For Immediate Release
CONTACT: Christian Hall, christian@newdealleaders.org
NewDEAL Forum Launches Affordability Series With New Report on Health Care in a Time of Federal Retreat
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The NewDEAL Forum today released a new report examining how state and local leaders can work to protect health care access and affordability as federal support is rolled back. The briefing is the first installment of a four-part Affordability Series.
Health Care in a Time of Federal Retreat comes as recent federal actions have reshaped the health care landscape, including major changes to Medicaid and the expiration of Affordable Care Act subsidies. Together, these shifts are expected to increase costs for families, strain state budgets, and threaten access to care—particularly in rural and underserved communities.
“While states and localities cannot fully fill federal gaps, and must put pressure on Washington by illustrating the impact of federal cuts, this report includes tangible, practical solutions that state and local leaders can pursue to protect access, control costs, and rebuild trust in public health systems,” said Jonathon Dworkin, Executive Director of the NewDEAL Forum. "Their work is vital in this moment and their success will come in part from banding together and learning from each other.”
The report draws on discussions from the NewDEAL Leaders Conference and highlights how reduced federal funding, new administrative burdens, and rising premiums are forcing states to confront difficult choices. Experts warn that without intervention, families may delay or forgo care, driving up uncompensated care costs and putting additional pressure on hospitals and local providers.
At the same time, the report points to promising innovations already underway across the country, including:
Community-based health hubs that bring preventive care directly into high-need neighborhoods;
State-led insurance options designed to increase competition and lower costs, particularly in rural areas;
Shared services and modernized systems, including streamlined eligibility and administrative infrastructure, to reduce overhead and improve efficiency; and
Regional public health partnerships to strengthen data, messaging, and trust as federal leadership erodes.
While states and localities cannot fully replace federal investment, the report underscores their growing role in filling leadership gaps and advancing solutions that respond to the realities families face every day.
Health Care in a Time of Federal Retreat is the first report in the NewDEAL Forum’s Affordability Series, which will also examine:
Energy
Housing
Childcare
Future reports will be released individually over the coming weeks, each focused on concrete, state- and local-level approaches to lowering costs and improving quality of life.
The full report is available here.
About the NewDEAL Forum
The NewDEAL Forum is a Washington-DC based non-profit organization that identifies and elevates innovative, future-oriented state and local policies that can improve the lives of all Americans. By facilitating the identification and spread of policy ideas, the NewDEAL Forum seeks to foster economic growth, reduce barriers to opportunity and promote good government in communities, cities, and states throughout the country.