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COVID-19

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Blog

This blog provides infection control strategies public health leaders can adopt during respiratory disease season.

Blog

This blog examines how public health leaders are preparing to prevent illness from all three viruses with approved vaccines and preventative antibody treatments.

Publication

This publication explores how Medicaid enrollees searching for new health plans on the private market are facing aggressive and misleading marketing of limited benefit products that often fail to protect consumers from the steep cost of healthcare.

Blog

In this blog, SHADAC presents 2021 estimates of childhood poverty at the national and state level.

Brief

07.2023 / By Urban Institute

This brief examines experiences with long COVID related to employment and material hardship using a nationally representative survey of nonelderly adults.

TOPICS
Blog

This blog discusses the use of evidence based policies, understanding the the vaccine opinion landscape, and how public health leaders can utilize value based messaging.

Blog

This blog discusses the launch of the Diverse Executives Leading in Public Health and its cohort of leaders.

Report

06.2023 / By Urban Institute

This brief examines trends in healthcare affordability and estimates changes during the COVID-19 pandemic and the years leading up to it for two affordability measures.

Blog

The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials' Public Health TechXpo and Future Forum engaged some of the world’s top leaders in technology and public health on challenges and solutions for modernizing the U.S. public health system. This blog reviews key takeaways from the three-day forum. 

Blog

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. 

Blog

This blog examines how public health could be impacted if the nation defaults on its debt.

Blog

This blog reviews selected policies tied to the PHE and evaluates how their expiration will impact consumers’ access to services.

Blog

This blog explores the best path forward for public health leadership following the shift away from telework.

Blog

This blog reviews DIS' role during Covid-19 and barriers they still face–including underfunding and hiring challenges.

Journal Article

04.2023 / By Urban Institute

This journal article highlights findings from a study that estimated the association of PCC with access and affordability challenges among adults ages 18 to 64.

Blog

This blog examines state efforts to expand broadband and disparities in access based on income level. 

TOPICS
Blog

This blog reviews data examining groups most disproportionately impacted by mental health challenges.

Blog

This blog discusses how rural communities are developing tailored, self-determined solutions to workforce shortages and rural hospital closures.

Blog

This report explores the dynamics influencing immunization information systems (IIS) and health information exchanges (HIE) data sharing and includes considerations for health, data, and technology leaders interested in advancing IIS and HIE connectivity.

Blog

This blog examines a new video series that will have unique topics and feature stories exploring the critical need for engagement of disability stakeholders and disability-led organizations as equity partners and methods to build capacity through this critical resource.

Blog

This blog discusses how states have initiated plans to publish a data dashboard to monitor unwinding progress. 

Blog

This blog discusses opportunities and considerations to utilize strategies to minimize coverage loss as states reinstate Medicaid redeterminations.

Article

03.2023 / By Health Impact Project

This article discusses experts' reflections on the role of health centered assessments and approaches in decision-making related to health equity.

Blog

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.

Blog

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.

Blog

This blog examines the fundamental differences in vaccine exemption type, their impact on a community, and strategies to reduce exemptions. 

Commentary

This commentary examines how Medicaid supported Noah when he lost out on an opportunity to work in Colombia due to the COVID-19 pandemic and had to return to the United States without health insurance.

Factsheet

This factsheet shares the federal financial incentives for Medicaid expansion remaining available to non-expansion following the conclusion of the continuous coverage requirement. .

Blog

This blog highlights updates to the Center On Health Insurance Reforms' Navigator Resource Guide to help consumers and enrollment assisters during the unwinding.

Publication

This publication presents a checklist that provides an overview of the minimum redetermination requirements states must follow, and identifies some common red flags that may indicate failures by the Medicaid agency to meet those requirements.

Blog

This blog examines how working with trusted messengers and crafting informative and compelling legislative testimony could increase vaccine confidence among elected leaders and navigate current legislative sessions.

Blog

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.

Blog

This blog examines legislative initiatives to increase AED and CPR Training and challenges of equity in AED and CPR training.

Report

This blog outlines the relevant reporting requirements that were included in the CAA and the corresponding reporting guidance provided by CMS.

Blog

This blog examines recommendations state and territorial health officials should consider to strengthen trust within public health practice.

Blog

This blog highlights strategies health department leaders can explore to reduce staff stress and burn out.

Podcast

In this podcast Dr. Umair Shah and her colleague discuss how the American Rescue Plan has helped jurisdictions respond to pandemic-related needs.

Blog

This blog discusses why supporting adolescent girls’ mental, emotional, and social needs may significantly improve population health outcomes later in life. 

Blog

This blog reviews a report published by the task force on recommendations for creating a “Bridge Program” by using Section 1331 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which authorizes state-based Basic Health Programs (BHP).

Webinar & Presentations

This webinar reviews COVID-19 flexibilities within Medicaid and what lies ahead in returning to normal eligibility and enrollment processes.

This blog discusses how GIS can be used by health agencies to improve public health.

Map

This map includes an interactive feature for viewers to click on a state to learn about its tracing program or use the tabs on the left to compare states’ approaches.

TOPICS
Blog

This blog discusses a technical assistance program out of the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) and the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) to develop and expand cross-sector collaborations with housing.

Blog

This blog discusses dissemination strategies that can inform preparedness efforts for future infectious disease threats.

Blog

This blog explores quarterly estimates of health insurance coverage beginning in January 2021 through March 2022.

Blog

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.

Blog

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.

Report

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.

Brief

In 2021, ASTHO convened state environmental health directors (SEHDs) and directors of public health preparedness to discuss innovations developed during the COVID-19 pandemic such as virtual inspections. This brief explores how state health and partner agencies developed these methods to support environmental health work and how they are continuing to adapt them moving forward.

Blog

Two years later, many Emergency Operations Center's (EOC) across the nation remain operational in a virtual environment for the safety of public health staff. In. this blog, ASTHO’s Directors of Public Health Preparedness (DPHP) Network present a range of challenges that the DPHPs, as response leads, have learned to address, including inconsistent connectivity, greater need for remote capabilities, and improved software to facilitate operations management and reporting.

Blog

This blog analyzes 2020 ESI estimates to contextualize and establish a baseline for the forthcoming 2021 estimates. 

