Weekly updates

• HHS Addresses Data Breach Incident 
• Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Data Collection
• Insights on federal healthcare priorities
• Using SNAP to power Medicaid renewals
• State updates: AK, AR, AZ, CA, IL, KY, MA, MD, MI, MO, NC, NJ, NY, OR & UT    

Weekly updates

• Medicaid and CHIP enrollment numbers
• New Racial Equity Community of Practice
• Supporting Postpartum Mental Health 
• State updates: AK, AR, CO, MA, ME, MI, MN, MT, NC, ND, NM, NY, OR & WI

Weekly updates

• Mapping Health Equity
• State Strategies to Increase Medicaid Renewals
• Promoting Equitable Healthcare Through Community-Led Initiatives
• Medicaid to Address Health-Related Social Needs
• New Maternal Health Grants for States 
• State updates: AZ, CA, CO, DE, IN, MA, MI, NC, ND, NJ, NM, PA, SC & WI

Weekly updates

• Opportunities to Advance Equitable Maternal Care
• New Translated Communications Resources 
• Upcoming SHVS Webinar – Save the Date! 
• Transforming Maternal Health 
• Annual Medicaid Managed Care Organization Survey
• Consumer-Centric Approach to State-Based Marketplaces
• State updates: AZ, CA, CO, MD, MN, MT, NC, NM, NV, NY, OR & PA

Weekly updates

• New SHVS tools for health equity 
• Expanding Coverage to Non-Citizen Populations
• Upcoming SHVS Webinar – Save the Date! 
• Approaches for Collecting Health Equity Data in Massachusetts
• Updated State Medicaid and CHIP Telehealth Toolkit
• High-Cost Drugs and the Medicaid Program
• State updates: AZ, CA, CO, CT, HI, MN, NC, NJ, NM, NY, OR, WA & WI

Weekly updates

• Assisting States During the Unwinding 
• Evaluating Waiver Flexibilities for Medicaid Renewals
• Massachusetts Hospitals’ Historic Health Equity Commitment
• Medicaid Non-Emergency Transportation
• Contracting to Align Health and Social Care Ecosystems
• Cell and Gene Therapy Access Model
• State updates: CA, DC, IL, MA, MN, MO, ND, NE, NJ, OK, OR, PA & WI

Weekly updates

• Historic levels of Marketplace Enrollment
• Disability Data Collection Standards  
• Easing the burden of Medical Debt
• CMS: Funding for School-Based Health Services 
• Executive Actions to Promote Safe Storage of Firearms
• State updates: FL, MA, MI, MT, NC, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI & WI

Weekly updates

• New unwinding communications resources
• SHVS Unwinding Resources
• Emerging Approaches in Oral Healthcare
• Consent Management Processes for Implementation of Data Exchange
• New CMS Model to Advance Integration in Behavioral Health
• State updates: CA, CO, ME, MT, NC, NJ, OR, PA, TX, WA, WI & WV

Weekly updates

• Record-breaking Marketplace enrollment
• Messages for States Following the Unwinding 
• Upcoming SHVS Webinar
• Government Shutdown Implications for Health Programs and Personnel 
• Using Lived Experience to Monitor the Medicaid Unwinding
• State updates: FL, KY, MI, NC, ND, NJ, NY & PA

Uncategorized
Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:

• Preserving Coverage for Children 
• New Toolkit to Help States Address Health-Related Social Needs 
• How Colorado Is Working to Make Drugs More Affordable
• Can Medicaid Payment and Purchasing Strategies Advance Health Equity?
• State Medicaid Actions to Ensure Access to Gender-Affirming Care
• State updates: AZ, CA, IL, MD, MN, MO, NC, ND, NE, OR, PA & UT

Uncategorized

• New CMS Maternal Health Model
• Strategies for States to Support Worker Registries
• Lessons from America’s Former Top Doctor 
• National Healthcare Spending in 2022
• Expanding Health Coverage Through Facilitated Enrollment
• State updates: AR, CA, CO, MA, MI, MO, MS, NE, NJ, NM, NY, OR & SC 

Weekly updates

• New SHVS Unwinding Resources 
• New Initiatives to Support Individuals During Open Enrollment 
• Cost-Growth Benchmarks Can Make Healthcare More Affordable and Equitable
• Medicaid Health-Related Social Needs Learning Series
• Emerging Leaders of Color Fellowship
• State updates: DC, FL, ID, MS, NC, ND, NJ, NM, NY, OR, PA, WA, WI & WV

