Sign up to receive our weekly state health policy newsletter.
*Required
Sign up to receive our weekly state health policy newsletter.
This blog examines research on continuous Medicaid coverage and mental health among mothers and infants in the postpartum year.
This report exhibits the findings from the Marketplace Affordability Project that examined the causes of high out-of-pocket healthcare costs for low-income marketplace enrollees and identified federal policy solutions.
This blog emphasizes the importance of including PWLEs in research and data collection.
On April 2, 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the final Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters (NBPP) for 2025. This annual rule governs core provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), including operation of the health insurance Marketplaces, standards for health plans, insurance brokers (including web-brokers), and the risk adjustment program. This blog focuses on provisions of the final rule of interest to state officials.
The survey series provides an in-depth view of health plans’ responses regarding risk mitigation, disenrollment, and outreach.
This blog examines which states nationwide have taken steps toward Medicaid coverage for doula care.
This blog offers guiding principles state agencies can implement to meet the new federal requirements and integrate Medicaid members into the policymaking and program design process effectively and equitably.
Recognizing the critical link between health and transportation, many states are encouraging agencies to strategically align resources. This blog explores cross-sector collaborations related to access to care and highlights several promising examples from across the country.
In this blog, the Center for Health Care Strategies examines how state agencies employ health literacy strategies to improve health equity.
In this report, the Urban Institute identifies how the health system in Texas is advancing health equity by addressing the nonmedical drivers of health.
This expert perspective reviews the healthcare policies and programs recently funded by Congress for FY 2024 as well as the Biden administration’s stated healthcare priorities for FY 2025.
In this blog, The Georgetown University Center for Children and Families outlines and expands on the 10 "Do Nots" outlined in the bulletin.
In this blog, the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families analyzes recent survey findings regarding the impact of Medicaid unwinding and enrollees' experiences.
CMS recently added new questions on the topic of sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) to the application used by HealthCare.gov and released guidance for states that want to add the same questions to their Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program applications. This brief summarizes the guidance and presents several considerations for states as they look to improve their collection of sexual orientation and gender identity data.
The Center for Children and Families (CCF) at Georgetown University analyzed data on which states are taking longer than the federally regulated 45 days to process Medicaid applications for low-income children, families, and adults. This blog takes a look at some of the states taking longer than their allotted 45 days and the possible reasons behind it.
This brief highlights how pilot program efforts in Calif. are fostering innovative cross-sector collaboration to better serve people experiencing homelessness.
This blog discusses resources to help state Medicaid leaders partner to connect more program enrollees with the WIC benefits they are qualified to receive.
This blog highlights proposed key steps that must be taken to advance Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
This webinar reviews how and why the tools were created and how to use the tools to understand the scope of equity work for a state agency.
This blog highlights an interview that shares STRETCH representatives' experiences and how the opportunity guided health equity initiatives and provided valuable networking and connection.
This blog discusses how programs that support lactation professionals can support Black women beyond delivery.
This blog compared states' ex parte rates from their first month of unwinding to the most recent to identify whether progress has been made.
This blog discusses how policymakers are addressing access to care through telehealth, safety net and emergency services, and adjusted reimbursement rates to Medicaid-enrolled providers.
This brief reviews innovative approaches and communication strategies states and territories are employing to address health equity needs.
This brief outlines strategies for state Medicaid agencies to help people experiencing food insecurity obtain continuous access to nourishing food.
That’s Medicaid shares stories of people covered by Medicaid at critical points in their lives, underscoring the importance of stable health insurance coverage to building a nationwide Culture of Health.
This blog shares how community members and state Medicaid programs can strengthen partnerships to improve care and meet federal requirements.
The ways we collect, manage, analyze, and share data used for healthcare and public health decision-making have advanced considerably over the past decade. However, with the implementation of a new, voluntary approach for health data exchange later this year, that burden could be lessened. Later this year, healthcare entities can begin sharing health data under the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement, also known as TEFCA.
This blog discusses strategies to include people living with disabilities in the public health workforce and help the current workforce focus through a diversity, equity, and inclusion lens.
This blog discusses the impact of the Public Health Equity Corps fellowship on the public health workforce and its influence on state health agencies.
This brief examines a conceptual map of structural racism in healthcare.
This blog highlights a new Commonwealth Fund brief, which documents the policies and practices State Based Marketplaces have implemented to facilitate access to health insurance information for Limited English Proficiency individuals and otherwise meet their needs.
This blog offers guidance to help healthcare organizations develop appropriate compensation practices for community members.
This blog builds on the webinar by outlining key recommendations to maintain diversity and foster inclusion in college admissions and the workforce.
This brief examines rates at which adults with and without disabilities reported they were treated unfairly in clinical and work settings, and its impact on their wellbeing.
That’s Medicaid shares stories of people covered by Medicaid at critical points in their lives, underscoring the importance of stable health insurance coverage to building a nationwide Culture of Health.
This blog discusses how the STRETCH convenings left state teams with tools to help them advance their health equity work.
This blog examines how public health leaders can improve tobacco control through incremental changes, appeals to science, and partnerships with thought leaders.
In this blog, ASTHO's Diverse Executives Leading in Public Health scholars share insights on how the data modernization initiative and diversity, equity, and inclusion intersect with public health.
This report explores findings from a 2023 symposium that explored why racial and ethnic inequities still exist.
This brief examines whether neighborhood conditions vary with children who rely on Medicaid or CHIP for coverage.
The blog explores why improving collection of and access to high-quality data is imperative in helping policymakers understand and develop effective solutions to address mechanisms that lead to poor maternal health outcomes.
This blog introduces a new National Governors Association guide, designed to make transformational change in a system that has historically failed mothers and babies.
This blog examines the role of state advisory councils in emergency preparedness planning and how public health leaders can create a public health ethics committee to ensure equitable resources allocation during an emergency response.
This blog examines the Suicide, Overdose, Adverse Childhood Experiences Prevention Capacity Assessment Tool and the importance of partnerships among health agencies.
In this blog, CHIR members provide an overview of the meeting—including a presentation by CHIR faculty member Christine Monahan—and its implications for current and future health equity initiatives.
In this podcast, public officials from Wisconsin and Arizona share how their state’s Medicaid programs are partnering with the housing sector to tackle the challenges faced by people experiencing homelessness.
This brief identifies ways in which states can leverage their Medicaid managed care programs to advance their health equity goals.
This blog examines states' use of data dashboards to monitor progress on coverage transitions during the unwinding.
This blog discusses how data dashboards allow states to make proactive decisions about what data to release and on what schedule.
This blog discusses what states will gain during the learning lab, state team composition and how to apply.
This blog discusses the launch of the Diverse Executives Leading in Public Health and its cohort of leaders.
This factsheet examines resources to support policymakers, community organizations, and changemakers in advancing racial equity and rural prosperity across the United States.
This blog examines systemic barriers to health care coverage that the LGBTQ+ community faces, and highlights a few key coverage and access issues that continue to impact LGBTQ+ individuals with private health insurance.
This blog highlights key themes from a roundtable with three leaders about the importance of mentoring, engaging, empowering, and celebrating Black women in Medicaid to support their career development.
In this blog, ASTHO explores authenticity in leadership—what does it mean, what does it take, and how do leaders show up for the LGBTQ+ community.
This blog highlights a conversation between ASTHO's Marcus Plescia and healthcare, technology, and policy experts from across the field, in which they discussed the future of measuring health equity in a world of rapidly evolving data.
This blog discusses the need to invest in equitable infrastructure in disadvantaged communities.
This podcast episode explores how coordinating reentry and support services with community partners can improve the lives of people impacted by the justice system, and potentially help reduce rates of recidivism.
This blog shares how health agencies play a critical role in strengthening supports for children and youth with incarcerated parents and justice-involved youth to stop the cycle of incarceration.
Addressing Health Related Social Needs (HRSN) in 1115 demonstrations can help states improve coverage, access, and equity. This blog examines innovative state demonstrations and implications for cross agency partnerships.
Data Across Sectors for Health (DASH) released two workbooks to help communities recognize data as an important asset in improving health equity.
In this blog, specialists talk about the program's beginnings, partnerships development, and outcomes in promoting the inclusion of people with disabilities in public health emergency preparedness.
This blog examines and maps states that are using publicly available dashboards to share key data points as they monitor enrollment transitions throughout the unwinding.
This blog examines states' plans to publish a data dashboard to monitor progress.
This blog discusses federal support for states looking to expand postpartum coverage through Medicaid.
This report analyzes healthcare coverage and eligibility of nonelderly noncitizens compared with the entire nonelderly population of the US.
This episode shares insight into atypical cross-sector partnerships that offer great potential to align for better outcomes.
