At Resource Corporation of America (RCA), we know that policy changes aren’t just abstract rules on a page — they affect real people, hospitals, and communities. This week, a federal judge pressed “pause” on several ACA Marketplace provisions that were supposed to begin on August 25, 2025.

For hospitals and patients, this pause brings a mix of relief and uncertainty.

What Got Put on Hold

On August 22, 2025, a federal judge in Maryland temporarily blocked seven provisions of the Marketplace Program Integrity and Affordability Final Rule. These provisions would have created additional hurdles for patients and more administrative strain for providers.

Some of the paused provisions included:

  • Requiring extra paperwork to verify income for patients who already qualified for premium tax credits.
  • Forcing patients to pay back old premiums before enrolling in a new plan.
  • A $5 monthly fee for those in $0 premium plans who didn’t actively re-enroll.
  • New restrictions around special enrollment periods (SEPs) and premium tax credit eligibility.

For now, these changes won’t move forward until there is more legal clarity.

What’s Still Moving Forward

Not all provisions were stopped. Effective August 25:

  • No more automatic 60-day extensions to fix income inconsistencies.
  • The year-round SEP for people at or below 150% of the federal poverty level has been eliminated nationwide.
  • DACA recipients will lose access to Marketplace coverage and premium tax credits (coverage ends September 30, 2025, in HealthCare.gov states).
  • HHS is applying a tougher “preponderance of evidence” standard when reviewing agent, broker, and web-broker terminations.

Why This Matters for Hospitals

For patients, these back-and-forth changes create confusion. For hospitals, they mean financial risk and rising administrative burden. Coverage gaps often turn into uncompensated care, leaving providers with the challenge of balancing patient care with financial responsibility.

This is where RCA’s role becomes even more critical.

How RCA Supports You

When rules change or are put on hold,  RCA is here to ensure your patients don’t fall through the cracks. Our team:

  • Works directly with patients to navigate eligibility and secure coverage.
  • Keeps track of evolving state and federal requirements so your staff doesn’t have to.
  • Protects hospitals from the financial shocks that come with sudden policy swings.

Our mission is simple: help hospitals recover the revenue they deserve while ensuring patients receive the coverage they need.

Looking Ahead

This injunction is only temporary. More legal developments are expected, and additional shifts could be around the corner. RCA will continue to monitor these changes closely and provide guidance so you and your patients are never caught off guard.