Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Announces All Tribes Webinar on 6/30
Topics to Include H.R. 1 IFC and New Budget Neutrality Rules
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Division of Tribal Affairs announced it will host an All Tribes Webinar on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at 12:00 pm ET.
The All Tribes Webinar will cover two topics:
1.) The Interim Final Rule with Comment (IFC) released June 1, 2026, interpreting and implementing exemptions for American Indian and Alaska Native Medicaid beneficiaries enrolled in Medicaid expansion from programmatic changes to state operated Medicaid programs enacted under H.R. 1. Through the IFC, CMS outlines AI/AN exemptions for new requirements for state Medicaid programs, including:
- Medicaid community engagement (work) requirements,
- Cost sharing for certain services and items, and
- Six-month eligibility redeterminations for certain adult Medicaid populations.
NIHB has produced an initial analysis of the rule and how it specifically impacts American Indian and Alaska Native people, which you can read here. You can also find the IFC in its entirety via the Federal Register here.
2.) The State Medicaid Director (SMD) Letter published June 11, 2026, outlining upcoming changes to budget neutrality requirements for state Medicaid 1115 demonstration proposals. To help state planning efforts, CMS published the SMD Letter to provide states with an early notice regarding the budget neutrality changes. These new changes will require the CMS Office of the Actuary to verify state assertions that a proposed 1115 demonstration is budget neutral, meaning it will not cost the federal government more than. an existing running Medicaid program. CMS has also announced it will publish further guidance through a forth coming notice of proposed rulemaking.
This webinar will provide a general overview of both the IFC and SMD Letter, along with additional context for Tribal stakeholders. You can register for the All Tribes Webinar using the link below.
If you have questions or would like additional information, please contact NIHB’s Federal Relations Team at federalrelations@nihb.org.