This analysis provides new evidence on transportation barriers to healthcare, and highlights the importance of public transit accessibility in promoting equitable access to care.
This blog examines Georgia’s efforts to address maternal mortality, partly through Medicaid postpartum coverage extension.
This blog provides a brief update on five public health state policy issues.
This blog discusses key themes underlying many of the 2024 rules including the administration's commitments to advancing health equity, improving the costumer experience, and expanding marketplace enrollment.
This blog discusses seven podcasts that can keep individuals informed, motivated, and ready to do their best work.
This blog discusses the impact of the Braidwood Ruling depending on source of insurance.
This blog discusses ASTHO's Breastfeeding Virtual Learning Series, which showcases emerging topics to advance breastfeeding equity.
This blog examines state efforts to expand broadband and disparities in access based on income level.
This blog reviews DIS' role during Covid-19 and barriers they still face–including underfunding and hiring challenges.
This blog reviews OMB's efforts to maintain, collect, and present federal data on race and ethnicity.
This blog discusses the critical role health agencies must play to support positive mental health outcomes through nutrition support and food assistance programs.
This blog examines the importance of diversity in leadership at the local level, scholars' reflections on local leadership experiences, and advice for building inclusive workplaces.
This blog examined Rhode Island's strategies to promote accessibility in response to Winter Storm Harper and additional actions to promote accessibility during emergencies.
This blog examines how states are preventing firearm injury and violence, and next steps for long-term fire arm violence reduction.
This blog examines comments about the NBPP from state departments of insurance and state-based marketplaces.
This blog discusses inequities in contraceptive care at community colleges and actions organizations and institutions can take to reduce them.
This blog discusses how rural communities are developing tailored, self-determined solutions to workforce shortages and rural hospital closures.
This webinar explores a new opportunity to improve access to care and services for people returning to the community from state prisons, county jails, and youth correctional facilities.
This blog discusses how states have initiated plans to publish a data dashboard to monitor unwinding progress.
This report outlines practical approaches to guide health systems in meaningfully involving community members and being more accountable to the communities they serve.
This blog discusses the proposed revisions to OMB Directive No. 15 and comments and considerations from State Health Access Data Assistance Center.
This blog examines State Health Access Data Assistance Center's comments aimed at supporting the adoption of a revised set of federal standards for collecting race/ethnicity data.
This article discusses experts' reflections on the role of health centered assessments and approaches in decision-making related to health equity.
This blog discusses actions government officials have been taking to promote continuity of coverage to minimize the number of people who become uninsured or face a gap in coverage.
This blog examines the role of breastfeeding in early childhood nutrition security, how states have been promoting breastfeeding and nutrition security, and recommendations for state and territorial agencies.
This report examines the quality of race and ethnicity data for Medicaid/CHIP-enrolled children in the 2018 and 2019 TAF.
This blog discusses how some states have initiated plans to publish a data dashboard to monitor progress given the intense focus on coverage transitions during the unwinding.
This blog examines three key strategies Benefits Data Trust believes will help streamline the transition for government staff and Medicaid recipients.
With support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the State Health Access Data Assistance Center (SHADAC) at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health is leading a multi-phased project to assess whether identifying a set of key equity-related indicators and populating them into a centralized “Medicaid Equity Monitoring Tool” could be a helpful, feasible, and reliable way of tracking and advancing health equity in Medicaid.
This report highlights how communities of color counter structural racism and oppression by creating culturally effective community-based programming that promotes equitable outcomes for people who use drugs.
This webinar highlights how Denver Health, a health system in Colorado, is implementing a trauma-and resilience-informed approach into organizational policy and practice, while also focusing on addressing systemic racism and biases.
This blog highlights federal action limiting flavors for combustible cigarettes and cigars, cigarettes and other nicotine products; state bans on Tobacco flavors, including menthol.
As states prepare to unwind the COVID-19 pandemic-related Medicaid continuous coverage requirement and resume terminations of coverage as soon as April 1, this blog examines how they could streamline eligibility determinations for older adults and people with disabilities, who face unique challenges with the Medicaid enrollment and renewal process.
This webinar highlights promising strategies for inviting youth perspectives to inform pediatric practice transformation efforts.
This blog presents findings from a study aimed at producing estimates of ACE exposure for different demographic groups.
This blog discusses how business’ place-based investments can advance health, wellbeing, and equity.
This issue brief outlines the ways in which such efforts can improve communication, lead to more effective and efficient programs, and result in ongoing collaboration with people who have experienced state-run systems and services.
This blog explores how State Interagency Councils on Homelessness (ICHs) can serve as a promising mechanism to coordinate various state and local partners and develop and implement plans to end homelessness.
This fact sheet explores California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal initiatives that have a direct impact on seniors and people with disabilities while offering additional opportunities for California to address health equity and improve care for underserved populations.
This webinar discusses opportunities to achieve engagement and trust between safety-net health systems and communities.
This brief discusses how the health impact assessment and the Health in All Policies are making advancements to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to be as healthy as possible.
This fact sheet outlines the need for child health care transformation and offers strategies to incorporate an anti-racist and family-centered focus.
This webinar recording explores innovations in recruitment, training, and retention that can lead to a more representative and supported pediatric workforce.
In this podcast Dr. Umair Shah and her colleague discuss how the American Rescue Plan has helped jurisdictions respond to pandemic-related needs.
This blog discusses that, though the law intended to cover ALL FFY and the provision seems straightforward, the way the law was constructed has many barriers and administrative burdens.
This Q&A style blog discusses ex parte redeterminations in which Medicaid officials attempt to make a redetermination of an individual’s eligibility based on available data, without requiring additional information from the individual.
This brief shares findings that show the need for greater language accessibility resources in healthcare settings for AANHPI adults with limited English proficiency.
This blog explores the effect of gender-based discrimination on healthcare access.
This report can help states design and implement effective Medicaid PBP models.
This brief reviews California’s approach to expanding health coverage to all lower-income residents, regardless of immigration status, in an effort to help the state’s 3.2 million remaining uninsured, of which 65% are undocumented.
This blog discusses the delicate balance that must be achieved between different policy goals in the case that value assessment methodologies discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.
This blog includes conversation on the role and impact of SORH and its intersection with other offices in state government.
This toolkit includes resources developed for states to customize based on their unique needs, program eligibility criteria, and environments to support outreach and education efforts to drive enrollment in new or existing health coverage programs.
This webinar reviews COVID-19 flexibilities within Medicaid and what lies ahead in returning to normal eligibility and enrollment processes.
This brief provides information on strategies to improve maternal health outcomes and synthesizes research about the national state-of-play across four domains: maternal health models, quality improvement, workforce and benefits, and eligibility and enrollment/coverage expansion.
This blog includes key takeaways from Washington, Hawaii, and Texas of the varied ways in which states are prioritizing person-centered care in healthcare reform.
This blog examines how states are working with the federal government to implement the No Surprises Act.
This brief includes a checklist of eight key questions that can help state purchasers and other payers develop a robust payment and spending strategy focused on advancing health equity.
This blog unveils a new series to highlight strategies for states to expand affordable health coverage to immigrant populations in the United States.
This blog discusses the contents of the Public Charge Final Rule.
This blog highlights national and state-level changes in the broadest categories of insurance and takes a look at the changes in rates by two age groups, nonelderly adults (age 19-64) and children (age 0-18).
This blog breaks down the steps state and federal policy makers are taking to improve health outcomes for pregnant people.
This report examines next steps to increase healthcare coverage and affordability now that the Inflation Reduction Act is law.
This report used data from the Urban Institute’s Health Reform Monitoring Survey to assess changes between 2019 and 2022 in the share of adults ages 18 to 64 reporting they were insured for the full 12 months before each survey.
The ACA’s guarantee of free access to preventive services is at risk. If it is ultimately struck down as unconstitutional as the result of a court case that is winding its way through the federal judicial system, Congress will be the only entity that can act to codify and fully restore its benefits. However, there are some actions states can take. This brief explores what state-level health officials can do to mitigate the fallout of the preventive services provision being struck down.
This issue brief reviews proactive strategies that states can deploy to support postpartum individuals in maintaining health coverage and access to care when the Medicaid continuous coverage guarantee ends and beyond.
This commentary tells the story of how Medicaid guided Alicia through her pregnancy and the birth of her son while incarcerated.
This blog highlights the different approaches states are taking to expand affordable access to diabetes management and reduce disparities in care for diabetic patients.
This commentary explores how Medicaid saved Laticia's life who battled with gastrointestinal problems and mental health issues. Medicaid provided healthcare visits, medication and therapy for her anxiety and depression.
This blog identifies strategies for state-based Marketplaces, in partnership with Medicaid agencies, departments of insurance, consumer assisters, and participating insurers, to help maintain continuity of care.
