The sweeping changes to Medicaid embedded in the recent reform bill are more than policy headlines, they’re already reshaping the lives of the patients and hospitals we serve. At RCA, we see these changes not just as challenges, but as a call to lean into what we do best: protecting access to care while safeguarding the financial health of the hospitals that anchor our communities.

For many patients, the new requirements, work rules, more frequent eligibility checks, and higher out-of-pocket costs, will feel daunting. These are families already navigating serious illness, job loss, or recovery after a devastating diagnosis. Yet now, millions could find themselves at risk of losing Medicaid coverage in the middle of treatment because they missed paperwork deadlines or couldn’t meet new reporting requirements.

At the same time, the hospitals that care for them face reduced federal reimbursements and growing administrative burdens, threatening their ability to stay solvent, particularly in rural and underserved areas.

What we know from the past three decades of experience is that neither patients nor hospitals have to face this storm alone.

We’ve already begun working alongside hospital teams to prepare. Together, we’re working to identify the patients most at risk of losing coverage and helping them navigate the new rules. We feel education is key to ensure patients understand what documentation is required, when to submit it, and what to expect if their benefits are terminated.

On the hospital side, we’re streamlining the response to anticipated increases in uncompensated care and building workflows to recover eligible costs quickly and accurately. We’re also keeping a close eye on developments, monitoring state-level implementation and staying in close contact with partners who influence how these policies are implemented locally.

If there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that being present and proactive, for both patients and hospitals, is what makes the difference. Checking in early, staying in touch, and explaining the unfamiliar in plain language can ease what might otherwise become a crisis.

For the hospitals we partner with, the months ahead may feel unpredictable. But the truth is, this is exactly the kind of moment RCA was made for.

We’re here, ready to help hospitals weather the uncertainty, protect their revenue, and keep patients connected to the care they deserve. If you’d like to talk about what this could look like for your team or your community, let’s start that conversation now.