February 12, 2026
On February 9, it was reported that the Trump administration plans to pull back $600 million in public health funding to Minnesota, California, Colorado, and Illinois.
The funds, administered through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), are for grants to state and local public health departments and some nongovernmental organizations.
“It is concerning that HHS is cutting public health funding to local communities that cover core functions in the middle of a measles outbreak and other health threats,” said Deb Houry, MD, who served as the CDC’s chief medical officer before she resigned in August, The New York Times reported. “This coupled with large staffing cuts to federal public health leaves communities less prepared.”
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said the grants, many of which support the LGBTQ community, do not reflect the priorities of the current administration.
April 9, 2026
An amended piece of legislation that would exempt buprenorphine from prior authorization (PA) was heard in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee on April 9.
April 9, 2026
On April 9, the Senate Health and Human Services Committee heard a bill that would require coverage for psychiatric Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) services under Medical Assistance.
April 9, 2026
On April 9, the House Taxes Committee heard legislation focused on supporting the financial stability and ongoing operations of Hennepin Healthcare.