This brief highlights key lessons to inform data-sharing partnerships between community-based organizations, state agencies, and individuals with lived expertise and outlines data-sharing.
Supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Raising the Bar provides an actionable framework for the entire healthcare sector to embed equity throughout its work and help achieve optimal health for all.
This commentary tells the story of Danielle, whose small business struggled in the opening months of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to trying to keep her business afloat, Danielle also had to care for her son and home school him. Medicaid provided Daneille with the mental health support needed to keep moving forward during an incredibly challenging period.
That’s Medicaid shares stories of people covered by Medicaid at critical points in their lives, underscoring the importance of stable health insurance coverage to building a nationwide Culture of Health.
This blog explores how states can coordinate and prepare communications related to the end of the Medicaid continuous coverage requirement with clear messaging to inform enrollees, help to reduce churn, and maximize coverage renewal, retention, and transition.
This report provides excerpts of health disparities and health equity language from Medicaid managed care (MMC) contracts and requests for proposals (RFPs) from 17 states and the District of Columbia. The criteria for inclusion in this compendium are contracts and RFPs that explicitly address health disparities and/or health equity.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires most insurers and employers to cover a set of preventive health services at no cost to enrollees. This blog analyzes a case pending in federal court that threatens to cut off consumers’ access to these services by allowing insurers to impose cost-sharing or, in some cases, cease covering them altogether.
This blog examines insurers use of utilization management tactics, including prior authorization and claims review.
This commentary tells the story of the CSA Partnerships for Health, which Federally Qualified Health Centers in the Portland, Oregon area to provide Medicaid and low-income patients access to produce from local farms.
This blog examines how employers’ decisions on whether and how to cover travel costs related to abortion care will have a significant impact on whether workers are able to access abortion services far from home.
This blog reviews ways states can support the identification and implementation of tech-enabled innovations to Medicaid systems.
This brief highlights key successes and lessons learned from Oklahoma's implementation of new harm reduction policies.
This blog analyzes the array of legislation states have considered related to Long COVID and using pandemic relief funding to enhance the Americans with Disabilities Act.
This commentary tells the story of Adrian, who works with the Medicaid-funded Mississippi Youth Programs Around the Clock program. Adrian's work provides youth and their families with needed "wraparound" services to cultivate healthier communities.
That’s Medicaid shares stories of people covered by Medicaid at critical points in their lives, underscoring the importance of stable health insurance coverage to building a nationwide Culture of Health.
This blog provides lessons learned from committed patient partners while developing a Patient-Centered Complex Care Research Agenda, which aims help inform other organizations seeking to include patient perspectives to guide research priorities.
With new budget initiatives, a California Momnibus Act, and a new Medicaid transformation initiative, the state is seeking to advance more whole-person care for pregnant and birthing people, and to ensure and expand access to reproductive health care, including abortion services.
Almost two-thirds of adults in the United States have experienced at least one adverse childhood experience (ACE). This document synthesizes evidence-based policies and programs that address clinical, community, and policy-level interventions that can prevent ACEs and mitigate consequences.
This web series spotlights new voices and ideas in health services research. In this video, Dr. Monica McLemore, nurse-scientist and clinician of 28 years talks about using research to address racism, funding and implementation, and her hopes for the future of HSR and nursing sciences.
This commentary tells the story of Sonia who took on the life-changing responsibility of adopting a family member’s young son Amir, who has developmental disabilities. Medicaid provided Amir with preventive doctor visits, X-rays, and speech and occupational therapy.
This blog explores the Data Across Sectors for Health (DASH) Framework which highlights the most important landmarks to consider within the landscape of data sharing to help improve the well-being of people and their communities.
This blog explores why restoring community trust and how collecting and sharing data can be an effective way to design measures that help advance community health.
This commentary tells the story of Naomi who enrolled in Medicaid after she lost her job when pregnant with her son, who was born prematurely. Medicaid provided in-home attendants, a wheelchair, medications and other necessities to help improve her son's quality of life.
This blog analyzes 2020 ESI estimates to contextualize and establish a baseline for the forthcoming 2021 estimates.
This blog discuss the impact of stigmatizing language in medical records for pediatric patients and their families and provides insights and actionable suggestions for clinicians, health systems, and medical education on how to improve patient-provider relationships.
Since 2000, rates of suicide and substance overdose mortality have steadily increased in the United States. This podcast explores how healthcare leaders are working in their communities to set youth up to thrive by using behavioral health data to build resilience, incorporate youth voices, and support communities in their suicide and substance use prevention efforts.
This blog explore three newly released or trial-phase databases and their implications for future health services research, spotlighted at a recent panel discussion hosted by The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
This new episode of the Medicaid Leadership Exchange podcast explores the inner workings of Medicaid’s workforce recovery and the opportunity to build a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive work culture.
This webinar features SHADAC director Lynn Blewett presenting on "State-Level Data Collaborations and Opportunities to Improve the Sustainability of Their Efforts."
This commentary tells the story of Regina, who is able to help provide her daughter with physicals, immunizations, dental visits and medication—which the family couldn’t obtain without Medicaid coverage.
This blog analyzes the progress and challenges for states modernizing vital records systems (e.g., birth, death, and marriage certificates).
This commentary tell the story of how Nancy, with the assistance of Medicaid, was able to receive the care she needed and was even inspired to study medical billing when she goes to college.
This blog explores why some are sounding the alarm and calling for better regulation to control costs and protect patients as private equity involvement in the healthcare industry increases.
This blog examines the landscape of marketplace race and ethnicity data and detail strategies state-based marketplaces can implement for the upcoming open enrollment period to improve data collection.
This blog details how the use of an ASTHO tool was instrumental in helping create a disability preparedness toolkit for South Carolina, as well as tips for how jurisdictions and agencies can address the access and functional needs of people living with disabilities during and after an emergency.
This blog post, by current state health department leaders, explores the current state of the public health workforce and provides rationale for adding board-certified preventive medicine physicians on staff in health departments.
This blog reviews recent state policies to reduce barriers to HIV testing.
This blog outlines a collaborative approach that led to the development of an implementation guide to support mapping maternal health data across clinical areas and use cases.
This blog post by researchers at AcademyHealth discusses the benefits of having an affirming provider to address health inequities among LGBTQ+ older adults, as well as shares resources to increase capacity for LGBTQ+ affirming care.
This report evaluates a series of evaluations of Robert Wood Johnson Foundation programs that address health inequities. The evaluations explore innovative approaches to equity-focused payment reform and integrated models of care and outline key findings and recommendations to inform future activities.
This resource page recaps the Center for Health Care Strategies' recent webinar highlighting two California-based, cross-sector initiatives focused on improving healthcare for people experiencing homelessness by meeting the population where they are.
Most experts in the public health field agree that the value of data depends on what is measured and what measures are implemented. This blog post from Data Across Sectors for Health highlights the importance of peer learning when leveraging data to improve overall health and well-being.
This report examines the cost and coverage effects of lowering the age of Medicare eligibility from 65 to 60.
The webinar aimed to bring together those in states who have implemented social risk factor screening measures for incentive use in managed care contracts.
The Center for Health Care Strategies recently spoke with Jacey Cooper, California’s Medicaid director, to explore how CalAIM seeks to improve care for Californians experiencing homelessness and what other states can learn from this work.
This report offers the evidence and rationale for a policy-based approach to reduce tobacco use. It also provides (1) principles for advancing tobacco control policies and working with Tribal nations and (2) a summary of the changing tobacco control landscape, including the youth e-cigarette epidemic, information on health disparities and health equity, and addressing related issues such as marijuana, e-cigarette or vaping use-associated lung injury (EVALI), and COVID-19.
This brief examines both combined and individual rates of reported anxiety and depression symptoms for the total adult population as well as by specific breakdowns, including age, gender, race/ethnicity, income categories, and education levels.
For years, Medicaid leaders have faced a mounting children’s behavioral health crisis — made worse by the pandemic. In this episode of the Medicaid Leadership Exchange podcast, three Medicaid leaders discuss the behavioral health needs of children and opportunities for Medicaid to better support those needs.
This blog examines how policymakers can increase access to abortion services.
This analysis of the California Health Insurance Survey (CHIS) shows that Californians were largely protected from experiencing a major erosion in their ability to pay for health insurance and care.
This infographic outlines options can states can pursue as they consider how to target various funding sources to effectively provide treatment and recovery services for substance use disorder (SUD).
This blog post offers suggestions on what states need to consider when they structure primary care investments, including how to ensure that spending reaches patients with the highest needs and improves care delivery.
This commentary outlines how state and territorial health officials (S/THOs) often become involved with lawsuits.
