Breaking Down Silos to Address Maternal and Infant Mortality: Lessons from the Local Level

NACo, NLC, NCSL, USCM, CSG and ICMA emphasize the impact of policy changes to eligibility requirements and financing of Medicaid.

The House and Senate Budget Committees have marked up Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 budget resolutions to initiate the budget reconciliation process to enact policy priorities without garnering bipartisan support, although the two chambers differ in their approach to drafting the legislation. 

Rural communities face unique health care challenges, from provider shortages to funding disparities. To address these concerns, the U.S. Senate recently introduced two bipartisan bills aimed at improving rural health care access and funding: the Rural Health Focus Act and the Fair Funding for Rural Hospitals Act.

Counties can better serve people experiencing a behavioral health crisis by engaging behavioral health specialists instead of law enforcement, experts told county officials at a recent meeting held at NACo headquarters.

On January 30, Senator Ron Wyden and Congresswoman Bonamici reintroduced the Build Housing with Care Act. This legislation would establish a new competitive grant program under HUD intended to boost the supply of co-located child care facilities and affordable housing developments.

The first 100 days, Intergovernmental Disaster Reform Task Force fly-in, SALT deduction profiles released, reauthorization of Secure Rural Schools, and Medicaid and counties.