second federal Judge, U.S. District Judge John McConnell, heard arguments in a lawsuit brought by Democratic…

Since June 2023, most health care providers in New York working on projects that require a Certificate of Need (CON) have had to include a Health Equity Impact Assessment (HEIA) with their CON application. These HEIAs use a combination of data analysis and public engagement to inform the applicant and the State of the effects…

On January 27th, the acting director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a memo purporting to require Federal agencies to “temporarily pause all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all Federal financial assistance.” ScopeThe memo claims to define “Federal financial assistance” to include the following components, based on the definition in…

In this update:  Federal Opportunities HRSA Releases NOFO for Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training Program for ParaprofessionalsOn January 15th, the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) Program for Paraprofessionals. This program aims to increase the skills, knowledge, and…

In this update:  Administration Updates Trump Administration Imposes Regulatory FreezeOn January 20th, President Trump announced a regulatory freeze pending review. The order requires that no agency propose or issue any rule without review and approval by a presidential appointee. It further orders the immediate withdrawal of any rules that have been sent to, but not…

In this update:  Administration Update HHS Leadership Team Continues to Take ShapeOver the past week, various news outlets have reported that President-elect Trump has selected several more individuals who will serve as senior deputies under Mehmet Oz, his pick to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS):  Legislative Update House GOP Budget Chair…

As the second Trump Administration begins, the direction of health care policy at the federal level is likely to change in multiple cross-cutting ways. Unified Republican control of the federal government, albeit with slim margins, means that cuts to public health programs, particularly Medicaid, are under serious discussion. Many of these proposed cuts would significantly impact…

As Democrats leave office at the federal level, they are returning to the subject of the role of private capital in health care:  Some elements of the Republican Party have expressed skepticism, including Vice President-elect J.D. Vance, who notably supported Federal Trade Commission (FTC) chair Lina Khan’s approach to antitrust. Several bills that would enact…

On January 21st, Governor Kathy Hochul announced highlights from her fourth Executive Budget, covering New York State Fiscal Year (FY) 2026, which will run from April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026. SPG’s full summary of the budget proposal is available here. Where available, legislative sources are marked in [brackets]. This year, the Division of the Budget (DOB)…