Update: What We’re Watching, Feb. 6, 2026

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Update: What We're Watching, Feb. 6, 2026

Hill to the Heartland: Federal Health Policy Briefing

Hill to the Heartland: Federal Health Policy Briefing is a product series providing regular updates on federal health policy discussions. Sign up here to receive these summaries and more, and also follow KHI on Facebook, X, LinkedIn and Instagram.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released 2026 Affordable Care Act Marketplace enrollment numbers showing a dip from last year. The administration announced a new federal initiative focused on coordinating addiction prevention and recovery efforts across agencies. Congress approved a funding measure to end the partial government shutdown that began on Jan. 31. Federal childhood vaccine recommendations are being challenged in court. Here is some of the health-related news we are watching that could have an impact on Kansas.

The views expressed in the following news stories, news releases or documents are not necessarily those of the Kansas Health Institute (KHI). They are being shared with the intent of keeping Kansans informed of the latest developments related to federal health policy.

U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Updates

1. Funding Package Signed into Law

President Donald Trump signed a $1.2 trillion bipartisan spending package (H.R. 7148) that funds the federal government through the end of the fiscal year for many of the federal budgets and temporarily funds the Department of Homeland Security. The legislation provides more than $116 billion in discretionary funding for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), extends several health care flexibilities, including Medicare telehealth and the Acute Hospital Care at Home waiver, and establishes some accountability requirements for pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). The legislation increases Community Health Center funding to $4.6 billion in fiscal year (FY) 2026 from $4.3 billion in FY 2025. The Act also includes $350 million in base funding for the National Health Service Corps and $225 million in funding for the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Program, with additional funding in future years.

Read the bill here: H.R. 7148 Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026

Read the fact sheet here: Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026

Read more from Fierce Healthcare: Trump signs $1.2T spending package that funds HHS, enacts PBM reforms, telehealth and hospital-at-home measures

Read more from Politico: Democrats just handed RFK Jr. billions more than he asked for. It was a big risk.

2. 2026 Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace Open Enrollment Total

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released data on the 2026 Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace open enrollment period, showing that nearly 23.0 million people nationwide selected a marketplace plan, a decline from last year following the expiration of enhanced premium tax credits.

In Kansas, 192,811 consumers selected a marketplace plan for 2026, a dip from last year's record high of 200,046 enrollments. The final enrollment numbers do not reflect the actual number of consumers who made their first premium payment (effectuated enrollment) or the types of plans selected by the enrollees. Estimates on effectuated enrollment are typically available by the end of February, and information on the types of plans selected is typically available by May for analysis.

Read more from CMS: Marketplace 2026 Open Enrollment Period Report: National Snapshot

Read more from CNN: Obamacare enrollment drops after enhanced premium subsidies expire

3. HHS Announces Addiction, Prevention, and Recovery Initiative

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Secretary of HHS, announced a new federal initiative aimed at addressing substance use disorder through a coordinated prevention, treatment and recovery strategy across multiple federal agencies. The initiative, launched through an executive order, frames addiction as a chronic, treatable disease and calls for improved alignment of federal programs, expanded prevention efforts and greater emphasis on community-based treatment. As part of the announcement, the Secretary of Health and Human Services said the administration will direct $100 million toward the Great American Recovery Initiative.

Read the press release: Secretary Kennedy Announces $100 Million Investment in Great American Recovery

Read the Executive Order: Addressing Addiction Through the Great American Recovery Initiative

Read more from the Hill: RFK Jr. 'Fragmented' addiction treatment system 'has not worked in this country'

Read more from PBS News: WATCH: RFK Jr. and others launch new addiction and homelessness initiative

4. Vaccination Policy Changes and State Responses

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and several other medical organizations have filed a federal lawsuit challenging recent changes to federal childhood vaccine recommendations, arguing that the revisions depart from long-standing, evidence-based guidance. The lawsuit comes as states assess whether and how to respond to the updated recommendations when setting clinical guidance and school vaccination policies. The majority of states, 28, are now departing from federal guidelines for some or all childhood vaccines, compared to 22 last fall.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) announced that it does not anticipate changes to Kansas' childhood immunization schedules. The school vaccination requirements for the 2026-2027 school year remain the same. KDHE recommended that Kansas clinicians continue to rely on clinical training and professional judgement, as well as following schedules from the AAP and the American Academy of Family Physicians. KDHE officials said vaccines remain a safe and effective tool for preventing serious infectious diseases and encouraged clinicians to continue evidence-based, shared decision-making with families.

Read more from KDHE: Kansas Department of Health and Environment Vaccine Recommendations

Read more from KDHE: Immunization Regulation & Recommendations

Read more from WIBW: Why Kansas won't follow new federal vaccine recommendations for kids

Read more from O'Neill Institute: American Academy of Pediatrics et al. v. Kennedy et al.

Read more from MedpageToday: AAP Releases 2026 Child Vax Schedule, No Longer Endorses CDC's Version

Read more from KFF: State Recommendations for Routine Childhood Vaccines: Increasing Departure from Federal Guidelines

News From the Kansas Delegation

1. U.S. Senator Jerry Moran, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science, announced $36 million to complete construction on the new University of Kansas Cancer Center.

Read the press release: Sen. Moran Secures Federal Resources for KU Cancer Center in FY2026 Appropriations Package

2. U.S. Representative Tracy Mann and Senator Jerry Moran applauded an interagency agreement between the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that temporarily allows USDA to administer the Food for Peace program. Last February, the Congressmen introduced legislation to move the administration of the program from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to the USDA. The Food for Peace program buys surplus American agricultural products to use as foreign food aid.

Read the press release: Rep. Mann, Sen. Moran Applaud Decision to Move Food for Peace to USDA

Listen to more from WIBW: Kansas Congressmen applaud decision to temporarily move Food for Peace to USDA

3. U.S. Representative Ron Estes joined the full committee hearing questioning health insurance CEOs on the economic reality facing families, citing the efficiencies of modern health care not translating to affordability.

Rep. Estes also reintroduced legislation benefiting nursing homes with in-house Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) programs through the Ensuring Seniors' Access to Quality Care Act. The bill allows nursing homes to continue operating their in-house CNA training program even if they incur fines above a certain amount, as long as the fines are issued for reasons unrelated to direct resident care.

Read the press release: ICYMI: Estes Questions Health Insurance CEOS at Ways & Means Hearing

4. On Jan. 9, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall visited Irwin Army Community Hospital at Fort Riley in anticipation of a new agreement expected that will expand health care access for veterans in the Flint Hills region.

Read the press release: Senator Marshall Visits Ft Riley Hospital Ahead of New Agreement Expanding Veteran Healthcare in the Flint Hills - Senator Roger Marshall

Read the letter to Lt. Gen. Crosland: Final Defense Health Agency Letter

Read more from the JC Post: Sen. Marshall works to preserve Irwin Army Community Hospital

Stay tuned for further updates on policy shifts that may affect health programs and services in Kansas. For related work on how federal policies could impact Kansans, please check out Hill to the Heartland.