CMS Launches ASPIRE Model for Pediatric Medicaid Care Coordination in Up to Five States

• Last August, the Trump administration ordered states to reverify immigration status of hundreds of thousands of Medicaid enrollees, but findings from five states show few immigrants without legal status improperly receiving benefits. • States paid Deloitte and other firms millions to comply with the law aimed at cutting Medicaid rolls, with federal officials mandating reverification of enrollee immigration data. • The reviews highlight limited evidence of widespread ineligibility, raising questions about the policy's effectiveness and costs to update systems amid ongoing crackdowns.

• Health savings account companies, benefiting from Trump's tax bill, formed the Great American Health Alliance (GAHA) dark money group to push for further HSA expansions. • The lobbying effort aims to broaden tax advantages amid growing industry influence in policy debates. • Critics highlight potential risks of prioritizing industry gains over consumer protections in health financing.

• The share of Affordable Care Act customers in plans exceeding $6,000 yearly doubled following expiration of Covid-era assistance, signaling household budget pressures. • US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services data shows 2026 enrollment fell 5% to 23.1 million, with further drops expected from premium non-payers. • This cost surge underscores ongoing affordability challenges in the Obamacare marketplace post-subsidy end.

• A March 31, 2026, Bioethics Public Policy Report states 14,446 Americans have died by physician-assisted suicide since 1997, with Aging with Dignity estimating the actual number is higher due to underreporting. • The report provides state-by-state analysis of assisted dying trends and policies. • Findings underscore ongoing debates in end-of-life care and public policy.

• The Guttmacher Institute released a report showing U.S. abortion rates have remained largely steady despite strict bans in 13 states. • Travel for abortions has declined as telehealth access increases, with data scientist Isaac Maddow-Zimet noting, 'It makes sense that we'd see a decline in travel for abortion.' • The findings highlight shifts in care delivery amid policy changes, impacting access in states like Illinois, Maryland, and New York.

• County Health Rankings & Roadmaps (CHR&R) refreshed data in March 2026 for 34 measures covering physical/mental health, clinical care, housing, and more, including poor or fair health, preventable hospital stays, and uninsured rates. • No typical annual data release will occur in 2026; users access updates via 2025 county/state snapshots, with the website active through December 2026. • A webinar on March 31, 2026, explains changes and supports community health efforts.

• Two House Democrats introduced a bill mandating nursing home staffing levels exceeding even the failed federal regulations. • The legislation responds to ongoing concerns over care quality and resident safety in U.S. facilities. • It aims to enforce higher minimum staff-to-resident ratios nationwide.

• Julie B. Samora, MD, PhD, MPH, FAAOS, has become chair of the AAOS Board of Directors. • Announcement coincides with planned site maintenance on AAOS.org on March 31, 2026, from 8:00-9:00 AM CST. • Her leadership focuses on advancing orthopaedic care and policy in the U.S.

• Advocate Health will launch the country's largest hospital-based drone delivery network, beginning in Charlotte, NC, using Zipline drones to deliver prescriptions, lab specimens, and medical supplies across three of its markets. • The system is projected to conduct approximately 100,000 deliveries per year, significantly expanding healthcare logistics and supply chain capabilities within hospital systems. • This initiative represents a major technological advancement in hospital operations and marks a shift toward automated delivery infrastructure in American healthcare systems.

• The SPIRIT-HF study, presented at ACC.26 in New Orleans (March 28-30, 2026), found that spironolactone increased hospitalizations and serious adverse events in patients with HFpEF (heart failure with preserved ejection fraction) or HFmrEF (mildly reduced ejection fraction). • Results raise significant safety questions about the drug's efficacy in these patient populations, potentially challenging current treatment protocols. • The findings were presented to cardiologists and cardiovascular specialists at the American College of Cardiology's annual conference, the largest gathering of heart disease specialists.

• Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act has darkened the outlook for approximately 17,000 federally-funded health clinics across the United States, which collectively stand to lose $32 billion in government support. • The policy represents a significant threat to community health infrastructure that serves vulnerable populations, though specific implementation details and timeline remain under review. • Federal health clinics provide essential services including primary care, preventive services, and treatment for underinsured and uninsured Americans in underserved communities.