Mar, 11, 2022

State Health Updates

  • California – The California Department of Health Care Services released Medi-Cal’s Strategy to Support Health and Opportunity for Children and Families, a policy agenda aimed at advancing health equity, stressing whole health and preventive care, providing family and community-based care, promoting integrated care, and improving accountability and oversight for children enrolled in Medicaid.
  • Colorado – The state’s official health insurance marketplace, Connect for Health Colorado, reported that more than 6,000 Coloradans have signed up for a health insurance plan using special enrollment periods since the annual enrollment period closed mid-January. That brings Colorado’s total marketplace enrollments for the 2022 coverage year to nearly 205,000.
  • Kentucky – The Kentucky Department for Medicaid Services (DMS) is conducting a rate study of home and community-based services (HCBS) programs to develop a sound payment and rate setting methodology.
  • Massachusetts – The state’s official health insurance marketplace, Massachusetts Health Connector, announced new health equity initiatives in its 2023 Seal of Approval plan certification process. Starting in 2023, Health Connector coverage will include new benefits, protections, and reduced cost-sharing to advance health equity objectives.
  • Michigan – Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announced a restructuring within MDHHS to improve coordination of behavioral health services. The restructuring will aim to ensure that behavioral health services are supported across community-based, residential and school locations, as well as other settings. The changes will benefit people of all ages, with addressing the needs of children and their families a top priority.
  • New Jersey
    • Governor Phil Murphy and Acting Attorney General Matt Platkin announced that New Jersey is set to receive $641 million from settlements with Johnson & Johnson, which manufactured opioids, and the country’s three largest pharmaceutical distributors—McKesson, Cardinal Health, and AmerisourceBergen. The $641 million in settlement funds will be paid through 2038 and will fund state and local programs focused on treatment, prevention, and other strategies to combat the opioid epidemic in the state.  
    • The state recently submitted a request to extend its 1115 waiver demonstration, New Jersey FamilyCare Comprehensive Demonstration for another five years. The state is proposing to continue the current demonstration elements while also seeking authority to add new programs and services such as continuous eligibility for adults, maternal and child health services such as a medically indicated meals pilot program and supportive visitation services, Medicaid covered housing related services, pre-release services for incarcerated individuals, a community health worker pilot program, and a regional health hub initiative.
  • New York – The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) released for public comment a draft of the New York State Dual Eligible Integrated Care Roadmap which outlines the state’s priority to promote integrated care for Medicaid members who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid, and describes the coordinated initiatives for improving integrated care options across the state.
  • Texas – Texas Health and Human Services Commission is launching a $23.2 million public awareness campaign to prevent substance use disorders and help Texans access necessary treatment and services. The substance use prevention awareness campaign aims to reach about 2.5 million people in Texas focusing on reducing stigma, building community connection and resilience, and changing social norms, to prevent substance use.
  • Wisconsin – Governor Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services announced a total of 154 Wisconsin National Guard members have completed certified nursing assistant training since early January 2022. This collaborative effort among the Evers Administration, Madison College, and the Wisconsin National Guard was intended to bring needed short-term staffing support to Wisconsin’s hospitals and nursing homes.