The Trump administration has made several significant moves in recent weeks that signal major shifts in healthcare policy and scientific research funding, sparking concerns among experts and stakeholders.
Healthcare Policy Changes
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has pulled information on health equity for the Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) through Section 1115 waivers[1]. This move is seen as the latest signal that the Trump administration views social determinants of health (SDOH) and health equity differently than the previous administration. Critics argue this could negatively impact access to care for vulnerable populations.
Additionally, the federal office responsible for implementing the No Surprises Act, which aims to protect patients from unexpected medical bills, has faced significant staff cuts. Approximately 15% of employees at the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight were recently laid off[1]. This reduction in staff has raised concerns about the office’s ability to effectively enforce protections against surprise medical billing.
Research Funding Challenges
In a significant development, a U.S. judge has blocked the Trump administration from implementing steep cuts to federal grant funding for research at universities and institutions[1]. The proposed cuts, which would have affected thousands of existing grants totaling billions of dollars across all 50 states, were deemed unlawful by U.S. District Judge Angel Kelley. The judge noted that the abrupt policy change posed an “imminent risk of halting life-saving clinical trials” and disrupting innovative medical research.
Impact on Data Collection
Researchers have also reported interrupted access to a crucial maternal health database called PRAMS (Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System)[1]. This dataset, which has been used for nearly four decades to understand infant and maternal health in the United States, was suddenly made inaccessible without notice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). While the CDC claims the interruption is temporary and related to compliance with executive orders, the sudden loss of access has caused concern among researchers studying maternal health outcomes.
Industry Reaction
The healthcare industry is grappling with these rapid changes. At the recent HIMSS25 conference, HIMSS CEO Hal Wolf described the current state of healthcare as being in a “shaky period of uncertainty” under the Trump administration[1]. This sentiment reflects the broader concerns within the healthcare and research communities about the long-term implications of these policy shifts.
As these developments continue to unfold, stakeholders across the healthcare and research sectors are closely monitoring the situation and assessing potential impacts on patient care, scientific progress, and public health outcomes.
References:
- https://healthadvances.com/insights/blog/trump-administration-healthcare-news-march-7-2025
- https://comptroller.nyc.gov/newsroom/new-york-by-the-numbers-monthly-economic-and-fiscal-outlook-no-99-march-2025/
- https://www.thompsonhinesmartrade.com/2025/03/trump-administration-imposes-section-232-steel-and-aluminum-25-tariffs-march-12-2025-eu-and-canada-retaliate/
- https://www.conference-board.org/research/ced-policy-backgrounders/the-future-of-the-CHIPS-and-Science-Act
- https://fortune.com/2025/03/13/the-trump-administration-must-bring-back-thousands-of-federal-workers-fired-by-elon-musks-doge-judge-rules/
- https://natlawreview.com/article/its-time-year-again-california-pay-data-reporting-due-may-14-2025
- https://help.hootsuite.com/hc/en-us/articles/4403597090459-Create-engaging-and-effective-social-media-content
- https://natlawreview.com/article/april-2025-visa-bulletin-more-favorable-migration
- https://developer.apple.com/news/
- https://libguides.usc.edu/writingguide/literaturereview