This page provides communications resources designed to support states as they prepare for the various stages of work needed to inform stakeholders and consumers about the upcoming end of the Medicaid continuous coverage requirement. The end of the Medicaid continuous coverage requirement presents states with tremendous opportunities to keep individuals enrolled in Medicaid or transition to another form of health coverage.
This blog post reviews policy approaches to providing greater access to services that treat and manage mental health and substance use disorders (MH/SUD).
This blog post seeks to review updates to five existing guidelines: Well-Women Preventive Visits, Breastfeeding Services and Supplies, Counseling for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), Screening for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infections, and Contraception.
This study examines the association between pre-pandemic state-level public health spending, county-level non-hospital health spending, and effective COVID-19 control at the county level.
This journal article explores the consequences of state preemption laws in response to municipalities declaring themselves "sanctuary cities."
This interactive map allows users to explore state-by-state data about child food insecurity, and how federal nutrition programs can support better child nutrition.
This brief presents benchmark premium data separated by urban versus rural rating regions and includes data on the differences between average benchmark premiums in 2019 and 2022 for all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
This interactive map shares the status of state legislative efforts to address prescription drug costs across the country.
This blog explores how states can work with The Program of All Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) and its organizations to provide a comprehensive, fully integrated package of Medicare and Medicaid services to elderly individuals who require a nursing home level of care.
This blog answers questions about the ACA's "family glitch," a flawed regulatory interpretation that has created barriers to coverage. The current administration is currently working to correct this interpretation that prevents 4.8 to 5 million individuals from accessing more affordable health insurance.
This blog analyzes some of the public health related legislation introduced in U.S Territories and Freely Associated States during their most recent legislative sessions.
Topics include:
Health Equity
Access to Care
Covid-19
Nutrition and Food Security
Climate Change
This commentary tells the story of Tania, a single mother of two who credits her experience as a Medicaid recipient for her journey into a new profession.
This blog analyzes how data from the recently released National Health Security Preparedness Index, a comprehensive snapshot of the nation’s readiness for large-scale emergencies can:
Ensure the country is prepared for future crises
Help direct ongoing relief to the communities that need it most
Pinpoint where public health and preparedness disparities persist
A cost-growth benchmark program is a cost-containment strategy that limits how much a state’s health care spending can grow each year. This chart provides a snapshot of programs across the country including state efforts to improve care quality and outcomes in the program.
This commentary tells the story of Sabrina, who plans to become a doctor, and how her experience as a Medicaid recipient informed how she sees the U.S. health care system.
This blog provides model comments developed to inform and support state responses to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' RFI to achieve substantial reforms on access to coverage–namely, the processes for enrollment and eligibility redeterminations.
This blog analyzes survey results on how many people in Minnesota have health insurance and how easy it is for them to get health care.
To assist states in closing digital skill gaps and preparing for digital equity planning, this brief offers key questions and resources for state leaders to consider.
This report summarizes the different elements of California’s initiative, which provides a model for other states seeking to expand housing services and whole person care through Medicaid.
This interactive map summarizes state Medicaid reimbursement policies for all types of midwives including certified nurse-midwives and midwives who pursue alternative pathways to licensure, often referred to as certified professional midwives, certified midwives, or direct entry midwives depending on state regulations.
This map provides eligibility levels for states’ Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program coverage for pregnancy.
This blog provides solutions and unique opportunities for governors to reform mental health service delivery. Many states have adopted innovative tools to address these shortages.
This commentary tells the story of Nicholas who requires some extra assistance with daily activities as a result of his autism. Medicaid helps afford all of his caretakers and provides him with transportation to and from his job as a COVID-19 front-line worker.
This blog, briefly reviews the research regarding the Medicaid undercount in the CPS, provides estimates of how it varies across states in 2020, and discusses the impact of assigning single coverage for those with multiple sources on the Medicaid undercount in the CPS.
This blog explores the Hospital Cost Tool which identifies different cost measures including hospital revenue, cost to charge ratios, and profitability across more than 4,600 hospitals nationwide from 2011 through 2019.
This blog summarizes the new reporting requirements and presents a set of considerations for states as they begin implementing new unwinding policies, procedures, and reporting.
This blog post highlights California's and New Jersey's approaches to preventing and mitigating the effects of early adversity on children and families as well as supporting resilience-building in their communities.
This commentary tells the story of Maddy K., a 23-year-old who has Asperger syndrome who is able to work two part-time jobs, volunteer frequently, and be part of a community organization for those with disabilities because of Medicaid's ability to provide her with essential transportation.
This issue brief identifies several areas in which state departments of insurance may want to coordinate with other agencies or external stakeholders, issue new regulations or guidance, and establish means for minimizing gaps in coverage or access to services once the PHE ends.
This map and chart provide the status of state legislation to address prescription drug costs across the country.
This blog summarizes feedback from representatives of consumer advocates, insurers, and state agencies on CMS' proposed annual Notice of Benefits and Payment Parameters, which updates regulations governing the Affordable Care Act’s marketplaces.
This blog explores how telehealth can support services like telematernity and behavioral health visits and its potential to meet health needs and improve health equity.
This blog explores strategies on how to invest in the development of Medicaid leaders to help states and territories improve the health and well-being of people served by publicly financed care.
Key tips include:
Always have a plan b, plan c, and plan d.
Build relationships and find a common thread.
Fill the void.
And more.
This brief provides a current snapshot of racial, ethnic, and language concordance between nonelderly patients ages 18 to 64 and their usual providers.
This blog provides data and key findings that explain how that expiration of ARPA provisions will lead to significant premium increases for the majority of consumers enrolled in coverage through the state-based marketplaces.
This toolkit examines Medicaid payment strategies that Arizona, New York, Oregon, and Pennsylvania use to improve substance use disorder treatment for Medicaid beneficiaries.
This blog explores data on Health Care Sharing Ministries (HCSM) operating in Massachusetts, due to a state requirement to regularly report on enrollment, membership fees, and other information about HCSM operations and finances.
This commentary tells the story of Andre H., who after turning 23 was no longer able to afford medication and proper care to treat his sickle cell disease. After receiving Medicaid, he no longer had to choose between paying rent or buying the medication that keeps him alive.
This commentary tells the story of Dominique G., who spent most of her life in hospitals due to sickle cell disease. Medicaid coverage provided her regular hematologist visits, appropriate equipment and medications to make living at home possible.
This brief examines how labor and delivery closures in New Hampshire affected the providers and patients in rural communities.
This blog analyzes comments submitted by state departments of insurance and state-based marketplaces to better understand the impact of The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently proposed set of rules governing the marketplaces and health insurance standards for next year.
This brief examines significant challenges and solutions identified by state health officials to mitigate coverage losses.
This blog provides takeaways from the Massachusetts One Care Program, highlighting the impact of engaging members with disabilities in care planning and strategies that health systems and payers can use to advance health equity through improved engagement with people with disabilities.
This brief projects Medicaid enrollment for the population under age 65 and federal and state Medicaid spending for 2022 and 2023, assuming the PHE is extended through the first, second, or third quarters of 2022.
This Databook provides a comprehensive, detailed look at Medicaid enrollment trends from the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic through November 2021 and enrollment detail by state across four eligibility categories:
Expansion adults
Children (including those enrolled in CHIP)
Non-expansion adults
Aged, blind, and disabled individuals
This blog provides an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' RFI regarding the federal standards that govern access to care in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program.
This blog highlights key themes and topics that governors across the country reflected upon during their state-of-the-state addresses.
This brief highlights strategies for states to expand affordable health coverage to immigrant populations in the United States and provides an overview of the status of the public charge rule.
This blog examines Virginia's framework to expand coverage for community doula services for Medicaid beneficiaries.
This report examines existing data and research to comprehensively describe the scope and prevalence of obesity and available obesity treatments in the US covered by fee-for-service Medicaid, Medicaid managed care, state employee health plans, and state essential health benefits benchmark plans.
This blog explores the obstacles consumers have faced obtaining free preventive services since the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was enacted in 2010.
This Blog explores Oregon's new kindergarten readiness incentive metric in its Medicaid program focused on social-emotional health to help solidify the connection between a child’s health and their success in school and beyond.
This infographic details state-level trends in public coverage, private coverage, and those without health insurance coverage summarizing The National Center for Health Statistics recently released National Health Statistics Report, which presents state-level estimates of health insurance coverage using data from the 2020 National Health Interview Survey.
This chart provides an overview of how states legislatures are acting to coordinate and direct the uses and disbursement of opioid abatement funds.
This blog summarizes practical steps and recommendations for alternative payment models to help state Medicaid agencies make care more accessible and equitable, and drive better health outcomes.
This video discusses the 2021 release of the National Health Security Preparedness Index.
