As Independence Day approaches, we have curated a selection of In Focus analyses that continue to resonate with healthcare leaders as they navigate a rapidly changing policy environment. From Medicaid work requirements and Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace stability to social determinants of health initiatives, state transformation efforts, and consequential legal decisions, these articles offer insights into the developments shaping healthcare in 2026.
- Act Now to Implement Community Engagement Requirements
New Medicaid community engagement requirements are moving from policy debate to implementation reality. Health Management Associates (HMA) experts break down the critical implementation challenges and strategic decisions that cannot wait. Get the insights here.
- ACA Marketplace Affordability and Coverage Stability
Coverage affordability and enrollment stability remain among the most important healthcare policy challenges facing states and issuers. HMA analyzes emerging funding approaches, policy risks, and what healthcare leaders should watch as ACA Marketplace dynamics continue to evolve. Get the insights here.
- New Guidance Raises the Bar for MedicaidSection 1115 Demonstrations
New guidance from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) fundamentally changes expectations for Medicaid Section 1115 demonstrations. HMA provides a first take on how the guidance could affect Medicaid 1115 waiver approvals and the future of state innovation. Understand the policy changes and their implications before your next strategic planning discussion. Get the insights here.
- The Value Shift in Medicare Advantage: What 2026 Benefits Tell Us About the Market’s Next Chapter
Medicare Advantage (MA) is entering a new era of value management as plans rethink benefit design amid mounting financial and regulatory pressures. Drawing on proprietary analysis from Wakely, an HMA Company, this article reveals how 2026 benefit changes are reshaping member value and what they signal about the future direction of the MA market. Get the insights here.
- The New Operating Reality in Behavioral Health
The rules of success in behavioral health are changing. HMA explores the market, policy, and operational trends that are redefining performance and what leaders should do now to stay ahead. Get the insights here.
As healthcare policy, financing, and delivery systems continue to evolve, organizations need more than headlines—they need actionable insights grounded in real-world experience. HMA’s multidisciplinary team works with state agencies, health plans, providers, community organizations, and federal stakeholders to navigate complex challenges across Medicaid, Medicare, behavioral health, Marketplace coverage and healthcare transformation initiatives.
The articles highlighted here offer a snapshot of our capabilities and expertise. Through our consulting services, research, analytics, and thought leadership, HMA provides the expertise and strategic guidance organizations need to anticipate change, manage risk, and seize emerging opportunities across the healthcare landscape.