Jul, 29, 2022

State Health Updates

  • Arizona – The  Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System posted a summary of its Public Health Emergency Operational Unwinding Plan to inform stakeholders of the state’s plan for reinstating regular enrollment and operational procedures when the PHE ends. The summary and full operational plan are available on the Preparing for the End of COVID-19: Return to Normal Renewals webpage along with fliers, messaging toolkits, and other resources to help communities prepare for the end of the PHE.
  • California – Covered California, the state’s official health insurance marketplace, announced a special-enrollment period for people living in counties where a state of emergency has been declared due to raging wildfires. Affected Californians will have 60 days from the date the state of emergency was declared in their county to sign up for coverage.
  • Delaware – The state submitted to CMS a request to amend the Delaware Diamond State Health Plan (DSHP) Section 1115 Medicaid demonstration. This amendment is requesting the flexibility to add several new benefits, including: coverage of two models of evidenced-based home visiting for pregnant women and children; permanent coverage for a second home-delivered meal for members receiving home- and community-based services in the DSHP Plus program; and coverage of a pediatric respite benefit. The federal comment period will be open through August 25, 2022.
  • Georgia – The Georgia Department of Community Health announced grant awards totaling $9 million to 10 Georgia rural hospitals as part of its annual Rural Hospital Stabilization Grant program, currently in its seventh phase. Each hospital will receive $900,000 to support initiatives and services that strengthen access to quality care for Georgia’s underserved communities.
  • Indiana – Indiana’s mobile integrated healthcare program, designed to reduce unnecessary emergency department visits and hospital readmissions, was featured in a new National Academy of State Health Policy issue brief. These programs may be particularly valuable for certain populations, including people with mental health or substance use disorder needs. The brief highlights lessons learned and considerations for other states.
  • Louisiana – The Louisiana Department of Health announced the award of more than $673,000 in federal Medicaid funds to the LSU Health Sciences Center and Pennington Biomedical Research Center to conduct research on priorities for the Medicaid program over a two-year period. Findings from the research projects will guide policy-making and promote innovation and new approaches to improving: maternal and neonatal outcomes; early childhood health and development; mental health and substance use outcomes; and health equity. 
  • Mississippi – The  Mississippi Division of Medicaid announced submission of a renewal request for the state’s Healthier Mississippi 1115 Waiver, which covers aged, blind, and disabled individuals who are not on Medicare or eligible for Medicaid. The waiver, which has an enrollment cap of 6,000, is currently set to expire on September 30, 2023. If approved, the waiver will be effective from October 1, 2023, through September 30, 2028.
  • New York – The New York State Department of Health announced two funding opportunities that will provide $10.7 million in funding for small, community-based wellness organizations to encourage the expansion or development of new COVID-19 mitigation and prevention resources and services. These grants will support local organizations that are trusted voices within under-resourced communities, including rural communities that are at greater risk of contracting COVID-19.
  • Wisconsin – Governor Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services awarded more than $2.5 million to 27 providers for community behavioral health services that will provide access to mental health and substance use treatment and recovery supports through telehealth. Grantees will use this one-time funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to expand access to these services by setting up private behavioral health telehealth stations in central locations, including community centers, food pantries, homeless shelters, libraries, long-term care facilities, and schools. 
  • Connecticut, Kansas, and Massachusetts – CMS approved the extension of Medicaid and CHIP coverage for 12 months after pregnancy in these three states under the new state plan opportunity established by ARPA. As a result, up to an additional 19,000 people annually—including 4,000 in Connecticut; 8,000 in Massachusetts, and 7,000 in Kansas—will now have access to Medicaid or CHIP coverage for a full year after pregnancy. With this approval, an estimated 284,000 Americans annually in 18 states and D.C. are eligible for 12 months of postpartum coverage. As a reminder, SHVS published an issue brief that reviews the ARPA state option to extend postpartum coverage.