United StatesHealthOverlooked from the right4 days ago

CMS proposes codifying, strengthening Medicare drug price negotiations

A Democratic-aligned advocacy group called Protect Our Care reports that over 400 hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities are at risk of closure or service cuts due to funding reductions tied to the GOP's 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act' passed last year. Over 80 hospital wards, including maternity and pediatric units, have already closed. The group attributes these closures partly to reduced Medicaid funding under the law, which cut over $1 trillion from Medicaid. The report comes amid Democratic efforts to highlight healthcare issues as a key campaign issue heading into the November

Health Care

PRESENTED BY

The Big Story

Protect Our Care highlights adverse effects of GOP cuts on hospitals

Democratic-aligned advocacy group Protect Our Care says it is tracking 1,000 hospitals, clinics, hospital wards, nursing homes and providers that are closing, cutting services, or are at risk due to the cuts that helped pay for the GOP’s party-line megabill last summer.

The group has been tracking the fallout from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act since it passed last July. They found over 400 hospitals are at risk of closure or cuts. More than 80 hospital wards — including maternity and pediatric units — have already shuttered.

However, there is some disagreement about the specific vulnerabilities . Rural hospitals often operate on thin margins, serving a significant percentage of Medicaid patients, and many were at risk before the passage of the law.

But the impact is also being felt in urban safety-net hospitals , for the same reason: many of their patients rely on Medicaid.

The GOP bill cut more than $1 trillion from Medicaid, and it’s fueling Democratic attacks ahead of November’s midterm elections. Democrats want to take control of Congress and think health care is a top message.

Protect Our Care is releasing a new report Wednesday along with a website that can track the at-risk facilities, and holding a call with health leaders and Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) to highlight the cuts. They want to send a message to Americans that Republicans slashed health care to pay for tax cuts for the wealthy .

Throughout the month of June, Protect Our Care will hold events blasting Republicans for their health care crisis ahead of the one-year anniversary of the OBBB on July 4th. It’s part of a larger strategy of Democrats and their allies spotlighting the hospital closures and Americans facing high costs.

Welcome to The Hill’s Health Care newsletter , we’re Nathaniel Weixel and Joseph Choi — every week we follow the latest moves on how Washington impacts your health.

The Hill Insider is coming

A new all-access digital subscription from The Hill — launching July 2026. Join the waitlist to be among the first inside

Essential Reads

How policy will be impacting the health care sector this week and beyond:

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a third over-the-counter version of naloxone nasal spray Tuesday, in a move the agency said could save lives and reduce costs. The agency approved another Rextovy, a 4 milligram naloxone nasal spray for the emergency treatment of opioid overdose. FDA said consumers may directly buy it in pharmacies, convenience stores and online. Naloxone is a medicine that can help reduce opioid …

An American passenger exposed to the hantavirus on a cruise ship was ordered to remain in quarantine in Nebraska against her will and despite a federal medical review recommending she could leave. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. signed an updated order Monday to continue keeping Angela Perryman isolated in quarantine at a facility in Nebraska, even though a review from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention …

Senate Democrats on Tuesday released a blueprint of proposals to lower prescription drug costs, as Democrats focus on affordability to provide a counter message to the White House and help Democrats win back control of Congress. High prescription drug costs are a persistent concern for voters of both parties. President Trump has been touting his own efforts of voluntary pricing deals with manufacturers and listings on his branded …

CONTENT FROM OUR SPONSOR

Invested in Responsibility

Our approach to helping prevent underage access to nicotine products: Responsible marketing. Responsible retail safeguards. Real-world monitoring.

In Other News

Branch out with a different read from The Hill:

Vice President Vance is taking center stage as the U.S. is poised to sign a preliminary deal with Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, in what could prove to be a political opportunity or minefield as he seeks to tout his credentials ahead of 2028.

Around the Nation

Local and state headlines on health care:

EPA’s PFAS retreat is ‘a slap in the face,’ NC advocate says ( North Carolina Health News )

Missouri and Kansas have tens of thousands of kids without healthcare. But poverty is down ( KCUR )

Indiana takes on powerful hospitals by capping prices they charge employers ( Indiana Capital Chronicle )

What We’re Reading

Health news we’ve flagged from other outlets:

Backed by threat of clawbacks , feds wield tight grip on $50B rural health fund ( KFF Health News )

Congo Ebola outbreak may be worst ever , Africa CDC says ( Reuters )

How an addictive gas station drug found allies in Trump’s cabinet ( New York Times )

You’re all caught up. See you tomorrow!

The latest in politics and policy.

Direct to your inbox.

1 reports

The HillIndependentLeft4 days ago

CMS proposes codifying, strengthening Medicare drug price negotiations

Bias read (Left): The article frames the GOP legislation as harmful to healthcare access, emphasizing negative consequences such as hospital closures and service cuts, particularly affecting rural and urban safety-net hospitals. It cites a Democratic-aligned advocacy group and focuses on the potential electoral harm,

Official sources cited

organisation Protect Our Care Report

Go to the primary sources (1)

The official sources this coverage is built on. Read them directly to bypass framing.

organisationProtect Our Care Report