State Health Updates

• Arizona – AHCCCS announced new date-specific payment rates for COVID-19 vaccine administration. For dates of service on and after August 9, 2021, the AHCCCS fee-for-service rate for COVID-19 vaccine administration is $83.00 to administer each dose (single and two-dose series) of the vaccine, an increase from prior rates.
• California – The California Department of Public Health launched a new advertising campaign called “Tell Your Story,” in response to the latest high school vaping data from its 2019-20 California Student Tobacco Survey. The  campaign features real stories from young people and highlights their journey to quit vaping. The campaign educates youth and young adults about the harmful health effects of vapes and connects them with evidenced-based resources to quit, especially as they’re exposed to increased social pressure in school environments.
• Colorado – The state’s extension of its Section 1332 waiver for reinsurance was approved by the Departments of Health and Human Services and Treasury for an additional five years. This is the first state to receive a reinsurance waiver extension.
• Maryland – Governor Larry Hogan announced “Don’t Wait, Vaccinate,” a new campaign to encourage parents and guardians to get their children caught up on routine vaccinations prior to the beginning of the new school year. The state is working with pediatricians and other health care providers to prioritize well-child visits, and the local health departments are standing up vaccination clinics to help safely welcome children back to school.
• Missouri – In accordance with the recent court ruling, the Missouri Department of Social Services (DSS) will begin allowing individuals to apply for the MO HealthNet program and outlined next steps to expand Medicaid. The state is currently working through administrative hurdles, including adequate appropriations, staffing capacity, and computer software changes in order to begin enrolling the expanded population. DSS will begin making eligibility determinations once MO HealthNet’s software is updated and until the necessary funds can be appropriated, DSS will reassign existing employees from their current assignments and responsibilities in order to receive and evaluate MO HealthNet applications.
• New Jersey – Acting Governor Sheila Oliver signed legislation creating a two-year “Restorative and Transformative Justice for Youths and Communities” pilot program in the Juvenile Justice Commission at the Office of the Attorney General. This legislation appropriates $4.2 million to assist with the process of reintegrating young people released from juvenile facilities back into their communities, aiming to prevent initial and/or repeated involvement with the youth justice system. This program will develop innovative restorative and transformative justice continuums of care in four target cities and will include two components: community-based enhanced reentry wraparound services and restorative justice hubs. Community-based enhanced reentry wraparound services will include various social support services, such as employment assistance and mentoring services, while restorative justice hubs will be physical spaces within the community where youth and families can heal, reconnect and build healthy relationships, and help resolve local conflicts through dialogue instead of punitive measures.
• Ohio – The Ohio Department of Medicaid announced COVID-19 vaccination rates are on the rise among Ohioans who are supported by Medicaid. As of August 8, 804,286 individuals with Medicaid in Ohio have been fully vaccinated or had their first shot, with 37,213 Medicaid members initiating vaccination in the last two weeks alone.
• Oregon – The Department of Consumer and Business Services announced that nearly 20,000 Oregonians have enrolled in health coverage through the Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace since the COVID-19 special enrollment period started April 1, 2021. Additionally, more than 78 percent of Oregonians have been determined to be eligible for financial help through the Marketplace.
• Pennsylvania – The Wolf Administration commemorated the two-year anniversary of Pennie, the state-based health exchange. To date, more than 335,000 consumers have enrolled for coverage through Pennie and, because of the American Rescue Plan, average premiums after subsidies have dropped by half since the beginning of the year, down to $86 a month.
• Wisconsin – A report published by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) shows the state’s opioid epidemic worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic. In response, DHS unveiled new strategies to prevent and reduce further harm.
• Ohio, Utah, and South Carolina – CMS sent letters to these states revoking their respective community engagement requirements due to risk of “coverage losses and harm to beneficiaries” as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.