Dear John,

Join Health Affairs on Wednesday July 9 for an exclusive Insider virtual event discussing health and health care policy decisions that are expected in the closing days of the Supreme Court’s 2024-2025 term.

Become an Insider today to get access to exclusive events, monthly newsletters, trend reports, and more. 

July 2025 Issue | Health Spending, Rural Hospitals, Maternal Care & More

This issue of Health Affairs includes the annual national health expenditure projections from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

The issue features papers on rural hospitals, various aspects of maternal and child health, as well as a tribute to our founding editor, John K. Iglehart, who passed away last month.

H E A L T H   S P E N D I N G

National Health Expenditure Projections, 2024–33: Despite Insurance Coverage Declines, Health To Grow As Share Of GDP

Sean P. Keehan et al.

R U R A L   H O S P I T A L S

Mixed Evidence That Rural Hospitals’ Finances Improved With Participation In The Pennsylvania Rural Health Model

Paula Chatterjee et al.

Factors Influencing Rural Hospitals’ Decisions To Join An Alternative Payment Model: A Mixed-Methods Study

Kimberly J. Rak et al.

M A T E R N A L   A N D   C H I L D   H E A L T H

Obstetric Care Access Declined In Rural And Urban Hospitals Across US States, 2010–22

Katy Backes Kozhimannil et al.

Maternal Contact With Child Protective Services Associated With Less Postpartum Care In Wisconsin, 2010–19

Nicole Kovski et al.

Connecticut’s Novel Prenatal Substance Exposure Policy Is Associated With Declining CPS Reports And Foster Placements

Margaret Lloyd Sieger et al.

Health Affairs Branded Post:

Kalahn Taylor-Clark

Sponsored by Merck for Mothers

When Public Data Disappear: What We Lose And Why It Matters

Aaron E. Carroll

Supplemental Benefits in Medicare Advantage: Understanding the Challenges, Improving Effectiveness

Join Health Affairs for a free virtual event featuring insights from a year-long special series, Supplemental Benefits In Medicare Advantage.

Tomorrow July 8, Health Affairs’ Kathleen Haddad will moderate a discussion with a panel of experts on how well MA supplemental benefits fill the health care and non-medical health related needs of MA enrollees.

Speakers include:

• Narda Ipackhi, The SCAN Foundation
• Eric Roberts, University of Pennsylvania
• Claire Cruse, ATI Advisory
• Chris Esguerra, Health Plan of San Mateo
• Andy Friedell, Helper Bees

This event is open for all to attend.