NEW REPORT: From Indiana to Oregon, State Efforts Tackled Health Care Costs in 2025

Amid the backdrop of shifting federal health care policy, states across the US took the lead making health care more affordable & accessible for people

Washington, DC — Today, United States of Care released its 2025 state legislative wrap-up report, offering in-depth analysis of key state health care policy trends and a roadmap for state and federal policymakers to address the rising cost of health care’s impact on people, employers, and state budgets. 

Some of the ways states are addressing affordability challenges include: 

• States took action to lower hospital prices and address hospital consolidation – through implementing reference-based pricing policy, increasing transparency around corporate ownership of hospitals, and advancing payment reforms, states like Indiana, Washington, and New Mexico delivered relief to people struggling amid sky high hospital prices. 
• States implemented key consumer protection policies – by addressing unfair facility fees, protecting people from surprise ground ambulance bills, and ensuring access to no-cost preventive care services, states like Minnesota and Oregon put in place policies to protect people seeking health care from rising health care costs . 
• States preserved and reinforced access to affordable, quality health care coverage – from Arizona and North Dakota implementing physician oversight of prior authorization to Georgia, Maryland, and Rhode Island all considering legislation to establish premium assistance for people seeking coverage on the marketplace, states are prioritizing keeping people covered and making sure their coverage is there when they need it. 

“This year’s legislative sessions made it very clear – saving people money on health care is also good fiscal policy for states facing tough budget outlooks. Even while navigating difficult fiscal landscapes, states of all political shades across the country took action to make health care more affordable and dependable for people,” said Kelsey Wulfkuhle, Senior State Advocacy Manager at United States of Care. “As we look to 2026 – with all the challenges that await states in the coming year – these trends show us what states can do to save money and deliver relief to people struggling to afford their health care.”

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