Weekly updates

• Proposed Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters
• New Unwinding Data From CMS
• CMS resource on Transitional Medical Assistance
• 2023 Annual Medicaid MCO Survey
• Improving Data Sharing in Medicaid & CHIP Programs
• State updates: AL, AZ, CA, CO, LA, MA, MD, MI, NC, NH, NM, NV, NY, OR, TN & VA

Uncategorized

In Last Week’s Update:
• New Unwinding Resources
• CMS Resources to Navigate Health Insurance Programs
• CMS Guidance on Health-Related Social Needs
• Strategies to Improve Outpatient Billing Practices
• New CMS Tribal Protections in Medicaid and CHIP Toolkit
• State updates: AL, CA, IA, KS, MA, MI, MN, MO, NC, NY, OR, WV & WY

Weekly updates

New unwinding resources
State updates: AR, AZ, CA, ID, KS, MD, MI, MO, NC, NE, NM, NY, OR, PA, SD & WY
Strategies for reducing clinician burnout
Impacts of medical debt

Weekly updates

• Improved Tools to Support States During Open Enrollment 
• Medicaid and CHIP Data
• Improved Tools to Support States During Open Enrollment 
• State updates: AZ, CA, CO, KS, MA, ME, MN, NE, NJ, NY, OR, VA & WI

Weekly updates

• New Unwinding Resources
• FAQs Concerning Termination of Coverage for Children
• What’s New for 2024 Marketplace Enrollment
• Leveraging Race and Ethnicity Data to Advance Health Equity
• Data on Residential Redlining
• State updates: CA, CO, GA, HI, IL, LA, MD, MT, NC, NE, NJ, PA, VA, WA & WV

Weekly updates

• Communicating Enrollee Reinstatement Notice Language
• Open Enrollment: Social Media Messages
• New Jersey's budget to Address Medical Debt
• Continuous enrollment for children
• Infant and early childhood mental health
• State updates: AZ, CA, CO, FL, IA, KY, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, NM, NY, OR, SC & WA

Weekly updates

• New States are Providing Coverage Transition Data
• Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity Data Collection: Best Practices
• Aligning policies with birthing people’s preferences
• Investing in social determinants of health
• Leveraging Medicaid to Improve the Healthcare Delivered to American Indians and Alaska Natives
• State updates: AZ, CO, IA, MN, NC, NE, NJ, PA & VA

Weekly updates

• New CMS Unwinding Data
• State Guidance on Continuous Eligibility for Children
• Leveraging Multi-Payer Aligned Measure sets
• Webinar on AHEAD model
• State updates: CA, CT, HI, IA, IL, MA, MD, MI, NC, NV, OK, WA & WV

Uncategorized

• Exploring Approaches to Health Equity Benchmarking
• NAMD Unwinding Update
• Increasing the Rate of Ex Parte Renewals
• Call for Applications: Equity Changemakers Institute
• State updates: CA, IN, KS, MA, MN, MS, NC, NY, OR, PA, TX, VA, WA & WY

Weekly updates

In Last Week's Update:
• Ex Parte at the Individual Level
• State Strategies to Preserve Coverage
• New Mothers' Coverage During the Public Health Emergency
• Differences in Language Access Across State-Based Marketplaces
• Financing Substance-Use Care Treatment and Support Services 
• State Updates: CA, CT, DE, MI, NC, ND, NJ, NM, NV, RI & VT

Weekly updates

• Health Insurance Coverage Data in 2022
• Navigating Data Challenges to Keep Eligible People on Medicaid
• Opportunities for States to Lower Drug Costs Across Payers
• State updates: AZ, CT, DC, ID, IN, ME, MN, OR, PA, VT & WA

Weekly updates

• CMS All-Hands-On-Deck Strategy to Support Children and Families
• CMS Announces Model to Redesign Healthcare Delivery and Improve Equitable Access
• Protecting Consumers from Medical Debt
• State updates: AZ, CA, CO, GA, IL, MO, NC, NJ, NM, NY, OK, OR, PA, TN, VA, WI & WV

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:
• CMS Guidance on Conducting Eligibility Redeterminations
• SHVS Resources: Improving Ex Parte Processes

Uncategorized

In This Week’s Update:
• Delivering Medicaid and CHIP Services in School-Based Settings
• Monitoring Health Coverage During the Unwinding
• Expanding Coverage Through Section 1332
• Premium Increases in Early Rate Filings

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:
• