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Health Equity

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Blog

This blog reviews considerations for states weighing whether to add the the flexibility offered by CMS. 

Webinar & Presentations

This webinar gathered Medicaid stakeholders from communities and state agencies to discuss practical steps to address health literacy through improved communications, national cultural and language access standards (such as CLAS), and community engagement.

Blog

This blog examines the following steps to strengthen the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) in Medicaid and CHIP.

Blog

09.2024 / By AcademyHealth

Part 1 of this blog series provides an overview of health systems resiliency and the role of health services research in building a resilient health system.

Blog

This blog details and provides resources on how the health sector can play a pivotal role in civic engagement by integrating voter registration into health services.

Publication

This annotated bibliography compiles academic research and grey literature sources that explain and provide analysis of the underlying factors and root causes that may contribute to inequities in Medicaid.

Blog , Toolkit

This dual-language toolkit provides families with information on Medicaid and CHIP and how to apply or re-apply.

Blog

This blog examines community-based assistance programs and resources in each state.

Blog

This blog explores the new integrated health partnership program and how it impacts communities in Minnesota.

Graphic

This infographic highlights the unique healthcare challenges people in the LGBTQ+ community face and how Medicaid agencies can support high-quality LGBTQ+ healthcare.

Blog

This report reviews four states’ prior authorization policies for the commercial market, examines a range of state-level prior authorization reforms, and assesses how they affect patients, providers, and insurers.

Blog

This blog offers an overview of current disability data collection standards, including how states collect self-reported disability information on Medicaid applications. 

Blog

This blog identifies state, territorial, and freely associated state health agencies’ (S/THAs) top current and emerging priorities across public health programs, infrastructure, and health equity and agency strategies to address them.

Blog

This blog highlights key details from the new resources published by the state of Tennessee to help stakeholders assist families who may be eligible for the new diaper benefit.

Blog

This blog highlights recent Medicaid Drug Rebate Program (MDRP) policy developments.

Resource Page

The resources reviewed in this collection examine evidence-based strategies to better address the behavioral health needs of people during reentry and implementation strategies.

Blog

This blog examines community power building and underscores the pivotal role that public health professionals can have in achieving health equity.

Blog

This blog highlights current language and accessibility supports on state websites and suggests how states can make improvements.

Webinar & Presentations

During the webinar, experts reviewed the new OMB standards for race and ethnicity data collection, described the history of federally-defined race and ethnicity data collection standards, and highlighted the motivations for the revisions.

Blog

This blog reviews how adopting policies to advance state and local data sharing and incorporating health equity principles into these relationships can help public health agencies better identify and address data disparities, utilize resources effectively, and create an equity-centered public health data infrastructure.

Webinar & Presentations

State Health and Value Strategies will host a webinar on July 15, during which experts will review the new OMB standards for race and ethnicity data collection, describe the history of federally-defined race and ethnicity data collection standards, and highlight the motivations for the revisions.

Factsheet

07.2024 / By Urban Institute

This fact sheet explores approaches to advancing health equity, future work opportunities, and health equity resources.

Blog

06.2024 / By AcademyHealth

This blog reviews tools and approaches developed and refined to center health and equity in policymaking.

Blog

This blog examines policies lawmakers are working on to determine the best path forward for delivering telehealth services throughout the United States.

Blog

This blog covers some of the quintessential outreach efforts performed by states to inform and educate individuals about Medicaid and CHIP benefits.

Map

This map gives a detailed description of the status of each state's coverage program or initiative for non-citizens, the vehicle through which the program has been established, if the program provides limited coverage only, and if the program has not yet been implemented for.

Blog

06.2024 / By AcademyHealth

This blog summarizes the successful advocacy tactics employed by AcademyHealth and outlines the potential harm of CMS' data access restrictions policy.

Brief

This brief reviews Wisconsin's endeavor to tackle homelessness across the state through the creation of the Ending Homelessness through State-Continuum of Care Partnerships (EHSCP) group.

Factsheet

This fact sheet can help Medicaid agencies, health plans, providers, and other healthcare organizations involve community members more effectively in program and policy decision-making.

Commentary

This commentary reviews changes beginning in fiscal year (FY) 2025 requiring states to report a subset of Child and Adult Core Set measures by race and ethnicity, sex, and geography. By requiring data disaggregation for key populations of interest, policymakers, advocates and researchers will have a new tool to measure, monitor and inform policies and practices that focus on health equity.

Commentary

This expert perspective highlights an MMC approach newly added to the Compendium of Medicaid Managed Care Contracting Strategies to Promote Health Equity.

Blog

06.2024 /

This blog outlines provisions of the final rule allowing DACA grantees to access Marketplace coverage and how DACA grantees will be affected by the new rule.

Podcast

This podcast highlights the need to better address maternal health disparities, particularly for Black, American Indian, Alaskan Native women, and people living in rural communities.

Blog

05.2024 / By AcademyHealth

This blog introduces new resources about people with disabilities and improvements to AcademyHealth's Resource Hub to make it more accessible for all.

Blog

This blog examines five important public health state policy issues.

Blog

In this blog, experts share how organizations across the country are striving to implement systems to link clients to a diverse range of public health services and supports to address their specific challenges and help them succeed in different aspects of life.

Graphic

05.2024 /

This infographic defines health literacy and its importance in improving health outcomes and lowering health care costs, and it highlights ways healthcare organizations can better support the people and communities they serve with clear, effective health information.

Toolkit

05.2024 / By Urban Institute

This guide equips advocates and other changemakers with critical information for advancing health equity in behavioral health care.

Brief

This brief explores approaches to incorporating health equity in value-based payment design, creating payment models that positively impact health disparities, outcomes, and costs in Medicaid.

Podcast

This episode of the Medicaid Leadership Exchange podcast highlights the need to better address maternal health disparities, particularly for Black, American Indian, and Alaskan Native women, and people living in rural communities.

Blog

This blog details the Beneficiary Advisory Councils (BACs) established by the rule representing a historic opportunity to leverage the experiences of people enrolled in Medicaid to improve state Medicaid programs.

Blog

This blog reviews new data on the share of children with Medicaid/CHIP coverage of more than 7,000 school districts nationwide and the importance these coverage programs have to students. 

Brief

This brief provides states with examples of data-sharing agreements and promising practices to facilitate data-sharing efforts across health and housing systems at the state and local levels.

