After the fireworks

Earlier this month, the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBBA) became law, marking the most significant shifts in federal health policy since the passage of the Affordable Care Act. The federal budget bill shrinks healthcare safety net funding by slimming Medicaid budgets and tightening coverage eligibility rules—a move that’s likely to intensify financial pressure on health systems (especially rural and safety net hospitals) already operating on narrow margins. Meanwhile, changes to payment structures may complicate efforts by payers and policymakers to scale value-based care strategies.

But OBBBA isn’t just about cost-cutting. The bill also carves out new (employer- and Health Savings Accounts-fueled) avenues for telehealth—particularly in primary care—and supports digital outreach to Medicaid enrollees and remote care in rural communities.

Several key provisions remain subject to state interpretation or are slated for future implementation, so only time will tell how things shake out. In the meantime, this post-OBBBA moment is the time for innovators to showcase what they do best: identify opportunities to advance outcomes and fill gaps left behind. From low-cost virtual care platforms that expand access, to engagement platforms that support eligibility tracking and re-enrollment, to provider workflow tools that drive savings or flag rising-risk patients, digital health solutions are well-positioned to improve access, boost efficiency, and reduce spend. Innovators that stay nimble and can help patients and healthcare organizations respond to shifting coverage and reimbursement dynamics will shape the next wave of healthcare’s transformation.

Join our team: Rock Health Advisory is hiring an Engagement Manager to work within our strategy consulting team! If you have experience in healthcare strategy and/or consulting, a passion for digital health, and an interest in working with leading healthcare enterprises and late-stage startups, we’d love to hear from you—apply here!

Headlines

WeightWatchers Emerges From Bankruptcy, Launches New Menopause Program
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Carrot Fertility Launches Sprints Program Targeting Metabolic-Fertility Connections
Another women+ health and weight care crossover Femtech Insider

Samsung To Acquire Digital Health Firm Xealth
Samsung moves to bring wearable data to clinicians while advancing Galaxy watch health features Healthcare Dive

State Bill Threatens To Ban AI Therapists, Forcing Health Tech Startups To Pivot
Bill forbidding AI therapy clears Illinois state legislature with unanimous, bi-partisan support Endpoints News

Recent Funding

• Phil raises $60M for its tech-enabled pharmaceutical commercialization platform
• Medicare-focused value-based care company Vytalize Health locks in $55M