SUMMARY: The COVID-19 pandemic led to over 172,000 nursing home resident deaths and prompted significant reforms, including a mandate for minimum nursing staff levels. As Donald Trump returns to the White House, the nursing home industry, backed by some congressional allies, seeks to overturn this regulation. Industry groups have filed lawsuits, arguing many homes can’t afford increased staffing and citing a scarcity of trained workers. Despite doubts about enforcement and widespread care quality issues, consumer advocates and research groups warn that repealing the mandate could diminish care standards. The Biden administration argues that funding and resources exist to meet staffing requirements.

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SUMMARY: In December, 3-year-old Ryan Wettstein Nauman from Peoria, Illinois, experienced inconsolable crying, prompting her mother, Maggi, to take her to the emergency room. After waiting, Ryan stopped crying and they decided to leave without seeing a doctor. Months later, they received a $445 bill for a covid and flu test conducted during their brief ER visit, despite Ryan only being triaged. After insurance adjustments, they owed $298.15. The high hospital markup and insurance rules post-public health emergency raised concerns for Wettstein, leading her to reconsider future ER visits in favor of urgent care options for non-life-threatening issues.

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SUMMARY: In May, Mandi Rokx, a Florida mother, received a notice that she and her baby would be cut from Medicaid despite being eligible. Florida’s 2021 law promised 12 months of continuous coverage post-birth, but a computer glitch in the state’s eligibility system, run by Deloitte, led to wrongful cuts. This error, along with others during Florida’s Medicaid review process, has affected many new mothers. A class-action lawsuit highlights how these errors led to loss of coverage for eligible individuals. While Rokx regained coverage after legal intervention, the broader issues persist, impacting thousands across multiple states.

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