Commentary

05.2024 / By https://www.shvs.org/

This commentary reviews the implications of the final rule interpreting section 1557 for state policymakers.

Commentary

This commentary details a new Health Affairs Forefront article examining the burgeoning trend of state efforts to alleviate medical debt.

Blog

This blog examines the how PRISM helped Missouri achieve its goals through exemplifying a proactive approach to addressing critical maternal health challenges.

Podcast

This first episode in a new season of the podcast highlights the importance of Medicaid to the millions of people living in rural communities across the country.

Blog

This blog reviews the many positive impacts community health workers can have on the communities they serve.

Brief

This brief describes the framework and outlines state leaders can use to align on policies and programs that serve young children and their families.

Blog

This blog emphasizes the importance of including PWLEs in research and data collection.

Blog

04.2024 / By Academy Health

This blog reviews new projects addressing the strategic aims of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to gain a nuanced understanding of the behavioral health practitioner workforce.

Blog

This blog examines research on continuous Medicaid coverage and mental health among mothers and infants in the postpartum year.

Blog

This blog offers guiding principles state agencies can implement to meet the new federal requirements and integrate Medicaid members into the policymaking and program design process effectively and equitably.

Blog

04.2024 / By Georgetown CCF

This blog examines which states nationwide have taken steps toward Medicaid coverage for doula care.

Report

The survey series provides an in-depth view of health plans’ responses regarding risk mitigation, disenrollment, and outreach.

Blog

03.2024 / By Georgetown CCF

In this blog, the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families analyzes recent survey findings regarding the impact of Medicaid unwinding and enrollees' experiences.

Blog

03.2024 / By Georgetown CCF

In this blog, The Georgetown University Center for Children and Families outlines and expands on the 10 "Do Nots" outlined in the bulletin.

Blog

This expert perspective reviews the healthcare policies and programs recently funded by Congress for FY 2024 as well as the Biden administration’s stated healthcare priorities for FY 2025.

Report

03.2024 / By Urban Institute

In this report, the Urban Institute identifies how the health system in Texas is advancing health equity by addressing the nonmedical drivers of health.

Blog

In this blog, the Center for Health Care Strategies examines how state agencies employ health literacy strategies to improve health equity.

Blog

03.2024 / By Academy Health

A new Health Affairs blog describes the cultural shift in Medicaid managed care post-COVID-19 to address the social needs of enrollees.

Blog

03.2024 / By Georgetown CCF

The Center for Children and Families (CCF) at Georgetown University analyzed  data on which states are taking longer than the federally regulated 45 days to process Medicaid applications for low-income children, families, and adults. This blog takes a look at some of the states taking longer than their allotted 45 days and the possible reasons behind it.

Brief

CMS recently added new questions on the topic of sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) to the application used by HealthCare.gov and released guidance for states that want to add the same questions to their Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program applications. This brief summarizes the guidance and presents several considerations for states as they look to improve their collection of sexual orientation and gender identity data.

Brief

This brief highlights how pilot program efforts in Calif. are fostering innovative cross-sector collaboration to better serve people experiencing homelessness.

Blog

This blog highlights proposed key steps that must be taken to advance Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. 

Blog

This webinar reviews how and why the tools were created and how to use the tools to understand the scope of equity work for a state agency.

Blog

This blog highlights an interview that shares STRETCH representatives' experiences and how the opportunity guided health equity initiatives and provided valuable networking and connection.

Blog

This blog highlights updated measures using new ACS and CPS data.

Blog

02.2024 / By Academy Health

This blog discusses how programs that support lactation professionals can support Black women beyond delivery. 

Blog

01.2024 / By Benefits Data Trust

This blog discusses how Benefit Data Trust's policy team is supporting seven agencies to simplify the SNAP application process for families and individuals and community-based organizations that assist state agencies in screening and enrolling applicants by phone.

Blog

This blog discusses how policymakers are addressing access to care through telehealth, safety net and emergency services, and adjusted reimbursement rates to Medicaid-enrolled providers.

Brief

This brief reviews innovative approaches and communication strategies states and territories are employing to address health equity needs.

Brief

This brief outlines strategies for state Medicaid agencies to help people experiencing food insecurity obtain continuous access to nourishing food.

Blog

This blog shares how community members and state Medicaid programs can strengthen partnerships to improve care and meet federal requirements.

Blog

This blog discusses strategies to include people living with disabilities in the public health workforce and help the current workforce focus through a diversity, equity, and inclusion lens.

Blog

This blog discusses the impact of the Public Health Equity Corps fellowship on the public health workforce and its influence on state health agencies.

Blog

This blog highlights a new Commonwealth Fund brief, which documents the policies and practices State Based Marketplaces have implemented to facilitate access to health insurance information for Limited English Proficiency individuals and otherwise meet their needs. 

Brief

10.2023 / By Urban Institute

This brief examines a conceptual map of structural racism in healthcare.

Resource Page

This resource center offers tools for providers, community partners, family and patient leaders, policymakers, and others seeking to transform child healthcare through identified key strategies, including: adopting anti-racists policies to advance equity; co-creating equitable partnerships between patients, families, and providers; and identifying family strengths and addressing health-related social needs. 

Blog

This blog offers guidance to help healthcare organizations develop appropriate compensation practices for community members.

Blog

10.2023 / By AcademyHealth

This blog builds on the webinar by outlining key recommendations to maintain diversity and foster inclusion in college admissions and the workforce.

Blog

This blog discusses how the STRETCH convenings left state teams with tools to help them advance their health equity work.

Blog

In this blog, ASTHO's Diverse Executives Leading in Public Health scholars share insights on how the data modernization initiative and diversity, equity, and inclusion intersect with public health.

Report

08.2023 / By Urban Institute

This report explores findings from a 2023 symposium that explored why racial and ethnic inequities still exist.

Brief

08.2023 / By Urban Institute

This brief examines whether neighborhood conditions vary with children who rely on Medicaid or CHIP for coverage.

Blog

08.2023 / By AcademyHealth

The blog explores why improving collection of and access to high-quality data is imperative in helping policymakers understand and develop effective solutions to address mechanisms that lead to poor maternal health outcomes.

Blog

This blog examines the role of state advisory councils in emergency preparedness planning and how public health leaders can create a public health ethics committee to ensure equitable resources allocation during an emergency response.

