CMA Public Policy Update: HPP Funding, Ohio Insurance Reform, and More

From the federal funds that fuel health care preparedness and response in Ohio and across the country to Ohio Administrative Code rules and state-level insurance reform, there are a number of important policy updates that impact our physicians and community. 

Update on HPP Funding & Federal Appropriations 

Unlike the federal reconciliation process, federal appropriations bills are broken into smaller bills by subject matter. The appropriations bills determine funding for discretionary programs, which is everything other than mandatory programs (such as Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, etc.) and taxes.

Appropriations bills move through the House and Senate at the same time. Last week, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed the Labor, HHS, and Education Appropriations Bill, which was advanced by a vote of 26-3 and provides $197 billion in discretionary funding. 

The most important thing for members of the Columbus Medical Association and its affiliates to know is that the bill largely rejected the Administration's federal fiscal year 2026 budget proposal to restructure, eliminate, or consolidate many public health programs, including the Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP). HPP funds are the primary source of funding for health care preparedness and response nationwide. CMA affiliate COTS coordinates emergency preparedness and response for 36 of Ohio's 88 counties for the Ohio Department of Health, which administers the HPP in Ohio. 

Though the proposed funding levels included in the appropriations bill are subject to change as both chambers of Congress are expected to engage in negotiations before the expiration of the current federal fiscal year on September 30, the Senate bill includes the following:

• $309 million for Health Care Readiness and Recovery (formerly the Hospital Preparedness Program), an increase of $4 million.
• Language requiring the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to submit a detailed plan and justification to the Committees on Appropriations prior to initiating a reorganization or transfer of functions carried out by the Centers for Disease Control.
• Full funding for the 988-suicide hotline.

How can you help? It’s important to continue to reach out to your representatives in Congress to advocate for emergency preparedness funding.

• Find your U.S. House Representative here.
• Contact Sen. Bernie Moreno and Sen. Jon Husted here.

Miscellaneous Topics

• Click here to read all about the Ohio State Medical Association’s insurance reform legislative effort, a wrap-up of the state budget, and more in their July 2025 Advocacy Report. 
• On July 10, 2025, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) rescinded a 1998 interpretation of “federal public benefit” as used in Title IV of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA). As a result, HHS has expanded the health care and social service programs for which it deems undocumented people ineligible. Read more about the change here.
• The Ohio Board of Pharmacy recently issued a slew of new, amended and rescinded rules. See summaries of the changes at this link.
• In late June, the US. Supreme Court upheld the authority of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force to make determinations about preventive coverage mandated by the Affordable Care Act. Read about the impact of the Kennedy v. Braidwood Mgmt., Inc. decision here.
  

Dear COTS Valued Partners,

CMA’s affiliate, COTS, needs your help! President Trump’s proposed federal budget eliminates funding for the Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP), the primary source of funding for health care preparedness and response. COTS coordinates emergency preparedness and response for 36 of Ohio's 88 counties for the Ohio Department of Health, which administers the HPP in Ohio. The complete elimination of this program is an existential threat to the safety of all Ohioans. In addition, the proposed federal budget significantly decreases funding for public health coordination and emergency management. See COTS' impact here.

COTS is taking action by creating awareness with our Board of Trustees, stakeholders, and committee members, and developing an advocacy plan.

You can help! Please email or call one or more of these Representatives who represent districts in COTS’ service area. If you have a personal relationship with any of these Members of Congress or others, we welcome your direct advocacy to them, as well.

• Bob Latta – House District 5; Covered by Region 4 | Phone: (202) 225-6405
• Troy Balderson – House District 12; COTS Regions 4, 7, and 8 | Phone: (202) 225-5355 | Email: Rep.Balderson@mail.house.gov
• Michael Rulli – House District 6; COTS Region 8 | Phone: (202) 225-5705  | Email: michael.rulli@mail.house.gov
• David Taylor – House District 2; COTS Regions 4, 7 | Phone: (202) 225-3164
• Joyce Beatty –House  District 3; COTS  Region 4 | Phone: (202) 225-4324 | Email: joyce.beatty@mail.house.gov
• Jim Jordan – House District 4; COTS Region 4 | Phone: (202) 225-2676
• *Mike Carey – House District 15; COTS Region 4 | Phone: (202) 225-2015

 *Congressman Carey is also a member of the House Budget Committee, so your advocacy with him will be particularly effective.

The message is simple:

“Congressman/woman, the President’s budget proposes elimination of the Hospital Preparedness Program. The House Energy & Commerce Committee’s marked up reconciliation bill does NOT implement those cuts. Please keep funding for the HPP at current levels. Defunding emergency preparedness programs will not only result in lost lives but significant economic costs, including higher response and recovery expenses, overwhelmed hospitals, and lost productivity. These decisions will place a severe financial burden on our healthcare system, with costs extending well beyond those associated with an immediate disaster. The compounded impact of these cuts will lead to avoidable fatalities, long-term recovery costs, and inefficiencies in addressing regional crises.” 

About the Hospital Preparedness Program

The Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP) Hospital Preparedness Program prepares the health care delivery system to save lives through the development of health care coalitions (HCCs) that incentivize diverse and often competitive health care organizations with differing priorities and objectives to work together. HPP is the only source of federal funding for health care delivery system readiness, intended to improve patient outcomes, minimize the need for federal and supplemental state resources during emergencies, and enable rapid recovery. 

The purpose of the Regional Healthcare Coalition is to provide training and exercises, the coordination of plans, and operational support during emergency response, and to develop policies and procedures that identify responsibilities required for the successful interoperability of coalition partners: hospitals, public health, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), emergency management, and community partners during a major disaster. 

The Ohio HPP activities include:

• Guidance and development of health care coalitions
• Management of the Ebola Assessment Hospital (EAH) and Ebola Coalition contracts
• Participation in the Great Lakes Healthcare Partnership with Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Michigan, and Chicago
• Facilitation of Burn Surge planning committee
• Management of the bed tracking (EMResource), and patient tracking (EMTrack) systems
• Facilitation and participation in healthcare planning, training and exercises

We appreciate your collective partnership.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Respectfully,

Sherri

Sherri Kovach, MS, BSN, RN, EMT
President
HIPAA Privacy/Security Officer