27 Mar Cancer News You Need: Changes to Medicaid, Filing Taxes, & More

This blog covers the latest news you need about new federal and state legislation, laws, policies, and programs that may impact the cancer community. This month we have information on changes to Medicaid, how to file your taxes, and more.

National Updates

• In March, Congress passed a budget resolution to avoid a partial government shutdown and fund the operation of the federal government through September 2025. The budget resolution directs the House Energy & Commerce Committee to reduce the federal deficit by at least $880 billion over ten years . Much of that amount is expected to come through cuts to Medicaid.
  • Even though Medicaid is a federal program, it’s funded at the federal and state levels. The federal government requires states to provide a minimum level of benefits, but states can make some choices about who is eligible and what benefits are available.If the federal government cuts Medicaid spending, states may need to make changes.  This could involve limiting who is eligible, reducing benefits, or forcing states to make other budget cuts in order to find money to keep their Medicaid programs.
  • If federal spending for the Medicaid expansion program is cut, an Urban Institute report estimates close to 16 million Americans could lose their Medicaid coverage, or the 41 states with expansion programs will need to make $44.3 billion in state budget cuts or keep their expansion programs.
• Cutting Medicaid spending will significantly impact people who rely on Medicare .This Issue Brief explains the devastating impact that Medicaid cuts will have for seniors and people with disabilities, including:
  • Nearly one third of Medicaid spending supports Medicare enrollees. One in six Medicare enrollees has both Medicare and Medicaid, or they are enrolled in Medicare and a Medicare Savings Program that uses Medicaid dollars to help pay their Medicare premiums and/or out-of-pocket costs. Medicaid is the primary payer of home-based care and nursing facility care for Medicare enrollees.
  • Medicaid covers essential health benefits that Medicare does not, including routine dental, vision, and hearing care.
• Getting ready to file your 2024 taxes?You can now use IRS Direct File to file your 2024 federal tax returns online for free, directly with the IRS. Direct File is an option for people with certain types of income and who claim certain deductions or credits. It is not an option for people who itemize their deductions, nor will it help you file state tax returns. Visit the IRS website to see if you are able to use Direct File.
• Need help dealing with a federal agency?Mass layoffs of federal government workers have been in the news. Agencies such as the IRS , Social Security Administration , and Veterans Administration are facing significant reductions in staffing. If you feel a federal agency is not responding to a request you’ve made, or you’re experiencing any difficulty with an agency, contact your Congressperson and let them know. Each Congressperson’s website should have a link for “Help with a Federal Agency.” Alternatively, you can call their district office. To find contact information for your Congressperson or other elected officials, visit Common Cause .
• The Help Ensure Lower Patient Copays Act (also known as the HELP Copays Act), was introduced. This bill would require health insurance plans to count the value of drug copay assistance towards patients’ cost-sharing obligations. It would also close a loophole that currently allows many employer health plans to classify certain covered drugs as “non-essential,” and thus not count patients’ cost-sharing for those drugs towards their deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums. 
• A West Health-Gallup Survey reports that more than 31 million Americans needed to borrow $74 billion last year to pay for health care. More younger Americans (ages 18-49) reported borrowing than older Americans (ages 50+). More than half the people surveyed said they are somewhat or very concerned that a major health event in their household could lead to medical debt.

State Updates

• Indiana’slegislature is considering Senate Bill 2 , which caps enrollment in the Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP). HIP is Indiana’s Medicaid expansion program. If it becomes law, this bill will cap HIP enrollment at 500,000 people, and institute work requirements as a condition for coverage.
• Iowahas a new law relating to continuity of care with respect to prescription drugs. The law restricts an insurer’s ability to limit or exclude coverage of a prescription drug that was previously approved and prescribed for someone who is medically stable. The law aims to reduce non-medical switching of prescription drugs. 

Stay tuned for more news at the national and state level that may impact the cancer community.

If you are interested in getting more involved in advocate for a policy or law in your state, check out Triage Cancer’s resources on policy and legislative advocacy efforts . You can also watch the recording of the recent Triage Cancer webinar – Getting Engaged in Cancer Advocacy .

About Triage Cancer

Triage Cancer is a national, nonprofit providing free education to people diagnosed with cancer, caregivers, and health care professionals on cancer-related  legal and practical issues . Through  events ,  materials , and  resources , Triage Cancer is dedicated to helping people move beyond diagnosis.

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