Blog

This blog introduces a new National Governors Association guide, designed to make transformational change in a system that has historically failed mothers and babies.

Blog

In this blog, CHIR members provide an overview of the meeting—including a presentation by CHIR faculty member Christine Monahan—and its implications for current and future health equity initiatives.

Blog

This blog examines the Suicide, Overdose, Adverse Childhood Experiences Prevention Capacity Assessment Tool and the importance of partnerships among health agencies.

Brief

This brief identifies ways in which states can leverage their Medicaid managed care programs to advance their health equity goals.

Blog

This blog discusses how data dashboards allow states to make proactive decisions about what data to release and on what schedule.

Blog

This blog discusses what states will gain during the learning lab, state team composition and how to apply. 

Blog

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

Factsheet

07.2023 / By ChangeLab Solutions

This factsheet examines resources to support policymakers, community organizations, and changemakers in advancing racial equity and rural prosperity across the United States. 

Blog

This blog examines systemic barriers to health care coverage that the LGBTQ+ community faces, and highlights a few key coverage and access issues that continue to impact LGBTQ+ individuals with private health insurance.

Blog

This blog highlights key themes from a roundtable with three leaders about the importance of mentoring, engaging, empowering, and celebrating Black women in Medicaid to support their career development.

Blog

In this blog, ASTHO explores authenticity in leadership—what does it mean, what does it take, and how do leaders show up for the LGBTQ+ community.

Blog

This blog highlights a conversation between ASTHO's Marcus Plescia and healthcare, technology, and policy experts from across the field, in which they discussed the future of measuring health equity in a world of rapidly evolving data.

Blog

06.2023 / By Academy Health

This blog shares details behind AcademyHealth's range of activities to advance data equity, support data learning networks, and extend access to highly valuable datasets for research.

Podcast

This podcast episode explores how coordinating reentry and support services with community partners can improve the lives of people impacted by the justice system, and potentially help reduce rates of recidivism.

Blog

06.2023 / By Pew Charitable Trusts

This blog discusses the need to invest in equitable infrastructure in disadvantaged communities. 

Blog

Addressing Health Related Social Needs (HRSN) in 1115 demonstrations can help states improve coverage, access, and equity. This blog examines innovative state demonstrations and implications for cross agency partnerships.

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 and maps states that are using publicly available dashboards to share key data points as they monitor enrollment transitions throughout the unwinding. 

Blog

This blog discusses federal support for states looking to expand postpartum coverage through Medicaid.

This episode shares insight into atypical cross-sector partnerships that offer great potential to align for better outcomes.

Report

This report highlights seven HiAP strategies that relate to the actions involved in state health improvement planning. 

Report

05.2023 / By Urban Institute

This analysis provides new evidence on transportation barriers to healthcare, and highlights the importance of public transit accessibility in promoting equitable access to care.

Blog

This blog discusses key themes underlying many of the 2024 rules including the administration's commitments to advancing health equity, improving the costumer experience, and expanding marketplace enrollment.

Blog

This blog discusses seven podcasts that can keep individuals informed, motivated, and ready to do their best work.

Article

This blog reviews OMB's efforts to maintain, collect, and present federal data on race and ethnicity.

Blog

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

Blog

This blog discusses ASTHO's Breastfeeding Virtual Learning Series, which showcases emerging topics to advance breastfeeding equity.

Blog

This blog discusses the critical role health agencies must play to support positive mental health outcomes through nutrition support and food assistance programs.

Blog

This blog examines the importance of diversity in leadership at the local level, scholars' reflections on local leadership experiences, and advice for building inclusive workplaces.

Blog

This blog examined Rhode Island's strategies to promote accessibility in response to Winter Storm Harper and additional actions to promote accessibility during emergencies. 

Blog

This blog examines how states are preventing firearm injury and violence, and next steps for long-term fire arm violence reduction.

Blog

This blog discusses inequities in contraceptive care at community colleges and actions organizations and institutions can take to reduce them. 

Blog

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

Webinar & Presentations

This webinar explores a new opportunity to improve access to care and services for people returning to the community from state prisons, county jails, and youth correctional facilities.

Blog

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

Report

This report outlines practical approaches to guide health systems in meaningfully involving community members and being more accountable to the communities they serve.

Blog

This blog discusses the proposed revisions to OMB Directive No. 15 and comments and considerations from State Health Access Data Assistance Center.

Blog

This blog examines State Health Access Data Assistance Center's comments aimed at supporting the adoption of a revised set of federal standards for collecting race/ethnicity data.

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 examines the role of breastfeeding in early childhood nutrition security, how states have been promoting breastfeeding and nutrition security, and recommendations for state and territorial agencies. 

Report

This report examines the quality of race and ethnicity data for Medicaid/CHIP-enrolled children in the 2018 and 2019 TAF.

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.

Report

03.2023 / By Urban Institute

This report highlights how communities of color counter structural racism and oppression by creating culturally effective community-based programming that promotes equitable outcomes for people who use drugs.

Webinar & Presentations

This webinar highlights how Denver Health, a health system in Colorado, is implementing a trauma-and resilience-informed approach into organizational policy and practice, while also focusing on addressing systemic racism and biases.

Webinar & Presentations

This webinar highlights promising strategies for inviting youth perspectives to inform pediatric practice transformation efforts.

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.

Blog

This blog presents findings from a study aimed at producing estimates of ACE exposure for different demographic groups.

Blog

This blog discusses how business’ place-based investments can advance health, wellbeing, and equity.

Webinar & Presentations

This webinar discusses opportunities to achieve engagement and trust between safety-net health systems and communities.

Brief

This issue brief outlines the ways in which such efforts can improve communication, lead to more effective and efficient programs, and result in ongoing collaboration with people who have experienced state-run systems and services.

Brief

01.2023 / By Health Impact Project

This brief discusses how the health impact assessment and the Health in All Policies are making advancements to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to be as healthy as possible.

Blog

01.2023 / By The Camden Coalition

This blog shares lessons learned of Camden Coalition’s Community Ambassadors program, which has played a key role in educating Camden and South Jersey residents about various public health concerns. 

Podcast

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

Webinar & Presentations

This webinar recording explores innovations in recruitment, training, and retention that can lead to a more representative and supported pediatric workforce.

Factsheet

This fact sheet outlines the need for child health care transformation and offers strategies to incorporate an anti-racist and family-centered focus.

