Issue Briefs | Mar 11, 2024

Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Data: New and Updated Information on Federal Guidance and Medicaid Data Collection Practices

Emily Zylla and Elizabeth Lukanen, SHADAC

Medicaid is an important source of coverage for LGBTQI+ populations, but few states collect data that can be used to understand and improve health for these individuals. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently added new questions on the topic of sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) to the application used by HealthCare.gov and released guidance for states who want to add the same questions to their Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program applications. This brief summarizes the guidance and presents several considerations for states as they look to improve their collection of SOGI data, documents how this information is currently collected in Medicaid, and spotlights Oregon’s ongoing efforts to improve the collection of SOGI data.


Expert Perspectives

May 10, 2024

New Rule Opens the Affordable Care Act Marketplaces to DACA Recipients

On May 3, 2024, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released a final regulation that allows people who receive Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) to sign up for subsidized Marketplace or Basic Health Program coverage. The new policy goes into effect on November 1, 2024 and is expected to enable 100,000 DACA recipients to enroll in health insurance coverage. This expert perspective summarizes the provisions of the new regulation and discusses their implications for states.

May 3, 2024

States of Innovation: March & April 2024

State Health and Value Strategies is launching a new series on the latest health news at the state level. States of Innovation will highlight what states are working on to achieve better, more affordable, and more equitable health for all. This inaugural States of Innovation highlights state activity in March and April and includes updates from: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennslyvania and Virginia.