TOPICS
Commentary

This commentary tells the story of Jasmine, a single mother and full-time day-care employee who was laid off after injuries she sustained in a fall that left her unable to work. With the help of the Medicaid program, she quickly got back on her feet and returned to work.

Map

With children ages five and older now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine and booster shots widely available to adults, states are continuing to develop policies on vaccine requirements in schools, both for students and faculty. This interactive map shares states’ up-to-date approaches to school COVID-19 vaccine and mask requirements.

Brief

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.

Journal Article

05.2022 / By Systems for Action

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.

Dataset , Map

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.

Blog

05.2022 / By Benefits Data Trust

This blog explores how states are working to prepare for the end of the Public Health Emergency with the goal of modernizing benefits access to Medicaid, SNAP, and WIC rather than returning to pre-pandemic practices. 

Blog

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

Blog

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

Resource Page

This toolkit provides a communications planning guide designed to support state Medicaid agencies as they prepare for the upcoming end of the continuous coverage requirement.

Map

This map compares state approaches to contact tracing during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Chart

This blog provides an updated look at vaccine hesitancy among U.S. adults (age 18 and older) using HPS data from January through October 2021.

Map

States are taking action on COVID-19 vaccine mandates and passports. This map displays the status of individual states’ efforts to:

- Ban or enforce private employer mandated vaccinations
- Mandate vaccines for state employees and health workers
- Implement vaccine passports or proof of vaccination requirements

Blog

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.

Blog

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.

Brief

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.

Chart

This chart provides recently updated data for state-level health behaviors and outcomes from the first years of the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 and 2021.

Data includes six measures:

Alcohol-Involved Deaths
Opioid-related Drug Poisoning Deaths
Suicide Deaths
Premature Death
Adverse Childhood Experiences
Unemployment Rate

Brief

This brief analyzes data from the National Health Interview Survey, the Current Population Survey, and the Health Reform Monitoring Survey to explore trends in coverage status and type between early 2019 and early 2021.

Blog

This blog summarizes key takeaways laid out in the new CMS guidance related to timelines and operational strategies states can leverage to mitigate churn when the federal Medicaid continuous coverage requirement ends.

Chart , Map

This map and chart describe each state’s latest emergency orders and actions designed to safeguard residents during the COVID-19 pandemic, including statewide mask requirements.

Brief

This brief examines significant challenges and solutions identified by state health officials to mitigate coverage losses.

Map

This interactive map shows how states have developed, deployed and adapted their contact tracing approaches in response to the pandemic to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Dataset

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

Blog

This blog highlights key themes and topics that governors across the country reflected upon during their state-of-the-state addresses. 

Brief

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.

Blog

This paper outlines strategies states may consider to improve routine childhood vaccination rates and catch-up the millions of children who are behind on vaccinations due to the challenges posed by the pandemic.

Blog

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 facts sheet explores the U.S. mortality data of alcohol-related deaths and drug overdoses reported within the last ten years, highlighting patterns and a crescendo in numbers during the pandemic.

Blog

This blog summarizes the actions state leaders have taken to invest in and strengthen school-based mental health systems addressing students' mental health needs brought upon by COVID-19. 

Webinar & Presentations

This video discusses the 2021 release of the National Health Security Preparedness Index.

Blog

This blog examines important questions officials are considering as they monitor shifting trends of telehealth utilization across the country.

Brief

This blog summarizes a phased set of priority measures and provides a model enrollment and retention dashboard template that states can use to monitor both the short-term impacts of phasing out public health emergency protections and continuous coverage requirements, as well as longer-term enrollment and retention trends.

Blog

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.

Chart

This chart summarizes temporary Medicaid and CHIP flexibilities enacted by the federal government to help states respond to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The chart includes effective dates and expiration dates as dictated by law or agency guidance.  

Blog

This blog analyzes the coverage landscape in California in 2020, highlighting both encouraging trends and persistent disparities that warrant attention, particularly as federal policies that protect coverage connected to the pandemic end or wind down.

Map

This interactive map exhibits the status of individual states’ actions on COVID-19 vaccine mandates and passports.

Map

This interactive map displays each state’s latest emergency orders and actions designed to safeguard residents during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Map

This interactive map showcases how states are addressing school mask mandates amidst increasing youth vaccination rates and fluctuations in pediatric COVID-19 cases.

Blog

This blog post offers considerations for pediatric medical care teams and community partners to ensure more equitable COVID-19 vaccine distribution among children.

Blog

This brief features key considerations for state policy makers for leveraging federal funds through the American Rescue Plan Act including: Maximizing and aligning Medicaid and other funding sources; Sustaining new crisis capacity; Providing crisis services in rural areas; Addressing endemic workforce challenges; Sharing data;  and investing strategically.

Brief

This case study examines how Alaska's state and tribal leaders co-led the COVID-19 vaccination effort including allocation, distribution, funding, and communication.

Blog

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.

Report

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.

Brief

This brief summarizes the unique structure of Virginia’s equity work, the strategy and actions taken to date, and success factors and lessons learned.

Graphic

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.

Map

This map developed features state tracing programs and compares states’ approaches.

Brief

This brief explores how nearly 13 million adults delayed or did not get needed prescription drugs in the past year because of the cost, including 2.3 million elderly Medicare beneficiaries and 3.8 million nonelderly adults with private insurance, 1.1 million with Medicaid, and 4.1 million who were uninsured at any point during the year.

Map

This map provides a snapshot of current telehealth medications for opioid use disorder state policy 18 months into the COVID-19 pandemic.

Webinar & Presentations

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.

Brief

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.

Brief

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. 

Map

This map highlights contact tracing as an essential strategy to curb the spread of COVID-19.

TOPICS
Commentary

11.2021 /

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.

Brief

This issue brief reviews state Medicaid/Children's Health Insurance Program agency data and information technology system “table stakes”—strategies that will have the highest impact for states seeking to ensure that eligible enrollees are able to keep or transition to new affordable health coverage when the Public Health Emergency continuous coverage requirements end.

Brief

This brief explores whether insurance shoppers are still being directed towards alternative coverage at a time when the Affordable Care Act coverage was broadly available and more affordable than ever because of the enhanced premium subsidies under the American Rescue Plan Act.

