Jul, 01, 2022

State Health Updates

  • California – Governor Gavin Newsom signed a fiscal 2023 budget that provides $628 million to extend Medi-Cal eligibility to income-eligible undocumented adults between the ages of 26 and 49, an estimated 698,000 people. As a result, California will be the first state to provide healthcare to all residents irrespective of immigration status. Medi-Cal is already available to income-eligible children, young adults and seniors regardless of immigration status. The budget also includes $100 million to develop and manufacture low-cost biosimilar insulin products to increase insulin availability and affordability in California.
  • Connecticut – Access Health CT, the state’s health insurance marketplace, announced an expansion to the Covered Connecticut Program. The program, which launched July 1, 2021, eliminates out of pocket costs for Marketplace enrollees up to a certain income level. As of July 1, 2022, the program expands eligibility and now provides dental coverage and non-emergency medical transportation benefits.
  • Massachusetts – CMS notified the Executive Office of Health and Human Services that it approved a temporary extension of the state’s section 1115 demonstration MassHealth. The temporary extension is until September 30, 2022 and will allow CMS and the state to continue to negotiate Massachusetts’ demonstration application submitted in December 2021.
  • New Mexico – The New Mexico Department of Health announced that the state will be the first in the nation to implement statewide a new payment system for shoppers and farmers during the 2022 season for the New Mexico Department of Health, Women, Infants and Children’s (WIC) and Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program, which begins July 1. The new system allows both WIC and senior participants and program-approved farmers to use a mobile app to make and receive electronic payments. This system is free to all WIC approved farmers, and anyone without a smartphone is provided with a Shopper Card, much like a debit card, that allows farmers to easily scan for payment.
  • Oklahoma – Attorney General John O’Connor announced another opioid settlement for Oklahoma—this time with three opioid distributors, McKesson, Cardinal, and AmerisourceBergen. The settlement will deliver more than $250 million to Oklahoma to combat the opioid epidemic.
  • Oregon – As of July 1, 2022 the Oregon Health Authority will implement a state-funded program offering health insurance to 12,000 low-income, undocumented residents aged 19 to 25 and 55 and up. The Legislature created the program in 2021.
  • Vermont – CMS approved an extension of the state’s Global Commitment to Health Section 1115 Medicaid waiver through 2027. The approval allows the state to continue existing programs and implement new initiatives for housing assistance, health information technology, maternal health, and substance use disorder.
  • Wisconsin – Governor Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services announced Wisconsin’s SeniorCare Program has received approval from CMS to cover certain vaccines that members receive in pharmacies. Vaccines covered include those that protect against shingles, tetanus, meningitis, and Hepatitis A and B.