Dec, 08, 2023

State Health Updates

  • District of Columbia – The Department of Health Care Finance (DHCF) is seeking public comment on the 2024-2027 Medicaid Managed Care Quality Strategy. The Quality Strategy documents DHCF’s approach to assessing and improving quality of healthcare and services received by enrollees in managed care plans. 
  • Florida – The Florida Department of Children and Families launched a new Medicaid eligibility portal for Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) enrollees. The portal will retain its original name, MyAccess. Key areas of modernization include enhanced usability, mobile responsiveness, streamlined document upload, and enhanced security. 
  • Idaho – The new Idaho Behavioral Health Plan (IBHP), which consolidates behavioral health services for Idahoans under a single plan, is scheduled to go-live on July 1, 2024. Under the IBHP, one managed care organization (MCO) will administer the entire system of behavioral healthcare for Idaho, including Idahoans who have Medicaid, other types of health insurance, and who do not have health insurance. The IBHP consolidates behavioral health inpatient, outpatient, and other publicly funded services under this one MCO and aims to improve coordination of care and reduce fragmentation as members shift between outpatient and inpatient services.
  • Mississippi – CMS approved a state plan amendment in Mississippi that allows the Division of Medicaid to include enrollees diagnosed with hemophilia in the MississippiCAN program, effective July 1, 2023. 
  • New Jersey – The Office of Health Care Affordability and Transparency will be hosting a webinar on Tuesday, December 19 at 12:00 p.m. ET to discuss the steps New Jersey is taking to improve affordability and accessibility, address cost, and highlight the program to measure cost growth trends and produce data on healthcare cost drivers. During the webinar I will be joined by New Jersey Citizen Action to discuss the real-life impacts of healthcare costs on consumers, in anticipation of initial baseline performance and cost driver reports being released in 2024.
  • New Mexico – The New Mexico Department of Health (DOH) published the New Mexico Maternal Mortality Review Committee’s Annual Report. Using data from 2015 through 2020, the report shows 86% of pregnancy-related maternal deaths in New Mexico were preventable, with Medicaid enrollees accounting for the majority of deaths. Among other DOH maternal mortality prevention activities, the state received a five-year federal grant that will support a new maternal health task force. 
  • New York – Governor Kathy Hochul announced that more than $17.7 million was awarded to expand HealthySteps, an evidence-based program that pairs behavioral health professionals with pediatric teams to provide early childhood mental and physical healthcare in a pediatric setting. Administered by the state Office of Mental Health, the additional funding will help create 46 new pediatric sites.
  • North Carolina – The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has launched a performance dashboard for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. The dashboard provides information on contact volume, answer rates, speed of answer, age ranges and reasons for calling. It also indicates call volume for specific populations, including those who reach out to the Spanish call center, Veterans Crisis Line, and the LGBTQ+ youth and young adult line.
  • North Dakota – The North Dakota Health and Human Services Medical Services Division is seeking public comment on the 2024 draft of the North Dakota Medicaid Quality Strategy Plan. The comprehensive plan includes monitoring and ongoing process improvement to ensure Medicaid members receive quality healthcare and services that support their overall health and wellbeing.
  • Oregon – The Oregon Health Authority has announced plans to offer free opioid overdose reversal kits to middle and high schools throughout the state. Every middle and high school is eligible to receive up to three opioid overdose reversal kits. The kits contain a wall mounted naloxone box, instructions, emergency medical supplies, and eight doses of the opioid antagonist, naloxone nasal spray.
  • Pennsylvania – Department of Human Services Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh announced the opening of a public comment period for a proposed section 1115 demonstration titled “Bridges to Success: Keystones of Health for Pennsylvania,” which proposes expanding opportunities in the Medicaid program to include services that address health-related social needs. Keystones of Health aims to address the healthcare needs of Pennsylvanians in four main areas: reentry support, housing support, food and nutrition supports, and continuous coverage for children under age six. 
  • Washington – The Office of the Insurance Commissioner has delivered a preliminary report to legislators describing the current state of Washington’s healthcare system. The report explores recent market consolidation and a process for evaluating changes that could improve affordability. The final report is due to the legislature in August 2024. 
  • West Virginia – The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) is transitioning its eligibility system for family assistance programs to an integrated system called West Virginia People’s Access to Help (WV PATH). DHHR programs supported by the WV PATH system include Medicaid, CHIP, SNAP, TANF, and other state-operated assistance programs. To ensure a successful statewide transition in spring of 2024, DHHR will launch a pilot on December 4 for employees in several counties to utilize the new system. 
  • Wisconsin – The Wisconsin Department of Health Services and Department of Justice announced a series of roundtable discussions to hear directly from local communities who are working toward preventing overdose deaths in the state and helping Wisconsinites struggling with opioid-use.