Blog

This blog explores the effect of gender-based discrimination on healthcare access. 

Blog

This brief shares findings that show the need for greater language accessibility resources in healthcare settings for AANHPI adults with limited English proficiency.

Brief

This brief provides a practical guide for states that are designing and implementing doula coverage under Medicaid. 

Blog

This blog includes conversation on the role and impact of SORH and its intersection with other offices in state government. 

Brief

This brief includes a checklist of eight key questions that can help state purchasers and other payers develop a robust payment and spending strategy focused on advancing health equity.

Blog

This blog breaks down the steps state and federal policy makers are taking to improve health outcomes for pregnant people.

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 highlights the different approaches states are taking to expand affordable access to diabetes management and reduce disparities in care for diabetic patients.

Blog

This blog discusses the policies federal, state, and territorial governments are adopting to improve lactation accommodations in school and workplace settings.

Commentary

This commentary explores how Medicaid saved Laticia's life who battled with gastrointestinal problems and mental health issues. Medicaid provided healthcare visits, medication and therapy for her anxiety and depression. 

Resource Page

Supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Raising the Bar provides an actionable framework for the entire healthcare sector to embed equity throughout its work and help achieve optimal health for all.

Commentary

This commentary tells the story of Danielle, whose small business struggled in the opening months of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to trying to keep her business afloat, Danielle also had to care for her son and home school him. Medicaid provided Daneille with the mental health support needed to keep moving forward during an incredibly challenging period. 

That’s Medicaid shares stories of people covered by Medicaid at critical points in their lives, underscoring the importance of stable health insurance coverage to building a nationwide Culture of Health.

Report

This report provides excerpts of health disparities and health equity language from Medicaid managed care (MMC) contracts and requests for proposals (RFPs) from 17 states and the District of Columbia. The criteria for inclusion in this compendium are contracts and RFPs that explicitly address health disparities and/or health equity.

Blog

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires most insurers and employers to cover a set of preventive health services at no cost to enrollees. This blog analyzes a case pending in federal court that threatens to cut off consumers’ access to these services by allowing insurers to impose cost-sharing or, in some cases, cease covering them altogether.

Blog

This blog examines how employers’ decisions on whether and how to cover travel costs related to abortion care will have a significant impact on whether workers are able to access abortion services far from home.

Commentary

This commentary tells the story of Adrian, who works with the Medicaid-funded Mississippi Youth Programs Around the Clock program. Adrian's work provides youth and their families with needed "wraparound" services to cultivate healthier communities.

That’s Medicaid shares stories of people covered by Medicaid at critical points in their lives, underscoring the importance of stable health insurance coverage to building a nationwide Culture of Health.

Blog

This blog provides lessons learned from committed patient partners while developing a Patient-Centered Complex Care Research Agenda, which aims help inform other organizations seeking to include patient perspectives to guide research priorities.

Blog

With new budget initiatives, a California Momnibus Act, and a new Medicaid transformation initiative, the state is seeking to advance more whole-person care for pregnant and birthing people, and to ensure and expand access to reproductive health care, including abortion services.

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.

Webinar & Presentations

This web series spotlights new voices and ideas in health services research. In this video, Dr. Monica McLemore, nurse-scientist and clinician of 28 years talks about using research to address racism, funding and implementation, and her hopes for the future of HSR and nursing sciences.

Commentary

This commentary tells the story of Sonia who took on the life-changing responsibility of adopting a family member’s young son Amir, who has developmental disabilities. Medicaid provided Amir with preventive doctor visits, X-rays, and speech and occupational therapy.

Blog

This blog explores the Data Across Sectors for Health (DASH) Framework which highlights the most important landmarks to consider within the landscape of data sharing to help improve the well-being of people and their communities.

Blog

This blog explores why restoring community trust and how collecting and sharing data can be an effective way to design measures that help advance community health.

Commentary

This commentary tells the story of Naomi who enrolled in Medicaid after she lost her job when pregnant with her son, who was born prematurely. Medicaid provided in-home attendants, a wheelchair, medications and other necessities to help improve her son's quality of life.

Podcast

Since 2000, rates of suicide and substance overdose mortality have steadily increased in the United States. This podcast explores how healthcare leaders are working in their communities to set youth up to thrive by using behavioral health data to build resilience, incorporate youth voices, and support communities in their suicide and substance use prevention efforts.

Blog

This blog explore three newly released or trial-phase databases and their implications for future health services research, spotlighted at a recent panel discussion hosted by The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Webinar & Presentations

This webinar features SHADAC director Lynn Blewett presenting on "State-Level Data Collaborations and Opportunities to Improve the Sustainability of Their Efforts."

Commentary

This commentary tells the story of Regina, who is able to help provide her daughter with physicals, immunizations, dental visits and medication—which the family couldn’t obtain without Medicaid coverage.

Blog

This blog explores why some are sounding the alarm and calling for better regulation to control costs and protect patients as private equity involvement in the healthcare industry increases.

Blog

This blog reviews recent state policies to reduce barriers to HIV testing.

Blog

This blog outlines a collaborative approach that led to the development of an implementation guide to support mapping maternal health data across clinical areas and use cases.

Blog

06.2022 / By AcademyHealth

This blog post by researchers at AcademyHealth discusses the benefits of having an affirming provider to address health inequities among LGBTQ+ older adults, as well as shares resources to increase capacity for LGBTQ+ affirming care.

Blog

This blog explores how states can use Medicaid data to quantify tobacco use within this population, identify related best practices, and make recommendations for scaling.

Blog , Resource Page , Webinar & Presentations

This resource page recaps the Center for Health Care Strategies' recent webinar highlighting two California-based, cross-sector initiatives focused on improving healthcare for people experiencing homelessness by meeting the population where they are.

Report

This report evaluates a series of evaluations of Robert Wood Johnson Foundation programs that address health inequities. The evaluations explore innovative approaches to equity-focused payment reform and integrated models of care and outline key findings and recommendations to inform future activities.

Blog

Most experts in the public health field agree that the value of data depends on what is measured and what measures are implemented. This blog post from Data Across Sectors for Health highlights the importance of peer learning when leveraging data to improve overall health and well-being.

Blog

The Center for Health Care Strategies recently spoke with Jacey Cooper, California’s Medicaid director, to explore how CalAIM seeks to improve care for Californians experiencing homelessness and what other states can learn from this work.

