• Georgia: According to preliminary CDC data, the U.S. infant mortality rate fell to an all-time low in 2025, reaching slightly fewer than 5.4 infant deaths per 1,000 live births. The total number of infant deaths also declined, going from 20,050 in 2024 to 19,350 in 2025. Over the last few decades, the U.S. infant mortality rate has slowly declined due to public health efforts and medical advances. Although it's difficult to identify exactly what is driving the recent declines, "this is an encouraging data point, and we hope that this trend will continue," said Michael Warren, chief medical and health officer for the March of Dimes. However, even with these declines, the U.S. infant mortality rate continues to higher than that of other high-income countries. In a 2025 study, researchers found that the U.S. infant mortality rate in 2022, the last time it increased, was almost twice as high as other high-income countries, including Italy, Japan, Spain, and Sweden. Some factors influencing infant mortality in the United States include poverty and inadequate prenatal care. (Associated Press/STAT, 6/16)
• Maryland: Last month, Judge Brendan Hurson from the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland vacated several provisions from a 2025 CMS rule focused on enrollment and eligibility in Affordable Care Act exchanges. Last July, several large cities, including Baltimore and Columbus, Ohio, and organizations like Main Street Alliance sued to block the rule, arguing that it could lead to at least 1.8 million people losing coverage and increase premiums and out-of-pocket costs. In August, Hurson issued an injunction against seven of the rule's provisions. In his most recent ruling, Hurson vacated several provisions of the rule, including eligibility checks ahead of special enrollment periods, a $5 premium penalty on auto-reenrollment, and reductions to plans' required coverage value. However, he ruled that CMS has the authority to update the methodology used to calculate the premium adjustment percentage, which is used to determine the annual limit on consumer cost-sharing. "While this policy change will undoubtedly have effects on the broader insurance market, including, as HHS concedes, an increase in premiums and a worsening risk pool, the court is constrained to conclude that HHS did not act without explanation or rationale in making this decision," Hurson wrote. (Tepper, Modern Healthcare, 6/12)
• New York: According to a new report from the Commonwealth Fund, over 20% of U.S. working-age adults with private health insured experienced or had a family member experience a coverage denial in a one-year period. For the report, researchers surveyed 6,353 U.S. adults between the ages of 19 and 64. Of the respondents, over 70% had private health insurance. Overall, 21% of respondents reported experiencing coverage denials for prior authorizations, claims, or both. Those who received a prior authorization denial said it increased their worry and anxiety (63%), delayed their medical care (41%), or worsened their health problem (28%). Among the respondents who said they received a claim denial, almost 70% said it cost their household more money. Around half of those who received a claim denial appealed, but one-third of the appeals were rejected, and over 60% of those who received an answer had to wait at least a month. Almost 90% of respondents who received a coverage denial also blamed their insurance company. (Casolo, Becker's Hospital Review, 6/4)

Understand the state of infant health inequities and how reducing inequities can positively impact your organization's quality scores and avoidable costs.