This resource page outlines what palliative care is, how it can improve quality of life and how state policymakers can bridge the information gap.
This report builds on The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) ’ draft “Recommendation Memo,” to make a public health insurance option available in the individual market and, potentially, the small group market as well.
This blog explores how CMS's proposal to resurrect and revise its previous initiative that encouraged health insurance companies selling plans in the federally facilitated marketplace (FFM) would impact consumers.
This blog explores a set of primary care standards to help states explicitly make health equity a focus of primary care standards and incentivize practice-level activities aligned with broader state health equity goals.
This blog examines important questions officials are considering as they monitor shifting trends of telehealth utilization across the country.
This chart provides a snapshot of cost-growth benchmark programs, cost-containment strategies that limit how much a state’s health care spending can grow each year, across the United States.
This blog provides Medicaid agencies with examples of how different states are leveraging their managed care programs, inclusive of contracts, quality initiatives, and procurement processes, to promote health equity and address health disparities.
This blog explores text messaging as a mechanism for outreach for state Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) agencies to directly contact Medicaid and CHIP enrollees and communicate important information.
This commentary shares the story of Ashley, who unexpectedly lost the private health insurance she received under her father’s health plan when she moved to New Mexico.
This blog presents survey findings that show no significant changes in coverage type (public, private) or uninsured rate across all ages and income groups when compared in Q3 of 2021 compared to the Q3 of 2020.
This blog examines recent happenings with insurer participation in the Affordable Care Act marketplace.
This issue brief examines the current status of data collection to assess Medicaid enrollment and retention, summarizes potential forthcoming reporting requirements, and describes some of the best practices states should consider when developing a data dashboard to display this type of information.
This blog examines some of the key factors and decision points states may want to consider as they build out mobile mental health crisis services and systems that qualify for enhanced federal medical assistance percentage funding; engaging a cross-agency team and a broad range of external stakeholders can help ensure full consideration of diverse state crisis needs.
This blog examines the Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for the 2023 plan year, released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, that describes the annual regulation governing health insurance plans and marketplaces for the upcoming year.
This blog details new federal rules that require health insurers to cover and waive cost-sharing for over-the-counter COVID-19 tests for the duration of the federal public health emergency.
This blog examines the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' newly released State Health Official letter providing guidance on the scope of and enhanced payments for qualifying community-based mobile crisis intervention services for Medicaid enrollees experiencing a mental health or substance use disorder crisis.
This interactive map explores state legislation to implement and fund 988, the new congressionally mandated three-digit calling code for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
This brief offers considerations for policymakers around the Children’s Health Insurance Program coverage as a method of enabling states to provide prenatal, labor and delivery, and postpartum services to pregnant individuals, regardless of immigration status.
This brief examines provisions of the Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for the plan year 2023 related to the state-based marketplaces and state insurance regulators.
This blog presents a set of data resources for the 50 states and the District of Columbia to help policymakers and other stakeholders identify opportunities to improve health equity in their states.
This blog highlights several successful state initiatives that policymakers may consider adopting to improve routine Human Papillomavirus vaccination rates among adolescents and provide catch-up vaccinations to the estimated one million adolescents who are now behind due to the challenges of the pandemic.
This blog explores transparency legislation that influences drug pricing by requiring manufacturers and other supply chain entities to provide information on drug pricing.
This interactive map and chart summarize proposed and approved legislation since 2018, Medicaid waivers, financial estimates, and other initiatives designed to extend coverage during the postpartum period.
This blog provides a high-level overview of a range of state-level measures which may help states understand and track trends across indicators of health equity, such as health insurance coverage, health care access and affordability, and quality of care.
This blog post sheds light on how Pennsylvania has taken steps to better understand how to mitigate the racial bias by collecting information on how Medicaid Managed Care Organizations are using algorithms, the types of proxies being used, and the outcomes as a method to develop their health equity strategies.
This blog post offers considerations for pediatric medical care teams and community partners to ensure more equitable COVID-19 vaccine distribution among children.
This report offers four recommendations for policymakers to integrate individuals with lived expertise as partners in program and policy design, implementation, and evaluation to more effectively address food insecurity.
This commentary tells the story of Chrystal, who turned to Medicaid for health coverage during her time as a full time student in Milwaukee. Without Medicaid Chrystal would have been unable to afford the inhaler she needed to protect her from asthma attacks and medical appointments for her general well-being.
This issue brief explores opportunities for state Medicaid agencies to implement performance measures with contracted care entities that could strengthen their growing interest in social care and highlights several barriers to those applications.
This map features how states are using these one-time funds to support transitions from institutional settings into the community through housing navigation, employment placement, assistance with transition costs and other social determinant supports, as well as by investing in affordable and accessible housing for home-and community-based services populations to remain within the community.
This brief describes current use of and spending on routine vision and hearing services among all Medicare beneficiaries and select subgroups.
This webinar and accompanying presentation examine the challenges and solutions to ensure families have adequate nutrition during the pandemic and beyond through various governmental food programs.
This commentary covers how the National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP)’s Model Act for State Oversight of Proposed Health Care Mergers grants state attorneys general and state health officials with overarching authority on cost, like a health cost commission, the authority to review, place conditions upon, and block potentially harmful consolidation of healthcare providers in their state.
This commentary highlights how states have advanced two separate but related initiatives to tackle rising healthcare costs: cost-growth benchmarks to track and contain overall healthcare spending; and prescription drug affordability boards to conduct reviews of high-cost prescription drugs and set limits on what can be paid for these drugs in the future.
This issue brief summarizes state strategies and experiences shared during a virtual summit on data and health equity, as well as lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This brief synthesizes key accomplishments and lessons learned based on interviews with 10 state COVID-19 health equity task forces represented in the network.
The brief focuses on actions Medicaid agencies can pursue through their managed care programs or directly with provider organizations and highlights state interventions and collaborations that demonstrate promise in reducing disparities and begin to center equity in birth-related health policies.
This commentary tells the story of Alicia, who was able to access a doula through Medicaid while incarcerated and pregnant with her second child.
This webinar reviewed steps states can take to integrate health equity into their Medicaid managed care programs.
This brief highlights a Nevada program that aims to target oral health care gaps among children who rely on school-based sealant programs to prevent dental decay, the most common chronic condition among children.
This brief identifies key themes and policy considerations to help Massachusetts implement value-based payment models that better meet children’s needs.
This commentary tells the story of Adrian, who serves as an assistant director at the Hattiesburg, Miss., office of Youth Villages and oversees the Medicaid-funded Mississippi Youth Programs Around the Clock (MYPAC) effort, which currently has more than 500 people enrolled throughout the state.
This blog discusses the appointment of Kara Herring as Indiana's first Chief Equity, Inclusion and Opportunity Officer.
This fact sheet explores how people of color experience unfair treatment or judgment when applying for public benefits at higher rates than white adults, and those experiences often have adverse consequences.
This issue brief—the first in a series “Supporting Health Equity and Affordable Health Coverage for Immigrant Populations”—provides an overview of the national immigrant health coverage landscape and offers considerations for policymakers related to state-funded affordable coverage programs for low-income individuals who do not qualify for subsidized health insurance under the Affordable Care Act or other public programs due to immigration status.
This expert perspective highlights observations about the factors impacting rate changes in the Affordable Care Act Marketplaces this year and the kind of variations that exist among states.
This issue brief presents a sustainable, hybrid coverage and funding approach for mobile crisis services in light of the new federal funding opportunities for states to improve access to behavioral health crisis services.
This video features NSHPI director Glen Mays and board member Suzet McKinney discussing ways to improve collaboration between public health and medical care, strategies to increase the nation's healthcare service capacity, ways to address the healthcare inequities that COVID-19 has exposed, and much more.
This brief documents how information describing sexual or gender minority populations is currently collected at the federal level and in Medicaid.
This brief highlights the Departments of Health and Human Services and the Treasury's final rule governing marketplaces and qualified health plans sold through the marketplaces in 2022.
This brief analyzes how three state governments (Illinois, Indiana, and Rhode Island) worked across agencies to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This commentary presents strategies for state-based marketplaces to improve consumer outreach, provide enrollment assistant and clearly communicate with consumers with what health coverage options are available for them in 2022.
This brief presents an updated version of the SHADAC COVID-19 Survey in April 2021, aimed at understanding respondents’ experiences with illness and death due to COVID-19 for themselves, their families, and their contacts.
This report finds that generous funding to support policies related to home- and community-based services (HCBS) eligibility, caregiver wages, and services could drastically improve the lives of people in need and the workers who serve them.
This blog examines the results from the 2021 release of the National Health Security Preparedness Index which show that the nation’s protections from large-scale health threats remain highly variable across the country.
This recording features highlights from NASHP's 34th Annual Conference.