Report

This report offers the evidence and rationale for a policy-based approach to reduce tobacco use. It also provides (1) principles for advancing tobacco control policies and working with Tribal nations and (2) a summary of the changing tobacco control landscape, including the youth e-cigarette epidemic, information on health disparities and health equity, and addressing related issues such as marijuana, e-cigarette or vaping use-associated lung injury (EVALI), and COVID-19.

Brief

This brief examines both combined and individual rates of reported anxiety and depression symptoms for the total adult population as well as by specific breakdowns, including age, gender, race/ethnicity, income categories, and education levels.

Podcast

For years, Medicaid leaders have faced a mounting children’s behavioral health crisis — made worse by the pandemic. In this episode of the Medicaid Leadership Exchange podcast, three Medicaid leaders discuss the behavioral health needs of children and opportunities for Medicaid to better support those needs.

Commentary

This commentary tells the story of Theresa. At an early age, she was diagnosed with Spastic Quadriplegia Cerebral Palsy, a disorder that affects a person’s ability to maintain balance and posture. Now in her 40s, Medicaid allows her to work and live independently. It also provides her with speech, physical and occupational therapies, a wheelchair and the help of personal care attendants who assist with basic needs such as meal preparation, cleaning, dressing, and laundry.

Chart , Map

This map and chart highlight dental benefits for general adults and pregnant populations enrolled in Medicaid.  

Commentary

This commentary tells the story of Sonia, whose adopted son has developmental disabilities and requires frequent medical testing to stay healthy.

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.

Graphic

This infographic outlines options can states can pursue as they consider how to target various funding sources to effectively provide treatment and recovery services for substance use disorder (SUD).

Blog

This blog post offers suggestions on what states need to consider when they structure primary care investments, including how to ensure that spending reaches patients with the highest needs and improves care delivery.

Blog , Graphic

This blog post provide an analysis of the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) health insurance coverage estimates for 2021 from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) as part of the NHIS Early Release Program. The estimates captured in this report are some of the first available coverage estimates for 2021 from a federal survey.

Resource Page

05.2022 / By Benefits Data Trust

This toolkit is designed to help state and local WIC agencies leverage data from Medicaid and SNAP to measure enrollment gaps and increase enrollment using tools to plan, launch, and/or strengthen data matching and targeted outreach to eligible families who are not receiving WIC benefits.

Blog

This blog post seeks to review updates to five existing guidelines: Well-Women Preventive Visits, Breastfeeding Services and Supplies, Counseling for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), Screening for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infections, and Contraception.

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.

Journal Article

05.2022 / By Policies for Action

This journal article explores the consequences of state preemption laws in response to municipalities declaring themselves "sanctuary cities."

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.

Map

This interactive map shares the status of state legislative efforts to address prescription drug costs across the country.

Blog

This blog answers questions about the ACA's "family glitch," a flawed regulatory interpretation that has created barriers to coverage. The current administration is currently working to correct this interpretation that prevents 4.8 to 5 million individuals from accessing more affordable health insurance. 

Blog

This blog analyzes survey results on how many people in Minnesota have health insurance and how easy it is for them to get health care.

Brief

To assist states in closing digital skill gaps and preparing for digital equity planning, this brief offers key questions and resources for state leaders to consider.

Report

This report summarizes the different elements of California’s initiative, which provides a model for other states seeking to expand housing services and whole person care through Medicaid.


Map

This interactive map summarizes state Medicaid reimbursement policies for all types of midwives including certified nurse-midwives and midwives who pursue alternative pathways to licensure, often referred to as certified professional midwives, certified midwives, or direct entry midwives depending on state regulations.

Commentary

This commentary tells the story of Nicholas who requires some extra assistance with daily activities as a result of his autism. Medicaid helps afford all of his caretakers and provides him with transportation to and from his job as a COVID-19 front-line worker.

Map

This map provides eligibility levels for states’ Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program coverage for pregnancy.

Commentary

This blog provides solutions and unique opportunities for governors to reform mental health service delivery. Many states have adopted innovative tools to address these shortages.

Blog

This blog, briefly reviews the research regarding the Medicaid undercount in the CPS, provides estimates of how it varies across states in 2020, and discusses the impact of assigning single coverage for those with multiple sources on the Medicaid undercount in the CPS.

Commentary

This commentary tells the story of Margot C., who has limited mobility due to rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, and a spinal cord injury. Medicaid provided her housing in a residential care setting that her private insurance could not provide. Now, Margot helps her peers sign up for Medicaid.

Blog

This blog explores the Hospital Cost Tool which identifies different cost measures including hospital revenue, cost to charge ratios, and profitability across more than 4,600 hospitals nationwide from 2011 through 2019. 

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.

Brief

This brief reviews the regulatory framework for network adequacy for Medicaid Managed Care Organizations and Marketplace qualified health plans and identifies policies and practices to ensure their networks include the number and mix of providers that enrollees need.

Blog

This blog post highlights California's and New Jersey's approaches to preventing and mitigating the effects of early adversity on children and families as well as supporting resilience-building in their communities.

Commentary

This commentary tells the story of Maddy K., a 23-year-old who has Asperger syndrome who is able to work two part-time jobs, volunteer frequently, and be part of a community organization for those with disabilities because of Medicaid's ability to provide her with essential transportation.

Blog

This blog explores strategies on how to invest in the development of Medicaid leaders to help states and territories improve the health and well-being of people served by publicly financed care.

Key tips include:

Always have a plan b, plan c, and plan d.
Build relationships and find a common thread.
Fill the void.
And more.

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.

Chart , Map

This map and chart provide the status of state legislation to address prescription drug costs across the country. 

Brief

This brief provides a current snapshot of racial, ethnic, and language concordance between nonelderly patients ages 18 to 64 and their usual providers. 

Commentary

This commentary tells the story of Andre H., who after turning 23 was no longer able to afford medication and proper care to treat his sickle cell disease. After receiving Medicaid, he no longer had to choose between paying rent or buying the medication that keeps him alive.

Brief

This brief examines how labor and delivery closures in New Hampshire affected the providers and patients in rural communities.

Blog

This blog provides takeaways from the Massachusetts One Care Program, highlighting the impact of engaging members with disabilities in care planning and strategies that health systems and payers can use to advance health equity through improved engagement with people with disabilities.

