State Health Updates
- Illinois – The Department of Healthcare and Family Services and the Department of Insurance announced a notice of funding opportunity for the Get Covered Illinois Navigator Grant Program Plan Year 2025. The $6.5 million initiative will create a statewide Navigator program as Illinois transitions to a State-Based Marketplace.
- Kentucky – Governor Andy Beshear announced that overdose deaths in the commonwealth have decreased for the second year in a row, with 2023 seeing a 9.8% decrease compared to the previous year. According to the 2023 Kentucky Overdose Fatality Report, 1,984 Kentuckians lost their lives last year due to a drug overdose.
- Michigan – Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist announced that 22 Neighborhood Wellness Centers will offer free preventive health screenings to help address racial health disparities. These sites evolved from COVID-19 Neighborhood Testing Sites and will be staffed by community health workers and offer substance-use disorder prevention services.
- Montana – Governor Greg Gianforte announced an investment of $700,000 to expand peer support services for Montana families and caregivers. Family peer support services are provided by those who have lived experience raising a child with behavioral health issues or special healthcare needs and can provide support and resources to another family who is raising a child with similar needs.
- New York
- New York submitted an amendment to its Medicaid Redesign Team 1115 demonstration that would authorize continuous enrollment for Medicaid and CHIP coverage for children during the first six years of their lives and federal Medicaid and CHIP matching funds without regard to whether a child’s family income exceeds eligibility limits.
- State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald issued a statewide standing order that all New Yorkers who are pregnant, birthing, or postpartum would benefit from receiving doula services. This standing order will allow more New Yorkers to access doula care as a recommendation for doula services is required in order to be eligible for Medicaid coverage.
- Rhode Island – Rhode Island submitted an addendum to its extension request for its Medicaid section 1115(a) demonstration, “Rhode Island Comprehensive Demonstration.” If approved, the addendum would allow the state to provide services to address health-related social needs. The addendum also updates the state’s request for pre-release support for incarcerated individuals by requesting 90 days of pre-release coverage and includes additional detail regarding the pre-release services the state would provide.
- Washington – Governor Jay Inslee issued a directive requiring the Department of Health to affirm that hospitals in Washington state have a legal requirement to provide emergency abortion services. Governor Inslee also directed the Department of Health to take enforcement action, in accordance with applicable law, against hospitals that do not provide such required care.
- Wisconsin – The Wisconsin Department of Health Services announced the opening of five crisis stabilization facilities across the state. The regional centers will serve those with mental health and substance-use emergencies who can’t stay in their community safely, but don’t need to be hospitalized.