Rural Health News is a weekly segment of Rural Health Today, a podcast by Hillsdale Hospital.
Welcome back to Rural Health News, the segment of Rural Health Today where we fill you in on the latest in rural health headlines. We’ll cover three headlines in today’s episode: what’s most urgent, a rural health damage report, and a success story to send us into the week.
Most Urgent
Ever since the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill, or H.R.1, states have been preparing to implement the new work rules that are scheduled to go into effect in 2027. However, two new Medicaid work requirement rules from the Trump Administration have unexpectedly interrupted those preparations. Each state is responsible for verifying Medicaid recipients are completing their eligibility requirements like work and community service, but those verifications rely on complex computer systems that have a history of cutting off access for families that need and qualify for coverage.
As states work to change these systems to fit the new rules and resolve these errors, President Trump’s new Medicaid stipulations are costing states tens of millions of dollars to change their computer systems and start from scratch preparing for the implementation of the new work requirements. The recent additions to Medicaid eligibility rules also make coverage less accessible for recipients with serious medical conditions. Now, it is not enough to prove a condition preventing the recipient from working exists; they must be assessed individually by states to ensure the condition is severe enough by CMS’ new qualification standards. These changes are dangerous new barriers to healthcare access that will disproportionately affect our rural hospitals. If you want to read a more detailed report of these new rules, check out the links in our show notes for source information.
Damage Report
Damages from the One Big Beautiful Bill continue to complicate access to care for millions of Americans. More than 1 million American children have lost access to health insurance since the beginning of 2025, mostly due to the increased rates of ACA marketplace coverage, although confusion over changing Medicaid eligibility is also impacting families before the new rules even take effect.
The current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has resulted in 598 confirmed cases and 115 confirmed deaths as of June 8, according to the CDC. 19 cases and 2 deaths have been confirmed in Uganda as of June 8. With both patients and healthcare providers battling the illness, rural clinics are struggling to provide the necessary care with limited resources and supplies. The World Health Organization and other global rural health agencies are working to raise funds and send supplies to the communities most affected, but border closures and transport delays have made it difficult to get essential supplies in the right hands. Just like in rural America, our global rural healthcare community needs our support more than ever.
Success Story
Seattle Children’s recently hosted its first patient prom, giving 35 teenage patients with lengthy or recurring hospitalizations an experience they may have otherwise missed out on. Volunteers organized the event which included a dance floor, DJ, dresses and suits, and even corsages for prom-goers.
Events like this one reflect a broader movement from healthcare systems to address nonclinical needs, strengthening the symbiotic relationship between social care and clinical care for chronically ill patients.
Sources
Rachana Pradhan and Samantha Liss, “Trump’s Medicaid Work Rules Force States To Scrap Plans and Rework Systems,” June 3, 2026, https://kffhealthnews.org/medicaid/trump-law-medicaid-work-rules-states-overhaul-eligibility-systems/, KFF Health News.
Tanya Albert Henry, “Shape your state’s hardship exemptions to Medicaid work requirements,” June 1, 2026, https://www.ama-assn.org/health-care-advocacy/access-care/shape-your-state-s-hardship-exemptions-medicaid-work-requirements, American Medical Association.
Julie Rovner, “Millions of Kids Could Lose Insurance as GOP Healthcare Cuts Start To Bite,” June 5, 2026, https://kffhealthnews.org/insurance/health-hub-kids-lose-insurance-coverage-gop-healthcare-cuts/, KFF Health News.
Amy Maxmen, “‘We Live With Fear’: In Congo, Doctors Face Ebola With Little Protection,” June 5, 2026, https://kffhealthnews.org/public-health/ebola-congo-virus-outbreak-drc-africa-health-workers-bundibugyo/,” KFF Health News.
Mariah Taylor, “Confirmed Ebola deaths top 100: 6 updates,” June 9, 2026, https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/quality/public-health/confirmed-ebola-deaths-top-100-6-updates/, Becker’s Hospital Review.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Ebola Outbreak: Current Situation,” June 14, 2026, https://www.cdc.gov/ebola/situation-summary/index.html.
Paige Twenter, “Seattle Children’s hosts 1st patient prom for teenage patients,” June 5, 2026, https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/patient-experience/seattle-childrens-hosts-1st-patient-prom-for-teenage-patients/. Becker’s Hospital Review.
Rural Health Today is a production of Hillsdale Hospital in Hillsdale, Michigan and a member of the Health Podcast Network. Our host is JJ Hodshire, our producer is Kyrsten Newlon, and our audio engineer is Kenji Ulmer. Special thanks to our special guests for sharing their expertise on the show, and also to the Hillsdale Hospital marketing team. If you want to submit a question for us to answer on the podcast or learn more about Rural Health Today, visit ruralhealthtoday.com.