Chart

This brief explores how states propose using American Rescue Plan Act funds to bolster the workforce that provides home- and community-based services, including increasing reimbursement rates, providing new opportunities for professional advancement, and offering recruitment and retention incentives.

Webinar & Presentations

10.2021 / By Urban Institute

This event examines the Housing Crisis Research Collaborative and the Urban Institute's insights from published and upcoming research on how policymakers, researchers, community members, and funders can work together to support the stabilization of renters in the US during and beyond the pandemic.

Report

10.2021 / By Urban Institute

This report aims to estimate the Medicaid enrollment trends once the COVID-19 public emergency ends and policies prohibiting disenrolling beneficiaries are nullified.

Brief

This brief documents how information describing sexual or gender minority populations is currently collected at the federal level and in Medicaid.

Commentary

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.

Brief

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.

Brief

This brief examines results from SHADAC's survey on population experiences with COVID-19 sickness and death.

Blog

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. 

Report

09.2021 / By Urban Institute

This report examines policies to improve continuous postpartum coverage after the COVID-19 public health emergency ends.

Blog

This blog post examines how the American Rescue Plan Act affected the affordability, choice, and coverage stability of health plans on 12 different state-based marketplaces. 

Commentary

This expert perspective explores how state Medicaid managed care programs and health plans can work collaboratively to increase COVID-19 vaccination rates for the more than 55 million Medicaid enrollees in comprehensive managed care plans.

Chart

This map and chart provides updated information states' vaccination and mask mandates in schools across United States.

TOPICS
Brief

This issue brief outlines key priorities and considerations for modernizing Immunization Information Systems, including leveraging federal funding available to support these efforts.

Brief

08.2021 / By Resources

This brief summarizes COVID-era changes and challenges for four major federal surveys—American Community Survey, Current Population Survey, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, and National Health Interview Survey—and explains what effects these adaptations may have for understanding 2020 data as it becomes available.

TOPICS
Chart , Dataset

This interactive map displays the methods state of have developed, deployed, and adapted their contact tracing approaches in response to the pandemic. 

TOPICS
Blog , Commentary

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.

TOPICS
Chart , Dataset , Graphic

This chart presents the status of individual states’ efforts to ban or enforce private employer mandated vaccinations, mandates on vaccines for state employees and health workers, and vaccine passports.

Chart , Graphic

This National Academy for State Health Policy’s Appendix K interactive map, supported by The John A. Hartford Foundation, tracks each state’s new flexibilities in modified 1915 (c) and 1115 waivers and includes information about flexibilities in COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Demonstration 1115 waivers.

Chart , Graphic

This chart presents information on the states banning vaccine mandates for students and those mandating that students and staff wear masks in schools.

Brief , Report

08.2021 / By Urban Institute

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.

Commentary

This commentary examines state action during the 2021 legislative session to address rising drug costs.

Brief

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.

Blog

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.

Chart

This map and chart describe each state’s latest emergency orders and actions designed to safeguard residents during the COVID-19 pandemic, including statewide mask requirements and travel advisories.

Blog

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.

Blog

This blog examines how Minnesota’s Medicaid expansion was a crucial resource during the COVID-19 pandemic for those who lost their jobs and/or their employer-sponsored health insurance coverage. It is estimated that approximately 29,500 Minnesotans lost their private health insurance coverage between April 2020-July 2020.

Podcast

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.

Brief

08.2021 / By Urban Institute

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.

Commentary

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. 

Graphic

This graphic illustrates how federal guidance has prompted lawmakers in a number of states to introduce legislation prohibiting businesses from requiring COVID-19 vaccinations as a condition of work.

Report

This report examines how governments and organizations adopt community engagement approaches to collaborate and share power with communities that experience health inequities.

Report

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.

Blog

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.

Commentary

This commentary demonstrates how data analysis is an essential tool for advancing health and racial equity.

Chart

This chart details the amounts and required oversight of COVID-19 federal funds allocated to hospitals, providers, and states by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (Families First Act), the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act (HR 266), the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

Report

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.

Blog

This blog analyzes the accumulating evidence that the pandemic precipitated dangerous changes in the way people consume alcohol in the United States.

Commentary

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.

Commentary

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.

Webinar & Presentations

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.

Report

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.

Brief

This brief examines how public health activities in the United States are critical to disease prevention, health promotion, environmental health monitoring, and emergency preparedness.

Brief

This brief examines how state are shifting strategies to increase accessibility and engage communities with low COVID-19 vaccine uptake.

Blog

This article analyzes a key provision of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) to the establishment of the $350 billion Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (Fiscal Recovery Funds) for the eligible state, local, territorial and Tribal governments (Recipients) to respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE).

Blog , Commentary

This blog overviews the state strategies to help ensure the equitable administration of COVID-19 vaccine.

Blog

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.

Blog

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.

Blog

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.

Report

While more than half of US adults have received a COVID-19 vaccine, the slowing pace of vaccinations hampers efforts to contain the pandemic.

Journal Article

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.

Journal Article

This blog provides updates on the current COVID-19 vaccine incentives being utilized across the country.

Brief

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.

Webinar & Presentations

This webinar explores state strategies to improve COVID-19 vaccine confidence and reach more communities in an equitable and efficient manner.

Commentary

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.

Graphic

This chart provides information on state and territorial plans for phased allocation of COVID-19 vaccines.

Commentary

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. 

Commentary

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.

Webinar & Presentations

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.

Webinar & Presentations

This webinar features early childhood and Medicaid experts highlighting efforts used to support young children with development and learning needs throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Commentary

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.

Report

This report examines how the pandemic and related economic downturn affected the need for safety net supports; actions states are taking to mitigate the immense hardship the pandemic has caused; implications for racial equity; and challenges, opportunities, and questions facing state leaders.

Report

This report examines how state Medicaid and other health programs responded to the COVID-19 pandemic and its related economic downturn.

Brief

This brief summarizes the time frames for emergency measures for Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program flexibilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Commentary

This commentary draws from examples of states participating in the Aligning Early Childhood and Medicaid program and additional states to explore strategies for leveraging cross-agency collaborations and strengthening Medicaid to support early childhood and parental mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis and beyond.

