Jun, 30, 2020

State Health Updates: June 26

COVID-19 State Updates

  • Arizona – In partnership with the Arizona Department of Health Services and AHCCCS, the Crisis Response Network launched the Resilient Arizona Crisis Counseling Program to provide free and confidential support and connections to resources for Arizona residents impacted by the COVID-19 Pandemic.
  • California  
    • Covered California is extending the current special-enrollment deadline through July 31.
    • Governor Gavin Newsom unveiled the California COVID Assessment Tool, or CalCAT, a “model of models” that contains assessments of the spread of COVID-19, short-term forecasts of disease trends, and scenarios of the course of the disease from modeling groups across the country.
  • Georgia – The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) released a new video explaining the state’s COVID-19 contact tracing efforts, asking residents to ‘answer the call’ if DPH reaches out.
  • Massachusetts – The Health Connector announced in an Administrative Bulletin an extension to the special enrollment period in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) emergency through July 23, 2020 to assist uninsured Massachusetts residents seeking health coverage.
  • Minnesota – MNSure, the state-based marketplace, announced that 99,688 Minnesotans have come to MNsure.org and enrolled in private health insurance through an SEP or received eligibility for a public assistance program (Medical Assistance or MinnesotaCare) since March 1.
  • Nebraska – The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services will be issuing emergency supplemental allotments to SNAP recipients who receive benefits for the month of June on July 7.
  • Nevada – Governor Steve Sisolak announced that Heather Korbulic, Interim Director of the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation, will be transitioning back into her role as the Executive Director of the Silver State Health Insurance Exchange. Welcome back Heather!
  • North Carolina
    • The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) released improved online applications for Medicaid and Food and Nutrition Services to help both North Carolina families and county Departments of Social Services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
    • DHHS was awarded $1.5 million by FEMA and SAMHSA to support and expand the Hope4NC program, which connects North Carolinians to mental health supports to help cope and build resilience during times of crisis, to focus on historically marginalized communities.
  • Oregon – The State of Oregon reached an agreement with several health insurance companies to continue providing expanded telehealth options through at least December 31, 2020.
  • Pennsylvania – The Pennsylvania Department of Health and Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency are partnering with CVS Health to offer COVID-19 testing services to skilled nursing facilities statewide, free of charge.
  • Washington – Commissioner Kreidler also extended his emergency order directing all state-regulated health insurers to make additional coverage changes to aid consumers during the coronavirus pandemic. His order is in effect until July 19 and requires health insurers to continue providing telehealth, cover and waive cost-sharing for all medically necessary diagnostic testing for flu and certain other viral respiratory illnesses, and treat drive-up testing sites for COVID-19 as provider visits with no cost-sharing.  
  • Wisconsin
    • Governor Tony Evers and Insurance Commissioner Mark Afable announced a new free online website, WisCovered.com, to help Wisconsinites who need help getting health insurance. Available in English, Spanish, and Hmong, WisCovered.com helps put people in touch with assistance via phone from organizations like Covering Wisconsin and the United Way’s 211. It also includes information about how to access health insurance on HealthCare.gov, BadgerCare Plus (Medicaid), and more.
    • The Wisconsin Department of Health Services launched a new data dashboard consisting of maps and tables that toggle between counties and Healthcare Emergency Readiness Coalition (HERC) regions. The counties and regions are color-coded to indicate overall COVID-19 activity status: low, medium, or high. 

Other State Updates

  • Louisiana – The Department of Health released an RFI seeking technical assistance and consulting services for the state’s Medicaid program.
  • New Jersey – The Department of Health released an RFA from local health departments for funding to help them study patterns of overdose in their communities to better inform preventive and recovery initiatives.  Local health departments are eligible to receive grant awards of $100,000 to establish Overdose Fatality Review Teams.
  • New Mexico – The New Mexico Department of Human Services’ Behavioral Health Services Division announced that it has partnered with OpenBeds, a provider of a technology platform that identifies, unifies, and tracks behavioral health and social services resources to facilitate rapid digital referrals, to launch the New Mexico Behavioral Health Referral Network.
  • Washington – Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler sent guidance to all health insurers in Washington state reminding them that it is against state law to discriminate against an enrollee based on their gender identity. 
  • Wisconsin – On July 1, the Department of Health Services will award $1.2 million in grants to 15 local county Birth to Three Programs across the state that will pilot new and innovative efforts to improve outcomes for participating children. These grants will allow local areas to explore new and better ways to address the unique needs of children with developmental delays and disabilities