The Navajo Nation is set to receive $88.7 million in funding through the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) program. The initiative aims to boost small businesses on and off the Navajo res...

Federal officials have finalized a rule that will allow coverage of some hemp products as specialized, non-primarily health-related benefits through Medicare Advantage (MA) plans. In a filing set to be published in the Federal Register on Monday, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is clarifying that certain cannabis products that are legal under both state and federal laws are eligible to be reimbursed under the Special Supplemental Benefits for the Chronically Ill (SSBCI) program. Under a previous update to the program adopted in April 2025, CMS determined that…

The Cherokee Nation will deploy its $84 million SSBCI allocation through a new lending program targeting 180 census tracts with poverty rates of 19% or higher, offering microloans and larger financing...

Text SIGN PVNBQC to 50409 — As a Medicare Advantage enrollee in Florida with chronic conditions, I rely on the Special Supplemental Benefits for the Chronically Ill (SSBCI) flex card—a benefit authorized by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 and administered through CMS rules—to help cover healthy groceries, OTC items, utilities, transportation, and essentials. For years across multiple plans (including CVS/Aetna and CarePlus/Caremark), I've encountered egregious restrictions that inflate costs and erode the benefit's value: CVS Flex Card ($175/month in 2026): Works in-store at approved retailers (grocery, Walmart) for rideshares, gas (though unreliable), utilities, paper towels, shampoo, etc. But online/app-only shopping is locked to CVS's separate Flex app, where prices are full retail—no discounts, coupons, BOGO deals, or my paid CVS membership rewards. In-store, my membership stacks savings (e.g., 50% off + coupons); online with the benefit, I pay 2-3x more for identical items. This forces me to shop in-store monthly, wasting time/transportation benefits. CarePlus/Caremark: Similar racket—catalog at full retail prices, but shipped in cheap bulk packaging (hospital wholesale equivalents). These aren't minor glitches; they're systemic profit extraction. Plans get CMS payments for these "extras," outsource to vendors, and enrollees get devalued dollars while plans/vendors pocket the spread. No CMS rules mandate fair pricing, discount parity, or transparency for flex card delivery—despite marketing these as "free money" for necessities. This violates the intent of SSBCI to improve health/function for chronically ill seniors and the disabled on fixed incomes. In Florida, where MA enrollment is high, it's squeezing vulnerable constituents. I urge you to act: Support/enact the Medicare Advantage Supplemental Benefits Transparency Act (S.3573) to require enrollee-level data on flex card usage/pricing—exposing waste. Direct CMS to issue rules mandating: Discount/coupon parity across in-store/online flex card use. Price transparency (no inflated app pricing). Full usability (gas, utilities without barriers). Investigate MA vendor contracts (CVS, Caremark) for overpricing and hold hearings on flex card value erosion. Florida families—and all MA enrollees—deserve the full benefit Congress intended, not vendor profits. Please respond with your position and actions. Thank you,

State Small Business Credit Initiative (Ssbci) - Unlocking Funding for Expansion In Rural Tennessee. In the rolling hills of rural Tennessee, small businesses are not just economic units; they are the beating heart of their communities. The State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) stands ready

Por redacción de Sin Comillas El Banco de Desarrollo Económico para Puerto Rico (BDE) recibió una asignación de $30 millones por parte del Departamento del Tesoro de Estados Unidos para ampliar los programas de “Impulso a tu Negocio” de la Iniciativa Estatal de Crédito para Pequeñas Empresas (SSBCI por sus siglas en inglés). El BDE […]

CLINTON, Iowa — Businesses in Iowa could benefit from a $96 million investment by the Department of Treasury. The State Small Business Credit Initiative

Delaware officials are working to fast-track the distribution of $14 million in federal funding to small businesses before the end of 2025, as part of the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI...

Did you know Colorado has its own venture capital agency?...

Deputy Secretary of State Canaan Duncan and entrepreneur Dylan Springwater told a Cherokee Nation podcast that the tribe’s Tribal Employment Rights Office (TARO), coupled with opportunity-zone tools and roughly $80 million in SSBCI funds, is expanding access to contracts, loans and workforce training for Native-owned firms.

As a Medicare Advantage enrollee in Florida with chronic conditions, I rely on the Special Supplemental Benefits for the Chronically Ill (SSBCI) flex card—a benefit authorized by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 and administered through CMS rules—to help cover healthy groceries, OTC items, utilities, transportation, and essentials. For years across multiple plans (including CVS/Aetna and CarePlus/Caremark), I've encountered egregious restrictions that inflate costs and erode the benefit's value: CVS Flex Card ($175/month in 2026): Works in-store at approved retailers (grocery, Walmart) for rideshares, gas (though unreliable), utilities, paper towels, shampoo, etc. But online/app-only shopping is locked to CVS's separate Flex app, where prices are full retail—no discounts, coupons, BOGO deals, or my paid CVS membership rewards. In-store, my membership stacks savings (e.g., 50% off + coupons); online with the benefit, I pay 2-3x more for identical items. This forces me to shop in-store monthly, wasting time/transportation benefits. CarePlus/Caremark: Similar racket—catalog at full retail prices, but shipped in cheap bulk packaging (hospital wholesale equivalents). These aren't minor glitches; they're systemic profit extraction. Plans get CMS payments for these "extras," outsource to vendors, and enrollees get devalued dollars while plans/vendors pocket the spread. No CMS rules mandate fair pricing, discount parity, or transparency for flex card delivery—despite marketing these as "free money" for necessities. This violates the intent of SSBCI to improve health/function for chronically ill seniors and the disabled on fixed incomes. In Florida, where MA enrollment is high, it's squeezing vulnerable constituents. I urge you to act: Support/enact the Medicare Advantage Supplemental Benefits Transparency Act (S.3573) to require enrollee-level data on flex card usage/pricing—exposing waste. Direct CMS to issue rules mandating: Discount/coupon parity across in-store/online flex card use. Price transparency (no inflated app pricing). Full usability (gas, utilities without barriers). Investigate MA vendor contracts (CVS, Caremark) for overpricing and hold hearings on flex card value erosion. Florida families—and all MA enrollees—deserve the full benefit Congress intended, not vendor profits. Please respond with your position and actions. Thank you,

The decision to put programs like the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) on hold is deeply concerning. These programs play a vital role in fostering economic growth and empowering small businesses, which are the backbone of our communities. The SSBCI's initiatives, such as providing collateral support, venture capital investment, and support for underserved entrepreneurs like women, minorities, veterans, and those with disabilities, are crucial for creating an inclusive and thriving business landscape. Cutting off access to resources that help small businesses navigate challenges and seize opportunities is counterproductive. It not only hinders their ability to succeed but also jeopardizes job creation, innovation, and the overall economic vitality of our communities. We should be expanding such programs, not curtailing them. Investments in small business development yield significant returns for local economies. By empowering entrepreneurs with access to capital, expertise, and support networks, we enable them to grow, hire more workers, and reinvest their profits back into our communities. This virtuous cycle benefits everyone, from Main Street to Wall Street. I urge you to advocate for the reinstatement and expansion of programs like the SSBCI. Small businesses are the heartbeat of our nation's economic prosperity, and they deserve our unwavering support. By prioritizing their success, we ensure a stronger, more equitable, and more resilient future for all.