RISE above and beyond

The new Trump administration is likely to reduce subsidies for Affordable Care Act insurance plans and roll back Medicaid coverage. Public health authorities worry that anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will be empowered.

Vermont has one of the lowest uninsured rates in the U.S., even though its residents pay some of the highest health insurance costs. Still, most of its hospitals are losing money and patients often face long waits for care.

Community health workers are increasingly common in rural areas, where they help patients overcome barriers to accessing care and staying healthy.

In addition to finalizing payments for providers, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) said the rules will help strengthen primary and patient-centered care, reduce maternal mortality, and advance health equity.