Commentary

This commentary tells the story of Dominique G., who spent most of her life in hospitals due to sickle cell disease. Medicaid coverage provided her regular hematologist visits, appropriate equipment and medications to make living at home possible.

Brief

This brief highlights strategies for states to expand affordable health coverage to immigrant populations in the United States and provides an overview of the status of the public charge rule.

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. 

Chart

This chart provides an overview of how states legislatures are acting to coordinate and direct the uses and disbursement of opioid abatement funds. 

Blog

This blog summarizes practical steps and recommendations for alternative payment models to help state Medicaid agencies make care more accessible and equitable, and drive better health outcomes. 

Blog

This blog explores a set of primary care standards to help states explicitly make health equity a focus of primary care standards and incentivize practice-level activities aligned with broader state health equity goals.

Webinar & Presentations

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

Chart

This chart provides a snapshot of cost-growth benchmark programs, cost-containment strategies that limit how much a state’s health care spending can grow each year, across the United States.

Commentary

This commentary shares the story of Ashley, who unexpectedly lost the private health insurance she received under her father’s health plan when she moved to New Mexico.

Blog

This blog provides Medicaid agencies with examples of how different states are leveraging their managed care programs, inclusive of contracts, quality initiatives, and procurement processes, to promote health equity and address health disparities.

Blog

This blog examines some of the key factors and decision points states may want to consider as they build out mobile mental health crisis services and systems that qualify for enhanced federal medical assistance percentage funding; engaging a cross-agency team and a broad range of external stakeholders can help ensure full consideration of diverse state crisis needs.

Brief

This brief offers considerations for policymakers around the Children’s Health Insurance Program coverage as a method of enabling states to provide prenatal, labor and delivery, and postpartum services to pregnant individuals, regardless of immigration status.

Blog

This blog post sheds light on how Pennsylvania has taken steps to better understand how to mitigate the racial bias by collecting information on how Medicaid Managed Care Organizations are using algorithms, the types of proxies being used, and the outcomes as a method to develop their health equity strategies.

Blog

This blog provides a high-level overview of a range of state-level measures which may help states understand and track trends across indicators of health equity, such as health insurance coverage, health care access and affordability, and quality of care. 

Blog , Map

This blog presents a set of data resources for the 50 states and the District of Columbia to help policymakers and other stakeholders identify opportunities to improve health equity in their states.

Blog

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

Commentary

This commentary tells the story of Alicia, whose Medicaid-assigned doula guided her through pregnancy while in incarceration and the birth of her son. 

Blog

This toolkit allows states to assess their existing health insurance rate review laws for the authority to regulate hospital cost growth; and proposes model statutory and regulatory text to provide a state insurance commissioner with the ability to condition health insurance rate approval on meeting affordability standards in hospital cost growth.

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 interactive map and chart summarize proposed and approved legislation since 2018, Medicaid waivers, financial estimates, and other initiatives designed to extend coverage during the postpartum period.

Report

This report offers four recommendations for policymakers to integrate individuals with lived expertise as partners in program and policy design, implementation, and evaluation to more effectively address food insecurity.

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.

Commentary

This commentary highlights how states have advanced two separate but related initiatives  to tackle rising healthcare costs: cost-growth benchmarks to track and contain overall healthcare spending; and prescription drug affordability boards to conduct reviews of high-cost prescription drugs and set limits on what can be paid for these drugs in the future.

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 synthesizes key accomplishments and lessons learned based on interviews with 10 state COVID-19 health equity task forces represented in the network. 

Brief

The brief focuses on actions Medicaid agencies can pursue through their managed care programs or directly with provider organizations and highlights state interventions and collaborations that demonstrate promise in reducing disparities and begin to center equity in birth-related health policies.

Webinar & Presentations

This webinar provide an overview of strategies for states seeking to ensure that eligible enrollees are able to keep or transition to new affordable health coverage when the Medicaid continuous coverage requirement ends.

Brief

This brief identifies key themes and policy considerations to help Massachusetts implement value-based payment models that better meet children’s needs.

Webinar & Presentations

This webinar reviewed steps states can take to integrate health equity into their Medicaid managed care programs.

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. 

Brief

This brief examines how state Medicaid and public health programs can advance health equity for the communities they serve, especially for people of color, working both within their agency and through cross-agency partnerships.

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.

Blog

This blog discusses the appointment of Kara Herring as Indiana's first Chief Equity, Inclusion and Opportunity Officer.

Factsheet

This fact sheet explores how people of color experience unfair treatment or judgment when applying for public benefits at higher rates than white adults, and those experiences often have adverse consequences.

Brief

This issue brief—the first in a series “Supporting Health Equity and Affordable Health Coverage for Immigrant Populations”—provides an overview of the national immigrant health coverage landscape and offers considerations for policymakers related to state-funded affordable coverage programs for low-income individuals who do not qualify for subsidized health insurance under the Affordable Care Act or other public programs due to immigration status.

Journal Article

This journal article assesses the impact of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Medicaid expansion on coverage and access to care for a subset of low-income parents who were already eligible for Medicaid when the ACA was passed.

Brief

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

Webinar & Presentations

This recording features highlights from NASHP's 34th Annual Conference.

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 highlights the Departments of Health and Human Services and the Treasury's final rule governing marketplaces and qualified health plans sold through the marketplaces in 2022.  

Brief

This brief analyzes how three state governments (Illinois, Indiana, and Rhode Island) worked across agencies to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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.

Webinar & Presentations

This webinar discusses the research on how Medicaid saves lives, reduces costs, and helps eliminate racial and ethnic health disparities.

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.

Webinar & Presentations

This webinar shared findings from a published Manatt Health issue brief for SHVS on Medicaid’s role in combating the maternal mortality crisis.

Graphic

This infographic examines how expanded coverage has saved lives, reduced health care costs, narrowed racial disparities, and provided peace of mind to those who would otherwise have been uninsured.

Commentary

This paper includes considerations and approaches to promote equity and improve public health capacity to prevent, detect and respond to HIV, viral hepatitis, STDs and TB during the public health emergency and beyond.

Podcast

This report provides updated excerpts of health disparities and health equity language from Medicaid managed care contracts and requests for proposals from 15 states and the District of Columbia as well as the contract for California’s state-based marketplace, Covered California.

Brief

This guide describes recommended process steps for states to integrate a focus on health equity in their Medicaid managed care programs.

Chart

This map and chart highlight dental benefits for general adults and pregnant populations enrolled in Medicaid.

