In This Week’s Update:
- National Health Expenditure Projections
- Medicaid Leadership Institute Class of 2025
- Banning Medical Bills From Credit Reports
- U.S. Maternal Death Rate Far Higher Than in Other High-Income Countries
- State updates: IL, KY, MI, MT, NY, RI, WA & WI
National Health Expenditure Projections
Last week, CMS’ Office of the Actuary released projections of National Health Expenditures (NHE) and health insurance enrollment. NHE growth is projected to average 5.6% over 2023 through 2032, outpacing average growth in gross domestic product (GDP) of 4.3%, resulting in an increase in the health spending share of GDP from 17.3% in 2022 to 19.7% in 2032. A Health Affairs article from the Office of the Actuary discussing the data and estimates is available here. Updates follow.
Medicaid Leadership Institute Class of 2025
The Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS), with support from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, is recruiting a new group of Medicaid directors for the Medicaid Leadership Institute (MLI) Class of 2025. CHCS will select up to six fellows to participate in this unique 10-month leadership development program. For more information, see the Request for Applications. Interested Medicaid directors are encouraged to apply. MLI will support the next generation of Medicaid leaders, particularly as they face the challenges of leading during times of significant change and shifting priorities.
Banning Medical Bills From Credit Reports
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) proposed a rule that would remove medical bills from most credit reports, increase privacy protections, help to increase credit scores and loan approvals, and prevent debt collectors from using the credit reporting system to coerce people to pay. The proposal would stop credit reporting companies from sharing medical debts with lenders and prohibit lenders from making lending decisions based on medical information. The proposed rule is part of the CFPB’s efforts to address the burden of medical debt and coercive credit reporting practices. As a reminder, State Health and Value Strategies published an expert perspective mapping state efforts to address medical debt, and authored an article for Health Affairs Forefront examining state efforts to cancel medical debt.
U.S. Maternal Death Rate Far Higher Than in Other High-Income Countries
Pregnancy and childbirth are far more dangerous for women living in America—especially Black women—than for women in other high-income nations. This continues to be true despite a decline in the U.S. maternal mortality rate since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, a new Commonwealth Fund study finds. The study, Insights into the U.S. Maternal Mortality Crisis: An International Comparison, examines maternal health outcomes across Australia, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The study’s authors say the U.S. could learn from other nations’ approaches to maternity care, especially policies and programs related to postpartum support and workforce composition.
State updates: IL, KY, MI, MT, NY, RI, WA & WI
- Illinois – The Department of Healthcare and Family Services and the Department of Insurance announced a notice of funding opportunity for the Get Covered Illinois Navigator Grant Program Plan Year 2025. The $6.5 million initiative will create a statewide Navigator program as Illinois transitions to a State-Based Marketplace.
- Kentucky – Governor Andy Beshear announced that overdose deaths in the commonwealth have decreased for the second year in a row, with 2023 seeing a 9.8% decrease compared to the previous year. According to the 2023 Kentucky Overdose Fatality Report, 1,984 Kentuckians lost their lives last year due to a drug overdose.
- Michigan – Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist announced that 22 Neighborhood Wellness Centers will offer free preventive health screenings to help address racial health disparities. These sites evolved from COVID-19 Neighborhood Testing Sites and will be staffed by community health workers and offer substance-use disorder prevention services.
- Montana – Governor Greg Gianforte announced an investment of $700,000 to expand peer support services for Montana families and caregivers. Family peer support services are provided by those who have lived experience raising a child with behavioral health issues or special healthcare needs and can provide support and resources to another family who is raising a child with similar needs.
- New York
- New York submitted an amendment to its Medicaid Redesign Team 1115 demonstration that would authorize continuous enrollment for Medicaid and CHIP coverage for children during the first six years of their lives and federal Medicaid and CHIP matching funds without regard to whether a child’s family income exceeds eligibility limits.
- State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald issued a statewide standing order that all New Yorkers who are pregnant, birthing, or postpartum would benefit from receiving doula services. This standing order will allow more New Yorkers to access doula care as a recommendation for doula services is required in order to be eligible for Medicaid coverage.
- Rhode Island – Rhode Island submitted an addendum to its extension request for its Medicaid section 1115(a) demonstration, “Rhode Island Comprehensive Demonstration.” If approved, the addendum would allow the state to provide services to address health-related social needs. The addendum also updates the state’s request for pre-release support for incarcerated individuals by requesting 90 days of pre-release coverage and includes additional detail regarding the pre-release services the state would provide.
- Washington – Governor Jay Inslee issued a directive requiring the Department of Health to affirm that hospitals in Washington state have a legal requirement to provide emergency abortion services. Governor Inslee also directed the Department of Health to take enforcement action, in accordance with applicable law, against hospitals that do not provide such required care.
- Wisconsin – The Wisconsin Department of Health Services announced the opening of five crisis stabilization facilities across the state. The regional centers will serve those with mental health and substance-use emergencies who can’t stay in their community safely, but don’t need to be hospitalized.