January 4 Update

2020 was a year in which many people realized the importance of state-level policymaking on health and health care issues. The goal of State Network is to aid this process by providing insightful state policy resources from experts in the field. As we head into 2021, we hope you’ll find this collection of our most-read products from 2020 useful. This update covers the topics state policymakers confronted on a daily basis and will continue to manage in 2021: COVID-19, Medicaid, equity, and more.

  1. What Medicaid Expansion Means in Your State: This short video explains how Medicaid expansion works and what its effects are.
  2. What’s the Difference Between Medicaid and Medicare?: This short video explains the key differences between the Medicaid and Medicare programs.
  3. Medicaid: The Basics: This brief outlines the basics of the Medicaid program, including financing and eligibility, for new state policymakers considering the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
  4. CMS Guidance Authorizes Medicaid Demonstration Applications That Cap Federal Funding: Implications for States: This report reviews the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ guidance on caps for federal Medicaid funding and highlights considerations for states.
  5. Priority Medicaid Issues for New State Officials: This brief highlights priority issues for consideration and potential action, including the structure of the Medicaid agency, enabling coverage and access, addressing the needs of special populations, and value-based payment policies.
  6. COVID-19 Catalyzing Health Center Payment Reform: Addressing the Financial Stability of the Primary Care Safety Net in Crisis and Beyond: This commentary outlines three key policy steps to help health centers survive in the short term and thrive beyond the COVID-19 crisis.
  7. Marketplace Pulse: The Medicaid Map May Shape Marketplace Entry: This commentary outlines how, given the expected rise in Medicaid and marketplace enrollment as well as increased churn, continuity between Medicaid and the marketplace is more important than ever.
  8. States’ Reporting of COVID-19 Health Equity Data: This commentary looks at which states are regularly reporting data that helps shed light on the health equity issues of the COVID-19 crisis.
  9. Medicaid’s Impact on Health Care Access, Outcomes and State Economies: This brief reviews the growing body of research on Medicaid’s health and economic impacts, including increased access to care; improved self-reported health status; higher rates of preventive health screenings; lower likelihood of delaying care because of costs; decreased hospital and emergency department utilization; and decreased infant, child, and adult mortality rates.
  10. Healthcare Affordability State Policy Scorecard: This resource identifies areas where states are doing well and areas where they can improve on health care affordability.