Jul, 07, 2020

State Health Updates: July 2

COVID-19 State Updates

  • Delaware – The Department of Health and Human Services announced that emergency benefits will be issued to participants of Delaware’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for June as part of the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020. DHSS will issue emergency benefits to any household not already receiving the maximum monthly SNAP benefit.
  • Oregon – New modeling of the COVID-19 virus shows the virus spreading more rapidly in Oregon, according to the latest model released by the Oregon Health Authority and the Institute for Disease Modeling. The model, which is based on data through June 18, offers three projections—optimistic, moderate and pessimistic—predicting that daily case levels could rise as much as 20 percentage points.
  • Virginia – The Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services announced that Governor Ralph Northam approved an estimated $30 million in emergency support for primary care doctors, pediatricians and other providers of general health care services to Medicaid members. The plan redirects existing dollars in the FY 2020 state budget to fund a 29 percent rate increase for office visits related to the evaluation and management of chronic conditions and other health needs.

Other State Updates

  • Arizona – The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System announced a contract award for maintenance and operations of the Health-e-Arizona Plus eligibility and enrollment system to Accenture. The contract award is $39 million over five years for maintenance and operations of the system, and $82 million over five years for new development and infrastructure that may occur over the term of the contract, for a total award of $121 million.
  • Georgia – Governor Brian P. Kemp signed the state’s fiscal year 2021 budget which includes $19 million in new funding to offer six months of postpartum Medicaid coverage, effective upon approval by CMS. Earlier this year, SHVS released an issue brief on Medicaid’s Crucial Role in Combatting the Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Crisis, which includes a discussion of strategies to extend Medicaid coverage postpartum.
  • Minnesota – The Minnesota Insulin Safety Net Program launched July 1, allowing Minnesotans in urgent need of insulin (less than a seven-day supply on hand) to access the life-saving drug through their pharmacy. The program—implemented by MNsure, the state’s health insurance marketplace, and the Minnesota Board of Pharmacy—was created to help Minnesotans facing difficulty affording their insulin.
  • Nebraska – The Division of Behavioral Health at the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services is seeking recommendations for updates to its behavioral health service definitions, which are the standards of care that specify requirements for service delivery funded by the Division. The service definitions will be divided into categories, and public comment periods will be six weeks in duration for each category.
  • Oklahoma – Voters approved a ballot measure on June 30 which adds a provision to the Oklahoma Constitution requiring the state to expand Medicaid coverage. The amendment requires the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to submit a SPA and other necessary documents to CMS within 90 days of the ballot measure’s approval, and for expansion coverage to begin no later than July 1, 2021.