County health officer warns of Medicaid changes, outlines local impacts and rural-health funding bids

Bryce Strang, Queen Anne's County health officer, told the county commissioners on Oct. 14 that recent federal changes to Medicaid and other programs will begin taking effect in 2026 and could materially affect local health services, hospital finances and coverage for county residents.

Strang said Maryland Medicaid and local health departments are still evaluating many details of the law commonly referred to in the meeting as “OBAA,” and urged residents enrolled in Medicaid to keep contact information current so they receive notices from Maryland Medicaid when rules change. “The number one rule right now is that people on Medicaid need to keep their contact information current in the system,” Strang said.

The health officer walked commissioners through current surveillance data for COVID-19, influenza and RSV, noting four seasonal waves for COVID-19 over the past two years, a busy flu season last winter and an ongoing expectation of another winter spike. “These are lab‑tested cases,” he said about case counts. “Hospitalizations continue to go down on average, as we progress.”

Strang framed the policy changes expected under the federal law and their local effects: immigrant eligibility changes beginning Oct. 1, 2026; work…