Webinar & Presentations

This webinar is the second in a three-part webinar series focusing on opportunities for early childhood and Medicaid programs to better support families with young children in the current and post-pandemic environment.

TOPICS
Report

This report assesses how material hardship changed during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, between December 2019 and December 2020.

TOPICS
Commentary

This commentary highlights the need for states and localities to align varied federal funding streams to maximize effectiveness and sustainability.

Report

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.

Commentary

This commentary outlines how vaccinating children against COVID-19 will be crucial to reaching herd immunity in the United States.

Report

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.

Commentary

This commentary features discussions with several state Medicaid officials to learn more about how their agencies—and specifically their Medicaid managed care organizations—are leveraging partnerships and data to advance their vaccination efforts.

Commentary

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.

Report

This report outlines key factors for governors and state leaders to consider when balancing state budgets and making difficult decisions about funding Medicaid during the COVID-19 crisis and subsequent economic downturn.

Commentary

This brief summarizes the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill.

Report

This report uses data from the Urban Institute's 2020 Well-Being and Basic Needs Survey (WBNS), a nationally representative survey of more than 7,500 adults ages 18 to 64, to examine charitable food use (defined as the use of free groceries or free meals) in 2020. 

Report

This analysis examines historic vaccination patterns among adults using data from the 2016-18 National Health Interview Survey.

Brief

This brief uses data from the Minnesota Department of Health to show how insurance rates in the state were relatively unchanged by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Commentary

This commentary examines how the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine can aid vaccine distribution, but must have stronger messaging surrounding its efficacy.

Commentary

This commentary provides an overview of new and emerging best practices for vaccinating individuals in homeless shelters which may help states more efficiently vaccinate other hard-to-reach or medically vulnerable populations, such as those living in rural areas or congregate settings.

Commentary

This commentary provides an overview of the states introducing legislation to prevent employers from mandating their employees get vaccinated against COVID-19.

TOPICS
Commentary

This commentary presents top-level findings from new data on vaccination rates among U.S. adults living in households.

Commentary

This commentary outlines four recommendations for states to engage their managed care plans to assist in efforts to successfully and rapidly vaccinate the Medicaid population for COVID-19.

Report

This report explores vaccine hesitancy among nonelderly adults with new data from the Urban Institute’s Well-Being and Basic Needs Survey.

Report

This report examines delayed or forgone care during the pandemic for nine types of health care services and assesses patterns by race/ethnicity, income, and the presence of physical and mental health conditions.

Commentary

This commentary outlines how state officials are working to simultaneously build and strengthen systems to track and address disparities in COVID-19 vaccine administration.

Commentary

This commentary discusses the importance of waiving costs for COVID-19 testing.

Commentary

02.2021 / By Urban Institute

This commentary outlines how high-quality race and ethnicity data on COVID-19 vaccine distribution is crucial for equitable vaccine distribution.

Report

02.2021 / By Urban Institute

This report examines primary care physician responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.

TOPICS
Brief

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.

Commentary

This commentary discusses why states are beginning to include children in their vaccination distribution plans.

Brief

This brief estimates estimate the chilling effects on public program participation because of green card concerns and because of broader immigration concerns among adults in immigrant families.

Report

This report discusses the states who are are reporting setting-specific COVID-19 outbreaks as of November 2020 and highlights promising examples that others can look to as they consider adapting and expanding COVID-19 reporting.

Commentary

This commentary discusses the results of the Household Pulse Survey, which was produced by the U.S. Census Bureau regarding COVID-19 vaccines.

TOPICS
Commentary

This commentary provides an updated view of the current state budget landscape and examines in greater detail the health care implications of choices states made to address deficits and balance their budgets in the face of the severe budget shortfalls they confronted for fiscal year 2021.

Brief

01.2021 / By Urban Institute

This brief present that if the remaining 14 states had expanded eligibility in 2020, 4.4 million fewer people would have been uninsured that year.

Commentary

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.

Report

This brief provides a high-level summary of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services guidance related to: (1) conducting redeterminations for Medicaid enrollees who were continuously enrolled; (2) terminating, or extending where appropriate, temporary flexibilities; and (3) developing a consumer and provider communication strategy.

Report

This report provides nationally representative estimates of telehealth use among nonelderly adults six months into the COVID-19 pandemic, as of September 2020.

Report

This report describes how the COVID-19 pandemic financially affected five safety net hospitals as of summer 2020, including the costs of preparing for and operating during the pandemic, the pandemic’s impact on their revenues, the federal financial relief they have received, and implications for policy and practice.

Commentary

This commentary discusses the experiences of two physicians treating people with opioid use disorder (OUD) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Graphic

This chart shows how each state is prioritizing populations in its vaccination distribution plans.

Report

01.2021 / By Urban Institute

This brief uses new data from the second wave of the Urban Institute’s Coronavirus Tracking Survey, conducted September 11 through 28, 2020, to explore the pandemic’s impact on housing stability and renters’ vulnerability to eviction.

Brief

This report explores flu vaccination rates across multiple years for U.S. adults across the 50 states and the District of Columbia as a proxy to identify population subgroups that may be harder to reach with a COVID-19 vaccine.

Webinar & Presentations

This webinar features experts reviewing the provisions of the No Surprises Act and implications for states, providing an overview of the next steps for implementing the federal balance billing protections and what the law will mean for state-level protections.

Report

This report describes the methodology of the Health Insurance Policy Simulation model and presents the model’s 2020 current-law baseline, which reflects health care and coverage after 2020 Open Enrollment and before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Journal Article

01.2021 / By Health Affairs

This blog post examines early evidence regarding health care spending, utilization, employment, and prices for 2020, and looks at how COVID-19 might affect these indicators going forward.

Commentary

This commentary explores the high levels of profitability insurers have seen in 2020. 

Commentary

This commentary explores states' approaches to contact tracing during the pandemic.

Commentary

This commentary explores the impact of Medicaid expansion during the COVID-19 pandemic and associated job losses.

Report

This report uses data from the most recent wave of the Coronavirus Tracking Survey to examine food insecurity among families with school-age children six months into the pandemic.