Brief

This brief aims to assist state and federal analysts with survey development and/or analysis of existing survey data to generate estimates of health insurance coverage and access to care across racial and ethnic groups and according to nativity and/or immigrant status.

Commentary

This brief examines how New York is expanding changes to the race and ethnicity questions system-wide for the next open enrollment period and how the state is considering additional revisions in hopes of further enhancing the quality and completeness of its data.

Commentary

This brief offers practical considerations to help health systems and provider practices incorporate a focus on racial equity to enhance trauma-informed care efforts.

Blog

This blog post explores seven key considerations for health care organizations, Medicaid programs, and advocacy organizations to facilitate family engagement in program and policy design and implementation.

Blog

The blog highlights updates to a compendium providing Medicaid agencies with examples of how different states are leveraging their managed care programs, inclusive of contracts, quality programs, and procurement processes, to promote health equity and address health disparities.

Chart , Dataset

This interactive map highlights the status of individual state’s legislation to address health care costs in 2021.

Webinar & Presentations

This webinar, cosponsored by the Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS) and the Camden Coalition of Healthcare Providers’ National Center for Complex Health & Social Needs, will feature first-hand experiences and reflections from the field on recent innovations in complex care measurement.

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.

Blog , Commentary

This blog examines how the dramatic growth of telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the crucial role of broadband access in ensuring that people can obtain healthcare services. 

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.

Brief

This guide is comprised of three tools to help state officials with the language they use to discuss and write about race and health equity.

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 , Dataset

This interactive map and chart summarize proposed and approved legislation since 2018, Medicaid waivers, financial estimates, and other initiatives designed to extend coverage during the postpartum period.

Webinar & Presentations

This webinar, hosted by the Center for Health Care Strategies with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, will explore the need to transform child health care from three unique perspectives — a pediatrician, a family advocate, and a children’s health clinic director.

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.

Commentary

This commentary examines that in 2018, the United States had its first decline in drug overdose deaths in decades, with overall drug overdoses decreasing 4.1% from 2017. However, provisional data on overdose deaths released by the CDC indicate that drug overdose deaths rebounded in 2019, rising 4.6% over the previous year.

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.

Podcast

This podcast describes how the past year has seen many sectors of health care increasingly pursue diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts as health equity becomes a more prominent topic.

Podcast

This podcast describes how critical conversations about health equity can be productive when there is a shared and agreed-upon language amongst Medicaid agencies.

Commentary

This commentary examines how in late June, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued its first proposed rule governing the health insurance markets and marketplaces.

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. 

Report

This report examines how a public option that typically pays Medicare rates would considerably reduce the cost of increasing coverage in the Medicaid gap.

Report

This report assesses racial disparities in the quality of inpatient care using 11 patient safety indicators that measure rates of adverse patient safety events of hospital-acquired illnesses or injuries.

Commentary

This commentary explains the federal government’s goal of reducing new HIV infections by 90% by 2030, the CDC has identified two policy strategies that states can employ for HIV prevention – provision of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis medication and availability of Syringe Service/Exchange Programs.

Podcast

This podcast covers how effective data measurement is critical for Medicaid programs seeking to advance health equity and better understand different experiences of populations served by the program.

Commentary

This commentary examines how Washington implemented the nation’s first public option for the 2021 plan year and in the first six months of 2021, states made significant progress in advancing public option proposals, with public option legislation advancing in Colorado, Nevada, and Oregon.

Commentary

This commentary explains how since March 2020, many states have rapidly leveraged federal and state flexibilities under the public health emergency to expand telehealth capabilities and reimbursement through both public and private payers.

Report

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

Commentary

This commentary examines how recent approval of the Alzheimer’s drug Aduhelm under the U.S. Food & Drug Administration’s Accelerated Approval Program is controversial for a range of reasons, including its projected impact on state Medicaid budgets which will be required to cover the drug, priced at $56,000 a year, despite inconclusive evidence of its clinical effectiveness. 

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.

Commentary

This commentary analyzes how the U.S. Departments of Health & Human Services and Treasury have released a proposed rule governing the Affordable Care Act health insurance marketplaces and insurance standards for the plan year 2022.

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.

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.

Commentary

This commentary explains that on June 17 the Supreme Court decisively rejected California v. Texas, the latest lawsuit before the Court that challenged the legality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010.

Chart

This chart demonstrates how states are using a variety of approaches to provide doula services within their Medicaid programs to address inequities.

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.

Brief

This brief describes Nevada's new public option that is intended to provide consumers with comprehensive, but lower cost health insurance.

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.

Blog

This blog post highlight's the Virginia Department of Medicaid Services' efforts, successes, and challenges in building a culture of equity.

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.

Podcast

This podcast discusses how People who live in rural areas often experience health disparities caused by barriers to health care, such as lack of transportation, a shortage of providers, and closures of rural hospitals.

Blog , Commentary

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

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.

Report

This brief provides evidence on persistent chilling effects among low-income immigrant families during the pandemic, drawing on data from the Urban Institute’s Well-Being and Basic Needs Survey.

Report

This report outlines promising state examples of accountable care organizations’ incentives or requirements that can be used to advance health equity.

Commentary

This blog outlines the Center for Health Care Strategies' recent interview with internist and pediatrician Nathan Chomilo, MD, Medical Director of Minnesota Medicaid and MinnesotaCare to get his perspectives on priority opportunities for addressing health equity for people served by the state’s Medicaid program.

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 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 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 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.

Report

This report investigates differences in Black and white patient safety measures using complete hospital discharge records from 26 states in 2017 and further examines whether some of these differences in patient safety quality can be attributed to the hospitals into which they are admitted.

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 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.

Brief

This brief provides updates to Medicaid Managed Care Contract Language: Health Disparities and Health Equity, published by SHVS which includes excerpts from managed care contracts, procurement questions, and other policy documents from twelve states and the District of Columbia.

Report

This report analyzes states’ experiences trying to resolve surprise medical payment disputes between health care providers and insurers.

Webinar & Presentations

This webinar offers insights and solutions for health care organizations and government entities to build effective partnerships with the individuals and communities they serve to better address their health and social needs.

Brief

This series of policy briefs include evidence-based recommendations to help people through the immediate health and economic crises and longer-term recommendations to ensure a fair and just opportunity for health.