This webinar discusses the research on how Medicaid saves lives, reduces costs, and helps eliminate racial and ethnic health disparities.
This report examines policies to improve continuous postpartum coverage after the COVID-19 public health emergency ends.
This expert perspective summarizes the provisions of the No Surprises Act relating to air ambulances and notes particular implications for state regulators and marketplace officials.
This paper includes considerations and approaches to promote equity and improve public health capacity to prevent, detect and respond to HIV, viral hepatitis, STDs and TB during the public health emergency and beyond.
This map and chart highlight dental benefits for general adults and pregnant populations enrolled in Medicaid.
Using the American Community Survey, the brief presents that uninsurance increased by 0.2 percentage points between 2016 and 2017 despite a strong economy, meaning 700,000 more uninsured Americans.
This blog examines the interest in the potential timeline for Medicaid expansion in the remaining states after the passage of the American Rescue Plan Act.
This infographic examines how expanded coverage has saved lives, reduced health care costs, narrowed racial disparities, and provided peace of mind to those who would otherwise have been uninsured.
This brief examines how enrollment gains in public insurance helped offset declines in employer-sponsored insurance during the COVID-19 pandemic. Unlike previous recessions, the uninsurance rate did not change.
This resource page compiles the latest Robert Wood Johnson funded research on the benefits of closing the Medicaid coverage gap.
This report provides updated excerpts of health disparities and health equity language from Medicaid managed care contracts and requests for proposals from 15 states and the District of Columbia as well as the contract for California’s state-based marketplace, Covered California.
This guide describes recommended process steps for states to integrate a focus on health equity in their Medicaid managed care programs.
This blog post outlines the potential coverage gains, state cost savings, and improved health outcomes that would occur if the remaining 12 nonexpansion states extending their Medicaid programs in accordance with the Affordable Care Act.
This brief examines how New York is expanding changes to the race and ethnicity questions system-wide for the next open enrollment period and how the state is considering additional revisions in hopes of further enhancing the quality and completeness of its data.
This brief aims to assist state and federal analysts with survey development and/or analysis of existing survey data to generate estimates of health insurance coverage and access to care across racial and ethnic groups and according to nativity and/or immigrant status.
This interactive map and chart summarize proposed and approved legislation since 2018, Medicaid waivers, financial estimates, and other initiatives designed to extend coverage during the postpartum period.
This blog examines how states and other stakeholders have another chance to weigh in on Tennessee’s 10-year Medicaid funding demonstration which was approved by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in early January during the final days of the Trump administration.
This blog post explores seven key considerations for health care organizations, Medicaid programs, and advocacy organizations to facilitate family engagement in program and policy design and implementation.
This brief offers practical considerations to help health systems and provider practices incorporate a focus on racial equity to enhance trauma-informed care efforts.
This op-ed argues for Medicaid Expansion in the North Carolina, highlighting the success Virginia had in extending access to health care through its expansion.
This op-ed, authored by David Schaefer of the Georgia Budget Policy Institute, argues that closing the Medicaid coverage gap in Georgia will also increase access to health care and strengthen health infrastructure in rural communities.
This op-ed provides arguments for Medicaid expansion in Wyoming from the perspective of provider organizations.
This op-ed argues the need for Kansas to expand its Medicaid program to close the "coverage gap".
This commentary tells the story of Alicia, whose Medicaid-assigned doula guided her through pregnancy while in incarceration and the birth of her son.
This commentary details how Oregon’s state employee health plan is implementing multiple approaches to contain high costs and ensure a level of predictability for its public employees and their health plan.
This case study examines how Alaska's state and tribal leaders co-led the COVID-19 vaccination effort including allocation, distribution, funding, and communication.
The blog highlights updates to a compendium providing Medicaid agencies with examples of how different states are leveraging their managed care programs, inclusive of contracts, quality programs, and procurement processes, to promote health equity and address health disparities.
This papers pulls together considerations and examples of best and promising practices for Governors, including building vaccine confidence through consistent, transparent and factual communication; establishing straightforward pathways for individuals to access vaccines; and, developing and streamlining sustainable systems to strategically allocate and distribute vaccines to rural and frontier populations.
This interactive map highlights the status of individual state’s legislation to address health care costs in 2021.
This interactive map displays the methods state of have developed, deployed, and adapted their contact tracing approaches in response to the pandemic.
This brief examines how several adults have gone without needed health care during the COVID-19 pandemic over concerns about being exposed to the novel coronavirus in hospitals, doctor’s and dentist’s offices, and other health care settings.
This webinar, cosponsored by the Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS) and the Camden Coalition of Healthcare Providers’ National Center for Complex Health & Social Needs, will feature first-hand experiences and reflections from the field on recent innovations in complex care measurement.
This guide is comprised of three tools to help state officials with the language they use to discuss and write about race and health equity.
This issue brief outlines key barriers states face in their efforts to increase vaccination rates among BIPOC and highlights strategies states are pursuing in partnership with community-based organizations to address these challenges.
This blog examines how the dramatic growth of telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the crucial role of broadband access in ensuring that people can obtain healthcare services.
These digital tools examine and compare physician acceptance of new Medicaid patients at the state level and by physician and practice characteristics.
This brief summarizes the unique structure of Virginia’s equity work, the strategy and actions taken to date, and success factors and lessons learned.
This commentary examines state action during the 2021 legislative session to address rising drug costs.
This memorandum identifies and describes several strategies states deployed to counter false information campaigns during the 2020 election and examines how they may augment states’ COVID-19 vaccine messaging efforts by building better public resilience to false information and restoring trust in official sources of information.
This interactive map and chart summarize proposed and approved legislation since 2018, Medicaid waivers, financial estimates, and other initiatives designed to extend coverage during the postpartum period.
This report examines the effect the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the small group insurance market.
This report highlights key findings from a survey, interviews, and literature scan to identify pathways to Medicaid leadership positions, challenges, and opportunities for developing a more diverse pool of future Medicaid executives, and the skills necessary to succeed in these roles.
This webinar, hosted by the Center for Health Care Strategies with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, will explore the need to transform child health care from three unique perspectives — a pediatrician, a family advocate, and a children’s health clinic director.
This report examines how many immigrant families have avoided safety net and pandemic relief programs in recent years over concerns that their participation would have adverse immigration consequences.
This brief summarizes the unique structure of Virginia’s equity work, the strategy and actions taken to date, and success factors and lessons learned.
This presentation examines the affect of the COVID-19 pandemic on historically under-served populations and strategies to increase Medicaid outreach and enrollment within these communities.
This commentary examines that in 2018, the United States had its first decline in drug overdose deaths in decades, with overall drug overdoses decreasing 4.1% from 2017. However, provisional data on overdose deaths released by the CDC indicate that drug overdose deaths rebounded in 2019, rising 4.6% over the previous year.
This blog explains how several states have increased COVID-19 vaccine rollout over the past several months by expanding vaccine access to the general adult population and children over 12.
This podcast describes how critical conversations about health equity can be productive when there is a shared and agreed-upon language amongst Medicaid agencies.
This podcast describes how the past year has seen many sectors of health care increasingly pursue diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts as health equity becomes a more prominent topic.
This report assesses racial disparities in the quality of inpatient care using 11 patient safety indicators that measure rates of adverse patient safety events of hospital-acquired illnesses or injuries.
This report examines how a public option that typically pays Medicare rates would considerably reduce the cost of increasing coverage in the Medicaid gap.
This commentary explains how increased flexibility in the delivery and payment of telehealth across many coverage programs, but particularly in Medicaid and CHIP, throughout the COVID-19 pandemic has been a significant shift for some states. Many state officials are considering if and how to adapt rapidly implemented telehealth policies as the nation emerges from the public health emergency.
This commentary examines how in late June, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued its first proposed rule governing the health insurance markets and marketplaces.
This blog describes how the American Rescue Plan Act expanded access to affordable health insurance coverage in a variety of ways.
This commentary explains how since March 2020, many states have rapidly leveraged federal and state flexibilities under the public health emergency to expand telehealth capabilities and reimbursement through both public and private payers.
This commentary examines how Washington implemented the nation’s first public option for the 2021 plan year and in the first six months of 2021, states made significant progress in advancing public option proposals, with public option legislation advancing in Colorado, Nevada, and Oregon.
This podcast covers how effective data measurement is critical for Medicaid programs seeking to advance health equity and better understand different experiences of populations served by the program.
This commentary explains the federal government’s goal of reducing new HIV infections by 90% by 2030, the CDC has identified two policy strategies that states can employ for HIV prevention – provision of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis medication and availability of Syringe Service/Exchange Programs.
This expert perspective summarizes the Interim Final Rule (IFR) of the No Surprises Act, the comprehensive federal law banning balance bills in emergency and certain non-emergency settings.
This commentary analyzes how the U.S. Departments of Health & Human Services and Treasury have released a proposed rule governing the Affordable Care Act health insurance marketplaces and insurance standards for the plan year 2022.
This commentary explains how rising health care costs and increased consolidation of hospitals and provider groups into large health systems have led states into exploring ways to contain costs and provide oversight of the growing market power of large hospitals.
This toolkit allows states to assess their existing health insurance rate review laws for the authority to regulate hospital cost growth; and proposes model statutory and regulatory text to provide a state insurance commissioner with the ability to condition health insurance rate approval on meeting affordability standards in hospital cost growth.
This report examines how governments and organizations adopt community engagement approaches to collaborate and share power with communities that experience health inequities.
This report examines the U.S. Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey to study the relationship between the COVID-19 pandemic and mental health burdens for the United States’ adult population.
This commentary examines how recent approval of the Alzheimer’s drug Aduhelm under the U.S. Food & Drug Administration’s Accelerated Approval Program is controversial for a range of reasons, including its projected impact on state Medicaid budgets which will be required to cover the drug, priced at $56,000 a year, despite inconclusive evidence of its clinical effectiveness.
This graphic illustrates how the racial inequities exposed by COVID-19’s case and death rates can guide states as they target testing initiatives, vaccination distribution, and broader initiatives to address inequities in communities of color.
This commentary demonstrates how data analysis is an essential tool for advancing health and racial equity.
This blog explains the harm reduction public health approach that aims to reduce harms related to substance use by treating people with dignity and compassion.
This commentary explains how substance use disorders (SUD) and mental health conditions are prevalent among pregnant and postpartum people in the United States, and they have far-reaching consequences for the health and well-being of parents and their children.
This report describes how the US supply of COVID-19 vaccines has increased in recent months, and demand starting to level off most states were at or near having more vaccines available than people who want them as of May 2021.
This chart demonstrates how states are using a variety of approaches to provide doula services within their Medicaid programs to address inequities.
This commentary explains that on June 17 the Supreme Court decisively rejected California v. Texas, the latest lawsuit before the Court that challenged the legality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010.
This commentary explains how Medicaid leaders have significant opportunities to impact the health and well-being of millions but must balance a myriad of federal and state priorities related to fiscal stewardship, quality assurance, program integrity, and more.
This podcast talks about the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuing recession, and amplification of issues related to health equity that have forced state Medicaid agencies to evaluate their budgets and investments to better serve Medicaid enrollees.
This blog post describes how the COVID-19 pandemic has created historically large disruptions to the economy and health insurance coverage at a time when having access to health care is especially important.
This webinar will provide an overview of the request for applications for NASHP’s upcoming State Policy Academy on Rural Mental Health Crisis Services, which will help states strengthen policies and strategies that support development, coordination, and delivery of mental health crisis services in rural areas.
This brief describes Nevada's new public option that is intended to provide consumers with comprehensive, but lower cost health insurance.
This commentary explains how the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated adverse childhood experiences, and children could be facing a surge of poor physical and mental health outcomes without adequate investment and focus to reduce the effects of ACEs.
This blog post highlight's the Virginia Department of Medicaid Services' efforts, successes, and challenges in building a culture of equity.
This report identifies challenges and promising strategies for addressing maternal health inequities during the COVID-19 crisis and opportunities for sustained improvements to maternal health after the pandemic.
This podcast discusses how People who live in rural areas often experience health disparities caused by barriers to health care, such as lack of transportation, a shortage of providers, and closures of rural hospitals.
This blog overviews the state strategies to help ensure the equitable administration of COVID-19 vaccine.
This blog highlights how state-based Marketplaces are launching integrated and innovative outreach campaigns—including tapping into existing public health and COVID-19 vaccination efforts—to reach residents and alert them to the fact that the American Rescue Plan Act provides more people than ever before with access to financial help to pay for health insurance.
This blog examines how the The American Rescue Plan of 2021 (ARP) — signed into law on March 11, 2021 – provides states with a one-year, 10 percentage-point increase to the federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) for Medicaid expenditures on home and community-based services (HCBS) for children and adults.
This brief provides evidence on persistent chilling effects among low-income immigrant families during the pandemic, drawing on data from the Urban Institute’s Well-Being and Basic Needs Survey.
This blog will provide up-to-date information on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on employment, spending, food and housing security, disruptions to education, physical and mental wellbeing, and health insurance and access to care.
This report outlines promising state examples of accountable care organizations’ incentives or requirements that can be used to advance health equity.
This issue brief documents how states are collecting information about race, ethnicity, and language on their Medicaid applications.
This updated brief describes the American Rescue Plan Act’s home and community-based services enhanced federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) provision, CMS’s recent implementation guidance, and considerations and next steps for state policymakers.
This blog provides updates on the current COVID-19 vaccine incentives being utilized across the country.
This blog serves as a resource page providing policy options and considerations for states interested in improving access to high-quality mental health care for youth and adults.
This article highlights NASHP’s Center for State Rx Drug Pricing five years of state action to lower drug costs.
This blog outlines the Center for Health Care Strategies' recent interview with internist and pediatrician Nathan Chomilo, MD, Medical Director of Minnesota Medicaid and MinnesotaCare to get his perspectives on priority opportunities for addressing health equity for people served by the state’s Medicaid program.
This brief describes a process used to identify a set of patient- and staff-reported measures for the Advancing Integrated Models initiative, eight pilot sites implementing approaches that seek to improve integrated, person-centered care models for adults and children with complex health and social needs.
This blog uses data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey to illuminate the social barriers affecting the COVID-19 vaccine rollout by looking at vaccine hesitancy among U.S. adults (age 18 and older) for January – March 2021, by region, race/ethnicity, income, and reported reasons for hesitancy.
This chart provides information on state and territorial plans for phased allocation of COVID-19 vaccines.
This webinar explores state strategies to improve COVID-19 vaccine confidence and reach more communities in an equitable and efficient manner.
This podcast features Lynnette Rhodes, executive director of medical assistance plans at the Georgia Department of Community Health, and Cindy Beane, commissioner at the West Virginia Bureau for Medical Services, discussing leadership challenges and successes they have faced in developing equitable vaccine distribution strategies and the status of their respective states’ vaccine rollout.
This brief analyses the state option established by the American Rescue Plan to provide community mobile crisis intervention services for a five-year period beginning in April 2022.
This blog examines the pace of COVID-19 vaccination rollout in the United States as well as concerns that these early prioritization decisions and the existing mechanisms of the vaccine rollout have created challenges in equitably distributing the COVID-19 vaccine and could worsen existing pandemic-related health inequities.
This commentary looks at what data states are publicly reporting related to vaccine administration and features an interactive map that explores the extent to which states are reporting vaccine administration data breakdowns by age, gender, race, ethnicity, provider type, and level of geography.
This report describes nonelderly adults’ perceptions of discrimination and unfair judgment while seeking health care in the months leading up to and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This report highlights state-level strategies that aim to improve reporting of race and ethnicity data in vaccine distribution, use data to plan for allocation and distribution according to need, overcome systemic inequities that lead to differential access to COVID-19 vaccinations, and build trust in COVID-19 vaccines and COVID-19 vaccination processes.
This report investigates differences in Black and white patient safety measures using complete hospital discharge records from 26 states in 2017 and further examines whether some of these differences in patient safety quality can be attributed to the hospitals into which they are admitted.
This commentary details how states are responding to racial and ethnic disparities in the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as how states are looking beyond the pandemic.
This brief provides updates to Medicaid Managed Care Contract Language: Health Disparities and Health Equity, published by SHVS which includes excerpts from managed care contracts, procurement questions, and other policy documents from twelve states and the District of Columbia.
This paper shares strategies that governors and other state leaders can pursue to expand access to data and technology to improve public health.
This report analyzes states’ experiences trying to resolve surprise medical payment disputes between health care providers and insurers.
This webinar offers insights and solutions for health care organizations and government entities to build effective partnerships with the individuals and communities they serve to better address their health and social needs.
This series of policy briefs include evidence-based recommendations to help people through the immediate health and economic crises and longer-term recommendations to ensure a fair and just opportunity for health.
This webinar features discussions on how states can use performance rates and disparities analyses from Medicaid managed care programs in other states to determine where disparities are likely to exist in their own state and develop interventions.
This report provides excerpts of health disparities and health equity contract language from Medicaid managed care contracts and requests for proposals from 12 states and the District of Columbia as well as the contract for California’s state-based marketplace, Covered California.
This commentary outlines how state officials are working to simultaneously build and strengthen systems to track and address disparities in COVID-19 vaccine administration.
This brief draws its key findings from the Michigan Coronavirus Racial Disparities Interim Report and other sources to explore Michigan’s approach, key features, results to date, and lessons learned.
This commentary outlines how high-quality race and ethnicity data on COVID-19 vaccine distribution is crucial for equitable vaccine distribution.
In this video, speakers from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the National Health Security Preparedness Index (NHSPI) discuss ways NHSPI can be used to guide change, the role geographic differences play in preparedness levels, how the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed health inequities, and much more.
This commentary examines the extent to which all 50 states are reporting vaccine administration data breakdowns by age, gender, race, ethnicity, provider type, and level of geography.
This report identifies six connected strategies to guide payers, including Medicaid agencies and managed care organizations, in developing equity-focused value-based payment approaches to mitigate health disparities at the state and local levels.
The ten most-visited resources on StateNetwork.org during 2020.
This report draws on interviews with maternal care stakeholders and available literature and reports to assess if and how our current data systems provide the information needed to track inequities in maternal health outcomes.
This report explores how the pandemic contributed to inequitable patient and provider experiences with maternal health care during the prenatal, delivery, and postpartum periods.
This report examines the impact of COVID-19 on essential and nonessential workers needing to work in person at even higher risk for contracting COVID-19 and the need for policies and systems to protect and support them.
This commentary explores the ways in which states are working to confront long-standing racial and ethnic disparities that the COVID-19 pandemic is laying bare.
This brief explores impediments and accelerants to advancing health equity as states are increasingly being called upon to drive change.
This report describes emerging opportunities and contributing success factors for advancing multi-sector data-sharing partnerships to improve health and well-being and advance equity.
This tool helps states gather detailed information from hospitals about their community benefit expenditures and activities during the pandemic.
This report examines how the COVID-19 pandemic has forced health systems, including perinatal services and support providers, to rely on telehealth, or the remote provision of care through telecommunications technology, to reach their clients.
This report explores the strengths and deficiencies of maternal health care financing in the United States and the ways current policies and practices contribute to inequitable maternal health outcomes.
This report assesses how adults and their families were faring six months into the COVID-19 pandemic.
This commentary covers how states are working to ensure equitable distribution of resources and funding to promote health and safety for all during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This commentary provides suggestions states can use to improve the completeness of Medicaid data on enrollee race, ethnicity, and language.
This commentary provides updated interactive maps that explore the current status of all 50 states and the District of Columbia’s reporting of COVID-19 case and death data breakdowns by age, gender, race, ethnicity, and health care workers.
This commentary presents stories of innovative approaches to address food insecurity needs exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
This commentary discusses how some states are bolstering their community health workforces to curb COVID-19 and improve the quality of care delivered to communities that have faced decades of discrimination.
This commentary features insights from state health agencies and health insurance marketplaces that have actively identified opportunities to conduct outreach in communities disproportionately affected by COVID-19.
This report provides excerpts of health disparities and health equity contract language from Medicaid Managed Care contracts from five states, Washington, D.C., and the contract for California’s Health Exchange, Covered California.
This commentary provides interactive maps that explore the status of the 50 states' and District of Columbia’s reporting of COVID-19 case and death data breakdowns by demographic categories.
This commentary provides a survey of actions that state and local governments have taken to intentionally incorporate equity into their COVID-19 recovery and reopening policies.
This commentary provides state and local leaders with health equity principles that can serve as a compass to point leaders toward an equitable and lasting COVID-19 recovery.
This commentary looks at which states are regularly reporting data that helps shed light on the health equity issues of the COVID-19 crisis.
This commentary argues states can begin to foster a more equitable and just COVID-19 response, relief, and recovery effort by employing a few key guidelines. Asking a series of core questions and immediately responding with appropriate action can strengthen initial responses and lay the foundation for broader reforms to advance health equity.
This webinar reported on how states are tracking the disproportionate impact of the disease on vulnerable populations and provided a framework for states to examine their COVID-19 response efforts to yield better outcomes for such populations.
This expert perspective looks in depth at states that are regularly reporting COVID-19 health equity data.
This data set tracks which states are reporting case and mortality data by race and ethnicity data on a state, zip code, or community level.
This commentary looks in-depth at which states are regularly reporting data that helps shed light on the health equity issues of the COVID-19 crisis.
This resource provides a six-step framework for healthcare organizations to improve minority health and foster equity.
The 2020 County Health Rankings highlight how health outcomes and health factors differ by place within states and illustrates how health differs among racial/ethnic groups within places.
This podcast discusses the many ways that states are working to address the challenges surrounding maternal and infant mortality, specifically the significant disparity experienced by black women,
This report describes select policy and strategy levers that Medicaid agencies can employ to improve maternal health outcomes and address outcome disparities in five areas: coverage, enrollment, benefits, models of care, and quality improvement.
This report focuses on how Medicaid programs can use data from the American Community Survey (ACS), to inform and target interventions that seek to address social determinants of health and advance health equity.
This guide is intended for health departments as they continue their journey to become equity-focused organizations, both in awareness and practice.
This analysis highlights the disparities between characteristics of populations most affected by housing affordability issues.
This issue brief provides examples from a handful of states that have begun the work of identifying, evaluating, and reducing health disparities within their Medicaid managed care programs.
This report assesses trends in self-reported measures of general health, mental health, activity limitations, and obesity by educational attainment from 1997-2017.
Several states are developing accountable health models to improve health and control costs by addressing health-related community needs, such as transportation, recreation, and housing. This brief examines their organizational and governance structures.
In this interview with Louisiana's Medicaid Director Jen Steele, she shares her approach to leveraging Medicaid’s role to improve health outcomes and health equity.
This brief explores opportunities to better address patients’ non-medical needs, including: identifying non-medical needs; employing non-traditional workers; partnering with community-based organizations/agencies; testing new technologies; and identifying funding.
The National Equity Atlas is a comprehensive data resource to track, measure, and make the case for inclusive growth. It includes data on changing demographics, racial inclusion, and the economic benefits of equity—at city, region, state, and nationwide levels.
This report highlights three states – Ohio, Oregon, and Washington – work using data, expertise, and evidence to modernize their public health systems.
This report provides a compilation of data on equity goals and progress for 28 measures of health, socioeconomic factors, physical and social environment, and access to health care. Each measure is presented by race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status for all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the nation.
This article uses data from the American Community Survey to examine changes in uninsurance and uninsurance disparities by race/ethnicity in Kentucky since the state’s implementation of the Affordable Care Act. It was published in the American Journal of Public Health.
The County Health Rankings is an annual county-by-county assessment that shows where we live matters to health. This year, we bring new analyses that show meaningful health gaps persist not only by place, but also among racial and ethnic groups. These gaps are largely the result of differences in opportunities in the places where we live. And, these differences disproportionately affect people of color.
Studies show that health disparities are often passed down from socially disadvantaged parents to their children and grandchildren. Poor children begin life on an uneven playing field; they face greater challenges than their healthier, more advantaged classmates; and they often struggle as adults to accumulate wealth to share with—and bequeath to—their children. State and federal health policymakers play a crucial role in breaking this cycle of poverty and inequity so that all can live healthy, prosperous lives.
As states transform their health systems, many are turning to community health workers (CHWs) to improve health outcomes and access to care, address social determinants of health, and help control costs of care. While state definitions vary, CHWs are typically frontline workers who are trusted members of and/or have a unique and intimate understanding of the communities they serve. These resources support state efforts to incorporate CHWs into their health and health equity improvement work.
This report identifies solutions that could be developed, and implemented at the local or community level to advance health equity.
Increasingly, health departments are serving as leaders in communities to address the root causes of health inequities. This requires changing systems and policies, and working with non-traditional partners to ensure that all people have the opportunity to attain their highest level of health. On December 12, 2016, PHNCI explored the stories of two health departments working to transform communities such that zip codes do not dictate health outcomes.
Stark health disparities make it difficult to move the needle on health outcomes and costs and reflect the fact that states face a variety of political and resource constraints when it comes to implementing health equity initiatives. While disparities still exist, all states have opportunities to advance health equity through a range of approaches, from incremental targeted programs to integration in broad health reform initiatives.
State agencies across the country, from Medicaid to public health, to social services and corrections, are deeply engaged in multi-sector initiatives to reduce infant mortality. And for good reason: the United States ranks 25th among industrialized countries in infant mortality with a disproportionate number of being African Americans.
In an era of public health system transformation, public health departments around the nation are adapting — or “modernizing” — to meet the growing and changing needs of their communities. To help states navigate the challenges inherent in public health system transformation, three grantee states are participating in a learning community supported by PHNCI. The three states — Ohio, Oregon and Washington — are working to test and implement the systems transformations required to provide the foundational public health services statewide and ensure that all residents have equitable access to public health.