Report

This report uses data from the most recent wave of the Coronavirus Tracking Survey to assess food insecurity and other key indicators of material hardship and well-being among families with young children.

Commentary

This commentary examines unique strategies states are developing to support the health needs of children and youth with special health care needs who lack access to their usual school-based physical, developmental, and mental health supports. 

Commentary

This commentary describes the legal authority that permits states to continue to authorize Medicaid reimbursement for audio-only telehealth after the public health emergency ends.

Report

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.

Report

This report explores how the pandemic contributed to inequitable patient and provider experiences with maternal health care during the prenatal, delivery, and postpartum periods.

Report

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.

Commentary

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.

Brief

This brief explores the key challenges faced by the rural ambulatory safety net in delivering primary care and behavioral health services since COVID-19 and the policy changes that have been implemented in response.

Commentary

This conversation explores the ways in which Louisiana continues to provide harm reduction services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Commentary

This commentary explores what states have learned during the COVID-19 health crisis that could improve their long-term services and supports programs during and beyond the pandemic.

Webinar & Presentations

This tool helps states gather detailed information from hospitals about their community benefit expenditures and activities during the pandemic.

Commentary

This commentary examines state-based health insurance marketplaces' efforts to actively connect consumers to health insurance coverage during the annual open enrollment period that launched Nov. 1. 

Brief

This brief explores the ways in which public and private health insurance coverage options bolstered by the Affordable Care Act are mitigating the impact of employer-sponsored insurance losses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Webinar & Presentations

This podcast explores strategies public-sector leaders have implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Report

This report assesses how adults and their families were faring six months into the COVID-19 pandemic.

Report

This report uses data from September 11–28, 2020 to compare food insecurity in September with levels earlier in the pandemic after major relief legislation was passed.

Report

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.

Report

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.

Commentary

This commentary considers ways states could potentially redirect insurers’ extra cash to benefit policyholders and the public.

Commentary

This commentary explores recent federal efforts to expand private insurance coverage of a COVID-19 vaccine, and provides a roadmap for states to close remaining coverage gaps that could inhibit vaccine uptake.

Brief

This brief explores the response to the COVID-19 crisis, taking stock of what we have learned and how we have changed.

Commentary

This commentary explores the complex question of which health care payers will cover the costs of COVID-19 vaccine administration.

Report

This report examines children’s unmet health care needs during the pandemic and identifies strategies to address these gaps, as well as barriers to widespread implementation of these strategies.

Commentary

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.

Commentary

This commentary discusses how, as development of a COVID-19 vaccine continues, states are racing to develop vaccine distribution plans.

Webinar & Presentations

This podcast episode focuses on how vision and purpose, communication, planning for action, and balancing political and strategic agility apply in practice during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Commentary

This commentary tells the story of Susan, who enrolled in Medicaid after losing her job of 21 years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dataset

This toolkit provides a detailed look at 2020 Medicaid enrollment trends, including enrollment details by state across four eligibility categories.

Journal Article

10.2020 / By Health Affairs

This blog describes some of the limited actions states may take to alleviate fiscal pressure due to the COVID-19 pandemic through the management of their contracts with Medicaid managed care organizations.

Commentary

This report examines Kentucky and Virginia's adapted outreach efforts to help make enrollment as easy as possible to ensure access to critical coverage and care.

Commentary

This commentary examines the impact that recent postal delays, COVID-19-related housing and economic crises, and natural disasters have had on state Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program agencies.

Commentary

This commentary explores the potential fiscal impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Medicaid and early childhood services and offers opportunities to sustain critical services.

Report

This report measures changes in insurance coverage between April 23–May 12 and July 9–21, 2020 to better understand how the recession caused by COVID-19 affected insurance coverage.

Commentary

This commentary examines how proposals to protect patients from aggressive medical debt collection during the COVID-19 pandemic could serve as a model for the future.

Webinar & Presentations

This webinar features experts reviewing examples of specific strategies states implemented between April and August 2020 to increase payments to providers in financial distress as a result of decreased health care utilization.

Webinar & Presentations

This webinar details how three provider organizations are using population health management approaches to care for people with complex needs amid COVID-19.

Commentary

This commentary highlights several strategies states can pursue to help ensure a successful open enrollment period this year amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Commentary

This commentary explores how states are confronting the challenges that COVID-19 poses to dental care and oral health access in the United States.

Commentary

This commentary explores how adverse childhood experiences contribute to poor health outcomes, and the ways that these are exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Commentary

This commentary explores the key role Medicaid programs play in helping the health care system make the transition to the new normal of the COVID-19 crisis.

Brief

This brief compares four studies that project the effects of the COVID-19 recession on employment-based health insurance coverage and the number of uninsured people in 2020.

Report

This report provides perspectives from organizations across the country that serve immigrant families and shares their view on what response efforts have done to support immigrant families during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Webinar & Presentations

This webinar walks through tools states can use to increase payments to providers through both fee-for-service and Medicaid managed care, despite COVID-19 driven changes to utilization.

Commentary

This commentary examines the characteristics of hospitals that received and did not receive the first round of high-impact COVID-19 payments to examine how well the Depart of Health and Human Services (DHHS) targeted the $12 billion to hospitals in early hot spots.

Commentary

This commentary summarizes recent guidance from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on permitting health insurance issuers to provide certain premium rebates for 2020 and the conditions rebates must meet.

Commentary

Noah enrolled in Medicaid in Maryland when he lost his job and health coverage due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Commentary

This commentary explores how states have been required to make numerous changes to their eligibility and enrollment systems, operations, and policies, in order to comply with the enhanced Federal Medicaid Assistance Percentages.

Commentary

This commentary analyzes how states are working to protect farmworkers during COVID-19.

Commentary

This commentary provides an overview of how COVID-19 is affecting state budgets and state health programs.

Commentary

This commentary recommends specific steps for state Medicaid programs to ensure state residents receive needed services during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a specific focus on Medicaid managed care organization (MCO) enrollees.

Commentary

This commentary discusses how potential requirements for workplace coronavirus testing may force essential workers to bear a disproportionate share of the cost.

Commentary

This commentary features a conversation with health leaders in Colorado about how their agencies partnered to support families with young children during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the challenges they faced. 