Webinar & Presentations

This webinar features discussions on how states can use performance rates and disparities analyses from Medicaid managed care programs in other states to determine where disparities are likely to exist in their own state and develop interventions.

Report

This report provides excerpts of health disparities and health equity contract language from Medicaid managed care contracts and requests for proposals from 12 states and the District of Columbia as well as the contract for California’s state-based marketplace, Covered California.

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

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.

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.

Webinar & Presentations

In this video, speakers from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the National Health Security Preparedness Index (NHSPI) discuss ways NHSPI can be used to guide change, the role geographic differences play in preparedness levels, how the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed health inequities, and much more.

Report

This report identifies six connected strategies to guide payers, including Medicaid agencies and managed care organizations, in developing equity-focused value-based payment approaches to mitigate health disparities at the state and local levels.

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 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.

Report

This report describes emerging opportunities and contributing success factors for advancing multi-sector data-sharing partnerships to improve health and well-being and advance equity.

Brief

This brief explores impediments and accelerants to advancing health equity as states are increasingly being called upon to drive change.

Webinar & Presentations

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

Report

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

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 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 provides suggestions states can use to improve the completeness of Medicaid data on enrollee race, ethnicity, and language. 

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.

Commentary

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

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.

Report

This report provides excerpts of health disparities and health equity contract language from Medicaid Managed Care contracts from five states, Washington, D.C., and the contract for California’s Health Exchange, Covered California.

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 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 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. 

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.

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.

Commentary

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

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.

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.

Report

This resource provides a six-step framework for healthcare organizations to improve minority health and foster equity.

Dataset

The 2020 County Health Rankings highlight how health outcomes and health factors differ by place within states and illustrates how health differs among racial/ethnic groups within places.

Commentary

This podcast discusses the many ways that states are working to address the challenges surrounding maternal and infant mortality, specifically the significant disparity experienced by black women,

Report

This report describes select policy and strategy levers that Medicaid agencies can employ to improve maternal health outcomes and address outcome disparities in five areas: coverage, enrollment, benefits, models of care, and quality improvement.

Report

This report focuses on how Medicaid programs can use data from the American Community Survey (ACS), to inform and target interventions that seek to address social determinants of health and advance health equity.

Report

This guide is intended for health departments as they continue their journey to become equity-focused organizations, both in awareness and practice.

Commentary

This analysis highlights the disparities between characteristics of populations most affected by housing affordability issues.

Report

This issue brief provides examples from a handful of states that have begun the work of identifying, evaluating, and reducing health disparities within their Medicaid managed care programs.

Report

05.2019 / By Urban Institute

This report assesses trends in self-reported measures of general health, mental health, activity limitations, and obesity by educational attainment from 1997-2017.

Brief , Graphic

Several states are developing accountable health models to improve health and control costs by addressing health-related community needs, such as transportation, recreation, and housing. This brief examines their organizational and governance structures.

Commentary

In this interview with Louisiana's Medicaid Director Jen Steele, she shares her approach to leveraging Medicaid’s role to improve health outcomes and health equity.

Brief

This brief explores opportunities to better address patients’ non-medical needs, including: identifying non-medical needs; employing non-traditional workers; partnering with community-based organizations/agencies; testing new technologies; and identifying funding.

Dataset

02.2019 / By National Equity Atlas

The National Equity Atlas is a comprehensive data resource to track, measure, and make the case for inclusive growth. It includes data on changing demographics, racial inclusion, and the economic benefits of equity—at city, region, state, and nationwide levels.

Report

This report highlights three states – Ohio, Oregon, and Washington – work using data, expertise, and evidence to modernize their public health systems.

Dataset , Graphic

This report provides a compilation of data on equity goals and progress for 28 measures of health, socioeconomic factors, physical and social environment, and access to health care. Each measure is presented by race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status for all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the nation.

Journal Article

This article uses data from the American Community Survey to examine changes in uninsurance and uninsurance disparities by race/ethnicity in Kentucky since the state’s implementation of the Affordable Care Act. It was published in the American Journal of Public Health.

Dataset , Report

The County Health Rankings is an annual county-by-county assessment that shows where we live matters to health. This year, we bring new analyses that show meaningful health gaps persist not only by place, but also among racial and ethnic groups. These gaps are largely the result of differences in opportunities in the places where we live. And, these differences disproportionately affect people of color.

Report

Studies show that health disparities are often passed down from socially disadvantaged parents to their children and grandchildren. Poor children begin life on an uneven playing field; they face greater challenges than their healthier, more advantaged classmates; and they often struggle as adults to accumulate wealth to share with—and bequeath to—their children. State and federal health policymakers play a crucial role in breaking this cycle of poverty and inequity so that all can live healthy, prosperous lives.

Report

As states transform their health systems, many are turning to community health workers (CHWs) to improve health outcomes and access to care, address social determinants of health, and help control costs of care. While state definitions vary, CHWs are typically frontline workers who are trusted members of and/or have a unique and intimate understanding of the communities they serve. These resources support state efforts to incorporate CHWs into their health and health equity improvement work.

Report

This report identifies solutions that could be developed, and implemented at the local or community level to advance health equity.

Webinar & Presentations

Increasingly, health departments are serving as leaders in communities to address the root causes of health inequities. This requires changing systems and policies, and working with non-traditional partners to ensure that all people have the opportunity to attain their highest level of health. On December 12, 2016, PHNCI explored the stories of two health departments working to transform communities such that zip codes do not dictate health outcomes. 

Brief

Stark health disparities make it difficult to move the needle on health outcomes and costs and reflect the fact that states face a variety of political and resource constraints when it comes to implementing health equity initiatives. While disparities still exist, all states have opportunities to advance health equity through a range of approaches, from incremental targeted programs to integration in broad health reform initiatives.

Brief

State agencies across the country, from Medicaid to public health, to social services and corrections, are deeply engaged in multi-sector initiatives to reduce infant mortality. And for good reason: the United States ranks 25th among industrialized countries in infant mortality with a disproportionate number of being African Americans.

Report

In an era of public health system transformation, public health departments around the nation are adapting — or “modernizing” — to meet the growing and changing needs of their communities. To help states navigate the challenges inherent in public health system transformation, three grantee states are participating in a learning community supported by PHNCI. The three states — Ohio, Oregon and Washington — are working to test and implement the systems transformations required to provide the foundational public health services statewide and ensure that all residents have equitable access to public health.

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