Oct, 20, 2020

State Health Updates

COVID-19 Updates

  • Connecticut – Governor Ned Lamont announced the members he is appointing to serve on the Governor’s COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Group. The group will be responsible for advising the governor on preparations for a COVID-19 vaccine, including the optimization of a statewide vaccine distribution strategy, and communicating critical medical information about the vaccine with the state’s residents.
  • Kentucky – Governor Andy Beshear announced $2.8 million for 14 Recovery Kentucky centers across the commonwealth to help ensure safe, stable housing for those recovering from substance use disorder. Through Community Development Block Grant CARES Act funding, each center will be eligible for approximately $200,000 to offset costs incurred due to COVID-19. Funds also help ensure centers can continue services while protecting residents and staff from COVID-19.
  • Michigan – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget and Michigan State University launched a COVID-19 exposure notification app pilot program on MSU’s campus and for the surrounding community. The app is a next step to help reduce the spread of the virus following increased testing and additional contact tracing efforts in Michigan.
  • North Carolina – The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announced that more than 100,000 people have downloaded SlowCOVIDNC, the state’s official exposure notification app. SlowCOVIDNC alerts users when they may have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. The app relies on users to anonymously submit their positive result to notify others.

Other State Updates

  • Colorado – Connect for Health Colorado, the state’s official health insurance marketplace, and the Department of Revenue have named the members to serve on the Health Care Coverage Easy Enrollment Program’s advisory committee to guide implementation and administration of the program. Starting in 2022, the Easy Enrollment Program would allow Coloradans to mark on their state tax return that they are uninsured and opt-in for their information to be shared with Connect for Health Colorado, to see if they qualify for financial help or Medicaid.
  • Delaware – Over the last decade, Delaware’s mortality rate for all cancer sites combined declined 10 percent between the five-year periods of 2002 through 2006 and 2012 to 2016, according to the latest cancer data released by the Division of Public Health. In the same time span, Delaware’s all-site cancer mortality rate also declined for African-American males and females and Hispanic females.
  • Georgia – CMS announced approval of the state’s new Medicaid section 1115 demonstration, “Pathways to Coverage,” which would create an opt-in to Medicaid for otherwise ineligible Georgia adults with incomes up to 100 percent of FPL and who participate in qualifying activities like work and education, as well as meeting premium and income requirements. In the press release, CMS states that it has completed its review of Georgia’s Section 1332 waiver request and is working with the state and federal partners to finalize the terms and conditions for the waiver’s approval.
  • Minnesota – Mnsure, the state’s official health insurance marketplace, announced $3.5 million in funding to support the Navigator Outreach and Enrollment Grant Program. Forty-three organizations across Minnesota will use these grants to fund targeted outreach to uninsured populations and sustain a robust statewide navigator network to provide application, enrollment and renewal assistance to Minnesotans who need help to get and maintain coverage. This year’s grants began on September 1, 2020, and will end June 30, 2021.
  • New Jersey – Governor Murphy announced the launch of the state’s official health insurance marketplace, Get Covered New Jersey, which is now open to residents who will no longer use HealthCare.gov to enroll in Marketplace health insurance plans. Instead, Marketplace plans and financial help will only be available through Get Covered New Jersey. The Governor also announced the availability of new state subsidies passed by the Legislature which he recently signed into law. Individuals whose annual income is under 400 percent of FPL will qualify for subsidies in addition to premium tax credits. The estimated average subsidy for an individual with an annual income up to 400 percent of the FPL is projected to be at least $578 a year, and at least $2,313 a year for a family of four with an annual income up to 400 percent FPL.