Commentary

This commentary discusses the decision to shift COVID-19 data reporting from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to the Department of Health and Human Services, and subsequent warnings from state officials.

Commentary

This commentary discusses how state Medicaid, children’s health insurance programs, and health insurance marketplaces prepare for an expected increase in demand due to COVID-19, an economic downturn and ensuing budget crises, and unpredictable federal relief efforts.

Webinar & Presentations

Two webinars on open enrollment period 2021 explore COVID-19 implications and effective strategies to consider as states design their outreach and education campaigns in a shifting health care environment.

Webinar & Presentations

This webinar highlighted how states should adapt their strategies during COVID-19 as they plan their open enrollment outreach and education campaigns, and how to ground these efforts in terms of audience targeting and messaging.

Report

This report uses a microsimulation model to incorporates data on employment losses by industry, state, and demographic characteristics, allowing researchers to simulate employment losses and associated health insurance coverage.

Commentary

This commentary considers five frequently heard worst-case scenarios related to the Affordable Care Act and provides research evidence that these fears did not come to pass.

Report

This report uses data to examine how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected food insecurity and access to school meals and charitable food distribution for adults and their families in the United States.

Commentary

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.

Graphic

This map provides information on each state's contact tracing program model, workforce, lead agencies, funding, technology, and contact tracing process.

Commentary

This commentary outlines some of the collaborative and successful strategies states are taking to protect and support individuals particularly at risk for homelessness.

Commentary

This commentary outlines recent data that examines how difficult it will be to predict the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the uninsured rate.

Commentary

This commentary outlines how state legislative sessions took a hit this year from the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Commentary

In this podcast, Medicaid experts share five tips for leaders to address today’s VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity) challenges within their organizations.

Brief

This brief highlights how Nebraska’s Medicaid agency and its Division of Public Health partnered to share antibiotic prescribing information between Medicaid claims and evaluation and management codes to determine where targeted education and outreach efforts were needed.

Commentary

In this podcast, Medicaid experts discuss how vision coherence is important for effective leadership.

Commentary

This commentary examines approaches states are taking to protect farmworkers during the COVID-19 pandemic and recommendations for policymakers.

Webinar & Presentations

In this webinar, experts present key findings from a new COVID-19 state resource guide on federal and state Medicaid flexibilities and how they are being deployed to help ensure access to long-term services and supports.

Graphic

This chart describes each state’s dates for phased COVID-19 reopenings and any delays or reclosings resulting from the recent resurgence of infections, and indicates which states currently have statewide mask requirements.

Commentary

This commentary reviews how various states are addressing their home visiting programs and implementing more telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Commentary

This commentary features an interview on how health care systems can use trauma-informed care to support patients and frontline workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Report

This report uses new data from the first wave of the Urban Institute’s Coronavirus Tracking Survey to examine health care affordability problems and avoidance of care due to concerns about exposure to COVID-19.

Report

This report provides the first nationally representative estimates of changes in coverage during the initial months of the recession induced by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Report

This report outlines six key steps for governors to build and support a contact tracing workforce to respond to COVID-19.

Commentary

This commentary examines the launch of a New Jersey-based Project ECHO initiative to share COVID-19 expertise between specialists and primary care to meet the needs of pregnant and parenting women during the crisis.

Commentary

This commentary provides an overview of the state of COVID-19 testing in the United States.

Commentary

This commentary revisits the history of certificate-of-need and state health planning efforts to inform future decisions as hospitals and state policymakers plan for a post-COVID-19 health care system.

Commentary

This commentary presents stories of innovative approaches to address food insecurity needs exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Commentary

This commentary presents data on how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting “deaths of despair” caused by suicides, alcohol abuse, and overdoses from opioids and other drugs. 

Journal Article

This journal article focuses on how state-level Medicaid program flexibility and emergency waivers can expand Medicaid financial eligibility for long-term supports and services for at-risk individuals.

Commentary

This commentary provides a snapshot of how states are navigating fiscal challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, given declining revenues and rising spending demands.

Report

This report examines insurer responses to the COVID-19 pandemic to assess the effect the pandemic has had on their companies as well as actions they have taken to aid in the pandemic response.

Commentary

This commentary provides an overview of new federal guidance that attempts to answer questions about requirements for coverage of COVID-19 testing services.

Commentary

This commentary examines how states are developing COVID-19 testing programs without clear federal guidance.

Commentary

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.

Commentary

This commentary assesses how insurers are developing their 2021 premium rates by reviewing preliminary actuarial findings in the District of Columbia, New York, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington.

Commentary

This commentary examines the importance of home visiting during the COVID-19 pandemic, as families face new or expanding challenges like domestic violence, substance use, or mental health needs.

Dataset

This dataset examines projected changes in federal and state Medicaid and CHIP expenditures for scenarios during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Commentary

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.

Commentary

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. 

Commentary

This commentary, part of the Innovations Amid COVID-19 series, profiles a clinic's innovative approach to using online data to identify high-risk patients.

Brief

This brief provides an overview of New Hampshire’s recent directed payment to six types of essential Medicaid providers in order to help them keep their doors open during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Brief

This brief provides a chart describing the effective dates of various federal provisions to allow for temporary flexibilities in the Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program programs.

Brief

This toolkit is intended to serve as a resource for states as they begin to strategize about reopening and plan for the next phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Commentary

This commentary provides a summary of state efforts to capture information on the coronavirus pandemic through state and local surveys fielded between March 2020 and May 2020.

Commentary

This commentary discusses how job losses and reductions in hours have resulted in millions losing employer coverage or the income needed to pay premiums, increasing the uninsured rate.

Commentary

This commentary outlines three key policy steps to help health centers survive in the short term and thrive beyond the COVID-19 crisis.

Commentary

This commentary shows how every state and Washington, D.C. are innovating and expanding contact tracing to contain COVID-19 infections and reopen their economies. 

Commentary

Destination: Home leadership discuss their county’s initial response to COVID-19 and their organization’s role in providing care and services for homeless individuals during the pandemic. 

Commentary

This commentary examines the relief funds in the CARES and PPP Acts intended to help providers prevent, prepare for, and respond to COVID-19.

