May, 13, 2022

State Health Updates

  • Alabama – The Alabama Medicaid Agency released for public review and comments a draft of its Home and Community-Based Services waiver renewal application.
  • Connecticut – Governor Ned Lamont signed into law the fiscal year 2023 budget adjustment bill, which expands HUSKY Health (Connecticut’s Medicaid and CHIP program) eligibility to children age 12 and under with a household income up to 323 percent of the federal poverty level, regardless of immigration status.
  • Florida
    • The Agency for Health Care Administration released a request for information seeking best practices and innovations in business models for potential use in improving the state’s Medicaid managed care and Medicaid managed long-term care programs.
    • Governor DeSantis signed into law HB 855 which establishes reporting requirements for managed care plans to begin stratifying data by age, sex, race and ethnicity. The new data reporting requirements will take effect in 2025.
  • Louisiana
    • The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH)’s Office of Behavioral Health is expanding services to Louisiana Medicaid members experiencing a mental health crisis with the phased implementation of a comprehensive crisis system of care. Mobile Crisis Response, Community Brief Crisis Support and Behavioral Health Crisis Care are the first three of four Medicaid services affiliated with the Louisiana Crisis Response System. The fourth service, Crisis Stabilization, will be phased in at a later date pending legislative funding.
    • LDH announced it is mailing pink letters to members confirming their mailing address. If members do not receive a letter by May 31, LDH is asking that they update their contact information by calling their health plan, logging on to MyMedicaid.la.gov, or contacting LDH by email or phone.
  • Maryland – Governor Larry Hogan signed into law a bill requiring the Maryland Medical Assistance Program to provide dental services, including diagnostic, preventive, restorative, and periodontal services, for adults whose annual household income is at or below 133 percent of the federal poverty level, beginning January 1, 2023.
  • Michigan – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has expanded the Behavioral Health Home initiative to more Michigan counties to provide intensive care management and coordination services for Medicaid enrollees with a serious mental illness or serious emotional disturbance.
  • Montana – In anticipation of the end of the PHE, the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) announced they will soon launch an extensive outreach campaign to Montana Medicaid and Healthy Montana Kids (CHIP) families about upcoming changes that could impact their healthcare coverage. DPHHS will also be launching a new website page in the coming weeks, where Montanans can provide their current contact information.
  • North Carolina – The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) published a review of the public health workforce and infrastructure across North Carolina. The paper provides an overview of select programs and opportunities within the NCDHHS Division of Public Health that aim to strengthen the public health infrastructure and support workforce development while reducing disparities and advancing equity.
  • Oregon – The Oregon Health Authority and the Oregon Department of Education released a Fentanyl & Opioid Response Toolkit for Schools to support educators, administrators, school nurses, students and families. The toolkit provides information about how schools can create an emergency protocol to administer naloxone, also known as Narcan. In addition, the toolkit has resources to support staff training, prevention education and other resources essential to developing and implementing school emergency response procedures.
  • Washington – The state of Washington submitted a Section 1332 waiver application to allow all Washington residents, regardless of immigration status, the ability to shop on the state’s marketplace, Washington Healthplanfinder. The waiver will also allow all Washington residents access to a state-funded affordability program based on income level.
  • Wisconsin – The Wisconsin Department of Health Services announced the Moving Forward Together Grant Program, a new funding opportunity to support continued efforts to promote health equity in COVID-19 vaccination in Wisconsin. Eligible organizations can apply for awards of up to $400,000 to advance efforts to address barriers to COVID-19 vaccination. Eligible organizations include licensed residential and community-based care facilities, educational institutions, churches or religious groups, local or tribal community-based organizations, and non-traditional providers or locations that serve high-risk populations.