Hello Readers!
We hope you are all enjoying a wonderful summer. In our 2025 summer edition of Health Policy News, we explore key developments impacting healthcare policy and delivery. First, we provide a detailed overview of the 2025 HR 1 One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), signed into law on July 4, which introduces sweeping health policy reforms. PCG’s two-part summary outlines the key provisions, the legislation’s implementation timelines, fiscal projections from the Congressional Budget Office, and funding allocations to CMS and states – both related to Medicaid and commercial insurance/Marketplaces. Our summary of commercial insurance/Marketplace provisions also includes an overview on the Final Marketplace Integrity and Affordability Final Rule that was published in June.
Next, we examine the Supreme Court’s June 27th ruling in Kennedy v. Braidwood Management, Inc., which had the impact of upholding the Affordable Care Act’s preventive care mandate, ensuring continued access to no-cost services like cancer screenings and diabetes testing. Finally, we highlight insights from a recent webinar co-hosted by PCG and the National Association of EMTs (NAEMT), which addressed the financial pressures facing EMS agencies and offered strategies for accurately calculating costs and improving financial sustainability.
We wish you all an enjoyable remainder of the summer and look forward to sharing more updates in September.
Understanding the Health Policy Impact of the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA): PCG Summaries of Medicaid & Marketplace Related Provisions
On July 4, 2025, the 2025 HR 1 One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) was signed into law, introducing a broad set of reforms with significant implications for health policy. This two-part article, developed by PCG subject matter experts, offers a detailed summary of key Medicaid and commercial insurance/Marketplaces provisions included in the legislation, as well as recent changes under the Final Marketplace Integrity and Affordability Final Rule. It outlines policy changes, implementation timelines, projected fiscal impacts as estimated by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), and funding allocations directed to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and to states. The full PCG summaries of the health-related provisions in the 2025 HR 1 OBBBA are available here.
Kennedy v. Braidwood Management, Inc. : Understanding the Latest Challenge to the ACA
On June 27, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a 6–3 ruling in Kennedy v. Braidwood Management, Inc., that had the impact of preserving the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) preventive care mandate and ensuring continued access to no-cost services like cancer screenings, diabetes testing, and smoking cessation aids. The Court determined that the appointment of members of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is constitutional, allowing them to continue recommending no-cost preventive health services. This decision adds to the ACA’s long history of largely surviving legal challenges. To read more, click here.
Understanding the True Cost of EMS: Why Accurate Data Matters More Than Ever
Last month, PCG and the National Association of EMTs (NAEMT) co-hosted a webinar exploring the financial challenges facing Emergency Medical Services (EMS) agencies. The presentation emphasized the importance of understanding both direct and indirect costs, such as labor, facilities, and administrative overhead, and offered guidance on accurately calculating cost per transport. It also addressed the need for tailored financial strategies based on department structure and regulatory compliance. To read more and access the webinars recording, click here.
To read more, click here. Additionally, to read more articles on these topics, please look towards PCG’s Fire & EMS Blog!
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