Commentary

This commentary compiles thoughts from navigators across five states using the federally-facilitated marketplace about how they are faring during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Commentary

This chart describes each governor’s stay-at-home order, penalties for noncompliance, and dates when governors plan to reopen their economies and resume non-essential procedures.

Webinar & Presentations

In this webinar, experts reviewed the current telehealth policy landscape and considerations for states as they design their post-apex telehealth policies.

Dataset

This guide compiles more than 100 resources tracking state and local data and policy responses to COVID-19 in health care, food, housing, and income supports.

Commentary

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. 

Commentary

This commentary provides an overview of CMS relief guidance and flexibility to state hospitals, facilities, and providers on reporting measures for value-based purchasing and quality reporting programs.

Commentary

This commentary explains how, due to the loss of employer-sponsored insurance from the economic fallout of COVID-19, states may continue to see an increase in Medicaid enrollment.

Commentary

This commentary outlines challenges facing family caregivers in the COVID-19 environment and new opportunities for states to come to their aid.

Webinar & Presentations

This webinar presented results from a financial model examining the Medicaid fiscal implications of the interaction between the COVID-19 pandemic, the emerging economic downturn, and recent policy changes.

Commentary

This commentary assesses how the COVID-19 pandemic may accelerate a shift away from fee-for-service payments models in health care.

Report

This report shows how the additional levels of unemployment insurance provided through the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program affects eligibility for subsidized coverage in expansion and nonexpansion states.

Commentary

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. 

Commentary

In this podcast episode, Ed O’Neil, PhD, MPA, a leadership development expert, speaks with Hilary Kennedy, program director for Medicaid leadership at the National Association of Medicaid Directors, about strategies Medicaid leaders can use to continue developing their staff at a distance.

Commentary

This commentary identifies actions federal and state policymakers have taken to address the impact of COVID-19 on their managed care performance incentive programs.

Commentary

This commentary examines strategies that successfully drove enrollment in state-based marketplaces during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Report

This report outlines potential IT investments in responding to COVID-19 and strategies for states to support these investments, and to secure current and future IT investments that enable ongoing Medicaid program operations and advance health information exchange.

Webinar & Presentations

This webinar reviews potential information technology (IT) investments in responding to COVID-19 and strategies for states to support these investments to secure current and potential IT investments that enable ongoing Medicaid program operations and advance health information exchange.

Report

This report assesses how the pandemic is affecting family employment and caregiving, financial decisions, and material hardship among parents living with children under age 19.

Commentary

This commentary provides an overview of strategies that states can consider to help address gaps in coverage to ensure as many people as possible get access to comprehensive care as the country continues to respond and recover from the COVID-19 health and economic crisis.

Webinar & Presentations

This webinar discussed the models that have been published of where individuals are expected to gain Medicaid and Marketplace coverage over the next 18 months.

Webinar & Presentations

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. 

Commentary , Dataset

This commentary looks at which states are regularly reporting data that helps shed light on the health equity issues of the COVID-19 crisis.

Report

This report focuses on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on family employment, financial security, and material hardship among non elderly Hispanic adults by family citizenship status.

Commentary

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.

Webinar & Presentations

In this webinar, experts review strategies states can use to manage and process an increased number of Medicaid applications, and the federal authorities that permit states to do so.

Brief

This document provides examples of potential Medicaid messaging states can use during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Commentary

This expert perspective looks in depth at states that are regularly reporting COVID-19 health equity data.

Webinar & Presentations

In this webinar, experts from Manatt Health and Georgetown University’s Center on Health Insurance Reforms summarize recent federal legislation and guidance related to COVID-19.

Report

This toolkit provides an overview for states of various coverage pathways for individuals, including those who are uninsured, in need of COVID-19 testing and treatment.

Report

This report uses new data from the Urban Institute’s Health Reform Monitoring Survey to examine the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on families’ employment and abilities to meet basic needs, as well as disparities in the economic impact of the pandemic.

Report

This report estimates how health insurance coverage could change as millions of workers lose their jobs because of the slowdown in economic activity resulting from public health efforts to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. 

Graphic

This infographic highlights what states need to consider when providing pregnancy-related services to Medicaid enrollees through telehealth during the pandemic.

Commentary

States can use or revise this downloadable template to capture how much in federal coronavirus relief funds each hospital has received to date to guide states’ future CARES Act.

Commentary , Dataset

This chart describes each governor’s stay-at-home order, penalties for noncompliance, and the dates when governors plan to reopen their economies and resume non-essential, medical, surgical, and dental procedures.

Dataset

This chart details recent state actions affecting health insurance in response to COVID-19.

Dataset

This chart details the amounts and required oversight of federal funds allocated to hospitals, providers, and states by three federal COVID-19 laws.

Dataset

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.

Brief

This brief provides an overview of Children Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Health Services Initiatives (HSIs) and identifies ways that states can leverage them as part of their targeted response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Commentary

This commentary discusses the 1115 waiver applications submitted by states that have the potential to safeguard access to care and increase support for children during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Commentary

This commentary discusses state employee health plans (SEHPs) and the rapid changes they are making to address the COVID-19 pandemic.

Commentary

This commentary highlights the critical need for PPE and infection control expertise at nursing homes.

Commentary

This commentary discusses the need for states to be sound stewards of taxpayer dollars and why the need to do so now is particularly acute as states confront financial landscapes devastated by the pandemic.

Report

This report estimates the extent to which workers in industries most vulnerable to pandemic-related unemployment and their family members would be eligible for Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, or marketplace subsidies if workers lose their jobs.

Brief

This Q&A responds to questions received regarding the April 9 Targeted Options for Increasing Medicaid Payments to Providers During COVID-19 Crisis Webinar and corresponding Toolkit.

Report

In this report, researchers estimate the fiscal impacts of several approaches for increasing federal Medicaid matching rates, providing state-level estimates for each approach.

Brief

This Q&A provides a moment-in-time update in response to questions about the federal government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Commentary

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.

Webinar & Presentations

This webinar discuses the impact of COVID-19 on Medicaid Managed Care Performance Incentives.

Commentary

This commentary discusses the states that have rapidly amended their Medicaid home- and community-based services for older adults and their family caregivers to ensure access to long-term services and supports during the COVID-19 crisis.

