ENA Washington Update - July 2025

News You Can Use

Reconciliation Package Becomes Law, Medicaid Cuts Loom
The House of Representatives passed the budget reconciliation package on July 3, sending it to President Trump’s desk where it was signed into law the next day. The Senate previously passed this version of the legislation that would enact, among other things, certain spending cuts and tax priorities. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, this law will cut approximately $930 billion from Medicaid over 10 years and estimates an increase, compared to current law, of at least 11 million people without health insurance by 2034.

Medicaid is critical to the survival of hundreds of hospitals around the country, especially in rural and underserved areas. Emergency departments depend on Medicaid for much of their compensated care, covering some 45 percent of all ED visits and about 63 percent of pediatric visits. Without Medicaid coverage, many of these patients, countless with chronic diseases, would be unable to access affordable primary care, which potentially jeopardizes their ability to manage those conditions.

Boarding and overcrowding are already straining emergency departments. Adding millions of vulnerable people to the ranks of the uninsured will send many to the ED, further exacerbating this and other related issues, like workplace violence. ENA has consistently voiced opposition to Congress about cuts to the Medicaid program, most recently in a July 1 statement by ENA President Ryan Oglesby.

New York Assembly Passes Workplace Violence Bill
On June 11, the New York State Senate approved legislation requiring hospitals around the state to develop and implement violence prevention programs with the participation and input from direct care workers, such as emergency nurses. These programs would include an assessment of current security threats to inform the development of security plans that address those threats or hazards. The law also requires staff training to be reviewed and updated, if needed, and that hospitals have posted security inside the emergency department, providing exceptions in some circumstances, such as hospitals with a critical access, sole community or rural emergency hospital designation.  

Advocates from New York ENA worked diligently to see this bill enacted, and it was a key focus of the state council’s government affairs efforts. Through this, New York ENA members met with legislators and issued a memorandum of support for the bill. The legislation returns to the assembly for final approval, where it is expected to be approved before being signed by Governor Kathy Hochul.

Oregon Improves Existing Workplace Violence Law
A bill was recently passed in the Oregon legislature which amends the state's existing workplace violence law by making several changes, such as, revising language from “workplace assault” to “workplace violence” to acknowledge the different types of violence to which nurses might be subjected. It also includes de-identification policies allowing nurses and other employees to not use last names on badges, as well as new robust public reporting requirements to track violent incidents.

Oregon ENA prioritized this legislation in their work over the last several years, providing direct testimony to lawmakers, meeting with members of the legislature and working with coalition partners to support the bill.

ENA State Leaders: Got a State Bill to Track?
Contact ENA Government Relations and let us know the bill number - gov@ena.org

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EN411 Grassroots Advocacy
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Action Alerts highlight ENA’s priorities before the House and Senate. Through the links below, you can send a letter or X post to your member of Congress.

MISSION ZERO Is Popular, Innovative and Needs to be Reauthorized. Learn More

Workplace Violence Has No Cure. Tell Congress to Do More to Fight It!

Support Tyler’s Law to Effectively Implement Fentanyl Testing in EDs!

Support the Reauthorization of Programs to Combat Emergency Nurse Burnout!

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