Affordability, Dependable Coverage, News & Updates, State Efforts, Sustainability
2026 State Policy Priorities
[Last Updated: May 2026]
At United States of Care (USofCare), our State Policy and Advocacy team continues to advance health care policies that are responsive to concerns we hear from people across the country. Far too often we hear how the health care system isn’t working and that people want meaningful, lasting change.
Our 2026 state policy priorities seek to make care and coverage more affordable, more dependable, and more sustainable long-term. In addition to existing resources on reference-based pricing, limits on facility fees, and site-neutral policy, we’re pleased to share an overview of our policy priorities.
We’re also releasing along seven new one-pagers on the policies below that support United States of Care’s state-based efforts to secure more affordable coverage for all people. Check out our overview and seven one-pagers below.
2026 State policy Priorities Overview
State Policy Priorities to Make Health Care More Affordable, Dependable & Sustainable
States can pursue a range of policy solutions to reduce underlying health care costs and improve affordability, including:
- Promoting hospital price transparency to inform patients and policymakers.
- Enhancing state oversight of health care mergers and acquisitions.
- Strengthening corporate practice of medicine doctrines to protect patient health.
- Increasing transparency in health care ownership.
- Improving tax-exempt hospital accountability to address community needs.
- Promoting greater investment in primary care.
- Prohibiting anti-competitive contracting to promote competition and lower costs.
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