State Health Updates
- California – Governor Gavin Newsom signed several bills into law to protect people from legal retaliation and prohibit law enforcement and corporations from cooperating with out-of-state entities regarding lawful abortions in California, while also expanding access to contraception and abortion providers in California. The package of bills also includes expanded birth control access regardless of gender or insurance coverage status by requiring health plans to cover certain over-the-counter birth control without cost-sharing and prohibits employment-related discrimination based on reproductive health decisions.
- Indiana
- CMS approved a community-based mobile crisis state plan amendment that allows Indiana to create mobile crisis intervention teams to provide Medicaid crisis services. As a reminder, SHVS published an expert perspective on the enhanced payment available through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) for community-based mobile crisis services.
- CMS approved a “Free Care” state plan amendment for Indiana Medicaid, allowing the program to reimburse medically necessary school-based nursing services, psychologist testing services (if done by a licensed individual), and school-based transportation for qualified Medicaid enrolled children.
- Kansas – Governor Laura Kelly held a roundtable with community leaders and local elected officials about Medicaid expansion, her top priority this upcoming legislative session. This is the second stop in the governor’s “Healthy Workers, Healthy Economy” statewide tour. Throughout the fall, Governor Kelly is traveling across the state to share how expanding access to health insurance will reduce costs for every Kansan, preserve and strengthen rural healthcare, and make Kansas more economically competitive.
- Massachusetts – Governor Maura Healey ordered two reviews to ensure that Massachusetts residents, particularly in rural and underserved communities, have access to high quality healthcare. The Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Public Health will conduct a review of prenatal, postpartum and birthing services across the state, through a lens of health equity and health outcomes and conduct a review of access to all essential health services in the Northern Worcester County area and develop a plan to improve access where needed, including a review of hospital services, community-based care and social supports.
- Minnesota – The Minnesota Department of Health announced the state’s “Action Plan to Address Cardiovascular Disease, Stroke and Diabetes 2035” which lays out detailed strategies and example actions that when implemented at the institutional, local, regional, state and tribal levels will reduce health disparities and improve health and well-being. The action plan was created by more than 90 organizations and Minnesota communities most impacted by cardiovascular disease, stroke and diabetes.
- Mississippi – The Mississippi Division of Medicaid is submitting a state plan amendment to include Medicaid enrollees diagnosed with hemophilia in the MississippiCAN program, effective July 1, 2023.
- North Carolina – Governor Roy Cooper and Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Secretary Kody Kinsley announced that DHHS will launch Medicaid expansion on December 1, 2023, giving more than 600,000 North Carolinians access to healthcare. On December 1, DHHS anticipates approximately 300,000 eligible people currently receiving Medicaid Family Planning benefits will automatically be enrolled in full healthcare coverage.
- New York – Governor Kathy Hochul announced a multi-agency collaboration with New York PBS stations to equip prekindergarten through grade 12 educators with resources and strategies they can rely on to support the mental well-being of their students. The “Student Mental Health Matters: A Toolkit for Educators” is available free online and provides more than 50 digital videos addressing the topics specific to youth mental health.
- Oregon
- The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) estimates that more than 1,000 new residential and supportive housing units and beds are expected to come available by July 2025. Once completed, OHA expects the new projects to increase the state’s behavioral health housing capacity by about 20%. The emerging capacity springs from more than $220 million in behavioral health investments made by the 2021 Oregon Legislature. OHA has distributed these funds to housing providers over the past two years to bolster residential treatment capacity throughout the state.
- OHA announced that their latest renewal data continues to show that more than 7 out of 10 Oregonians are keeping their Oregon Health Plan or other Medicaid benefits. So far, around one in eight people’s benefits are ending. Compared with other states, Oregon has the third lowest benefit closure rate in the nation among completed renewals.
- Pennsylvania – The Pennsylvania Insurance Department (PID) announced Pennsylvania’s 2024 individual and small group health insurance rates, highlighting new insurers in the market, increased Marketplace competition for several counties and modest rate increases tracking below the rate of medial inflation. PID approved a 2024 statewide average increase of 3.9% in the individual market and a 4.1% average increase in the small group market.
- Texas – Governor Greg Abbott announced a $4.5 million grant opportunity awarded by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission for four eligible Texas hospitals that are deemed critical to serving the state’s rural population. The Texas Rural Emergency Hospitals Financial Stabilization Grant will provide qualifying hospitals up to $1.1 million each through a two-year grant to improve healthcare access in rural communities.
- Virginia
- CMS approved a state plan amendment for Virginia Medicaid, allowing payment of medical assistance services delivered to Medicaid-eligible students. In addition, the state included new transportation and personal care service language.
- The Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services released an updated Language & Disability Access Plan, available in English and Spanish. The 2023 Language & Disability Access Plan is a roadmap that ensures compliance with state and federal laws, to help guarantee that individuals with Limited English Proficiency and people with disabilities can fully access and benefit from services. The plan outlines the steps required for staff and stakeholders to deliver language services, collect relevant data, and provide services while ensuring cultural sensitivity.
- Washington – The Washington Health Benefit Exchange Board certified 82 health insurance plans and 12 dental insurance plans to be sold on the exchange for plan year 2024.
- Wyoming – CMS approved a postpartum coverage extension state plan amendment for Wyoming to extend postpartum coverage for a full year for individuals enrolled in Medicaid. Wyoming’s approval marks 37 states, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands that have extended postpartum Medicaid coverage to a full year. As a reminder, SHVS published an issue brief on the ARP option to extend postpartum coverage.