Sep, 08, 2023

State Health Updates

  • Arizona – The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) has incorporated community feedback into its request for federal approval to extend Medicaid reimbursement to parents who provide caregiver services to their minor children with disabilities. Based on public comments and feedback from parents, AHCCCS has added habilitation services to its 1115 demonstration waiver request, which it will submit to CMS in September.
  • California – Covered California, the state’s official health insurance Marketplace, is piloting an outbound call campaign during the unwinding to individuals no longer eligible for Medicaid who have received an automatic plan selection. The campaign launched in late August and will target consumers who have been enrolled in a $0 premium plan with an August 1 start date. Service center representatives will offer assistance with understanding coverage eligibility, opting into coverage and plan choice. The effectiveness of the outbound call campaign will be evaluated on effectuation rates.
  • Colorado
    • The Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Treasury announced that the Colorado Division of Insurance will receive $245 million in pass-through funding for its health insurance programs for 2023. This amount includes funds for the Colorado Reinsurance Program, and for the first time, the Colorado Option Program. The funds will go into the Reinsurance Program to continue to lower premiums, as well as provide direct subsidies to lower out-of-pocket costs for eligible Connect for Health Colorado consumers and support the OmniSalud program.
    • The Polis administration in partnership with the Behavioral Health Administration and the Department of Health Care Policy & Financing is expanding existing mobile crisis response and covering a new service, behavioral health secure transportation. Coloradans experiencing a mental health or substance-use crisis will now have expanded access to highly-trained crisis response teams in their communities, and can receive a safe ride to receive behavioral health treatment if needed.
  • Georgia – The Georgia Department of Community Health announced that CHIP premiums will remain suspended through December 31 as renewals are completed.
  • Illinois – Governor Pritzker signed legislation codifying protections for preventive care services that are required under the ACA and include reproductive healthcare services. The law protects Illinoisans’ coverage for many preventive services, such as routine immunizations, vision screenings, some cancer and chronic disease screenings and various mental health services.
  • Missouri – The MO HealthNet Division (MHD) and the state’s managed care health plans are collaborating on a project to educate and inform providers and Medicaid members on benefits and opportunities available to them during and after their pregnancy. MHD released a Maternal and Infant Health Engagement Survey to collect data to improve policies, payment methodologies, and outcomes for pregnant and postpartum individuals and infants. 
  • New Jersey
    • Governor Phil Murphy announced his nomination of Justin Zimmerman as Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance. As Commissioner, he will lead the department in regulating the banking, insurance and real estate industries as well as operating Get Covered New Jersey, the state’s official health insurance Marketplace. Zimmerman currently serves as Acting Commissioner and will continue to serve in his role pending confirmation by the Senate. Congratulations Justin!
    • Governor Phil Murphy signed a bill requiring school districts to provide menstrual products free of charge in every public school teaching students in one or more of grades six through twelve. Applicable schools will be required to provide menstrual products in at least half of all their female and gender-neutral bathrooms. Any costs incurred by a school district in supplying menstrual products to meet the needs of its students will be borne by the state.
  • New Mexico – BeWellnm, the state’s official health insurance Marketplace, and the New Mexico Office of the Superintendent of Insurance released the state’s Annual Insurance Marketplace Report for 2023. The report offers a comprehensive analysis of individual health insurance market on- and off- Exchange enrollment, small business enrollment, qualified health plan pricing, outreach and enrollment assistance activities, as well as strategies aimed at addressing the challenge of the remaining uninsured population in New Mexico.
  • New York
    • The New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS) approved health insurers’ premium rate increases for 2024, saving consumers and small businesses almost $732 million. In the individual market, DFS reduced insurers’ requested rates by 44%. In the small group market, DFS reduced insurers’ requested rates 52%. In light of the continued increases in costs in healthcare and other consumer goods and services, DFS held insurers’ profit provisions to only 1%.
    • The New York State Department of Health announced several key initiatives aimed at improving maternal and newborn health. Enacted as part of the 2023-24 budget, the state is committing to multiple Medicaid investments that will expand access to prenatal and postnatal care and support better birth outcomes. These include doula coverage, midwifery services, and community health worker coverage.
  • North Carolina – The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services published a policy evaluation brief and companion chart pack highlighting North Carolina’s approach to telehealth policymaking, both in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and thereafter, to serve as a model to other states undertaking telehealth policymaking and evaluation. The brief includes an overview of the state’s evolution in telehealth policy; the state’s decision-making criteria used to determine temporary and permanent telehealth policy changes; telehealth utilization between March 2020 and December 2022; and considerations for other states.
  • Oklahoma – The Oklahoma Health Care Authority is seeking public input on its proposed rule to implement 12-months continuous eligibility for children on Medicaid and CHIP, effective January 1, 2024, in compliance with the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023. 
  • Oregon
    • Oregon Health Authority, in collaboration with Oregon Housing and Community Services, announced proposed timelines to begin offering new Medicaid benefits that eligible members would receive under Oregon’s 1115 Medicaid waiver. If the federal government agrees to the proposal, eligible members would start receiving benefits for climate-related supports in January 2024, housing insecurity in November 2024, and food insecurity in January 2025.
    • The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation finalized the rate decisions for 2024 health insurance for the individual and small group markets. The division issued final decisions with an overall weighted average increase of 6.2% in the individual market and 8.1% for the small group market.
  • Pennsylvania – Pennie, the state’s official health insurance Marketplace, released the state’s inaugural Health Equity Data Report. The report details the impact of policies and procedures created to help reduce inequities experienced by historically marginalized communities, establishes a baseline upon which to measure future efforts to reduce inequities in enrollment, and provides a view into the uninsured rates among different communities to help identify where additional efforts are needed.
  • Tennessee – TennCare, the state of Tennessee’s Medicaid program, announced the implementation of enhanced breastfeeding supports for members. Key features of the new lactation benefits program include lactation consultants, breast pump coverage, and lactation supplies.
  • Virginia – The Department of Medical Assistance Services recently released its 2022 Baby Steps Annual Report that highlights its accomplishments towards improving maternal health outcomes for pregnant and postpartum enrollees.
  • West Virginia – CMS approved a community-based mobile crisis state plan amendment that allows West Virginia to create mobile crisis intervention teams to provide Medicaid crisis services. West Virginia will be able to provide these services by connecting eligible individuals in crisis to a behavioral health provider 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. As a reminder, SHVS published an expert perspective on the enhanced payment available through the ARP for community-based mobile crisis services.
  • Wisconsin – The Wisconsin Department of Health Services announced that grants have been awarded to 15 county, municipal, nonprofit, and tribal nation agencies to make life-saving resources more available in communities with a high need through vending machines in public places stocked with free fentanyl test strips and NARCAN, a medication that can reverse an opioid overdose.