Commentary

This commentary discusses the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) and the potential eligibility challenges it creates for both individuals and states.

Commentary

This commentary discusses the steps states are taking during the COVID-19 pandemic to protect pregnant women and their infants during delivery.

Commentary

This commentary discusses the huge rise in the number of people without health insurance in the wake of mass layoffs resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and are seeking strategies to protect them from high prescription drug prices.

Commentary

This commentary discusses the unique risk for COVID-19 associated with homelessness.

Commentary

This commentary discusses details of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) signed into law on March 27, 2020. It considers the policy implications and challenges for states, and discusses potential state measures to address these challenges.

Brief

This brief addresses how Medicaid Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) and states can individually and collectively play a role in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Webinar & Presentations

This webinar highlights funding opportunities and key provisions relevant to states included in the CARES Act. 

Commentary

This commentary discusses the use of Telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic. It summarizes the federal legislation and guidance and discusses actions state departments of insurance can take to encourage greater access to telehealth services.

Commentary

This commentary includes a list of state recommendations and restrictions on the dispensing chloroquine and hydoxychloroquine.

Commentary

This commentary discusses the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES) and how policymakers can make informed decisions about how best to target these resources.

Commentary

This commentary discusses new federal and state laws that are making significant steps to eliminate consumer cost-sharing for coronavirus (COVID-19) testing, diagnosis, and prevention.

Commentary

This commentary includes examples of how states can address new needs, including housing, food, transportation, education, and employment, and how the CARES Act can support and amplify states' work to help stop the spread of COVID-19 and assist people with health-related social needs.

Commentary

This commentary includes some of the options available to states to ensure that individuals with complex medical conditions and their families have access to necessary home- and community-based services during the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis through waiver and state plan amendment applications.

Commentary

This commentary includes a list of the unique special enrollment periods (SEPs) available in state-based marketplaces, including life-changing events, unexpected health plan changes, or enrollment in dental coverage.

Commentary

This commentary examines how Connecticut became one of the first states to put guardrails in place to guide how hospitals will use federal relief funds from the CARES Act.

Commentary

This commentary features recommended communication strategies and examples for how states can elevate coverage options and help ensure that more residents can access health insurance during these uncertain times.

Commentary

This commentary reviews the key indicators currently being tracked by states via their COVID-19 dashboards and also provides an overview of “best practices” states can consider when developing or modifying these same COVID-19 dashboards.

Brief

This brief includes communication examples to help states answer questions on how health insurance covers COVID-related testing and treatment, encourage consumers to enroll in coverage, and engage with providers to keep them informed.

Commentary , Dataset

This resource library provides key guidance, reference materials, and tools for states as they try to lessen the impact of COVID-19 on Medicaid populations.

Commentary

This commentary discusses how states are mobilizing to meet the crushing health care demands resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Commentary

This commentary highlights the promise and challenge of telehealth tools, including unconventional uses of telehealth technology, scalability of interventions, the effect of patient preferences on behavior adoption, and the effect of patient demographics on adoption. 

Commentary

This commentary examines state strategies to promote health insurance enrollment to protect consumers from potentially exorbitant medical bills during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Commentary

This commentary examines state strategies for addressing barriers to telehealth for opioid use disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Commentary

This commentary discusses what states are doing as coronavirus hospitalizations and ICU bed demand surge across the country.

Report , Webinar & Presentations

This webinar walks through tools states can use to increase payments to providers through both fee-for-service and Medicaid managed care, despite COVID-19 driven changes to utilization. An accompanying toolkit is included that identifies the immediately available tools for states.

Brief

This brief estimates that in the four weeks leading up to April 11, 2020, as many as 18.4 million individuals in the United States may be at risk of losing their employer-sponsored health insurance (ESI) coverage, including policyholders and their dependents.

Brief

This brief discusses the new established guidelines regarding placing COVID-19 related ads on social platforms.

Brief

This brief is a compilation of state marketplace communications examples during the novel coronavirus outbreak.

Brief

This brief provides a template for states to inform residents of health insurance options during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Commentary

This perspective discusses strategies state Medicaid and CHIP agencies can pursue as part of their emergency preparedness planning for, and response to, COVID-19.

Webinar & Presentations

In this webinar, experts explore the key health care provisions in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and the implications for states.

Brief

This brief examines the Families First Coronavirus Response Act that was signed into law to provide resources to help states address the effects of COVID-19.

Brief

This brief examines the strategies being implemented by states to combat opioid use disorder in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Brief

This Q&A examines what the Families First Coronavirus Response Act is doing to help states address the COVID-19 pandemic.

Brief

This brief gives an overview of the multiple actions states are taking toward ensuring accessible coronavirus (COVID-19) testing and cross-agency collaboration. 

Brief

This brief is a compilation of communication examples from state departments and agencies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Report

This Special Enrollment Period (SEP) Reference Chart is a tool for those who are helping people enroll in health coverage through a special enrollment period.

Brief

This brief provides some answers about who is eligible to enroll in coverage as many seek new health coverage, or help paying for coverage, during the novel coronavirus outbreak.

Report

This report examines the kinds of health insurance unemployed workers have and how coverage patterns have shifted under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Commentary

This commentary reviews key information for states about the recent federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) increase and conditions states must meet to qualify for it.

Commentary

This commentary explains insurers' moves to extend coverage grace periods during the COVID-19 crisis.

Commentary

The federal government has offered Medicaid waivers to give states flexibility to quickly increase their health care workforces in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Commentary

This blog posts pulls together frequently asked questions about the novel coronavirus to help guide Navigators, brokers, assisters, and consumers through this complex and trying time.

Report

This report assesses the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of adult food preparation and food service occupations and provides state-level estimates of their numbers and uninsured rates before the outbreak. 

Report

03.2020 / By Urban Institute

This report presents presents estimates of the number of occupied versus unoccupied beds at the national, state, and county levels, using data from the 2018 American Hospital Association Annual Survey.

Commentary

This blog post discusses the challenges and risks associated with implementing cost-sharing requirements for COVID-19 testing and treatment, and the implications that these requirements may have in individuals delaying or avoiding care altogether.

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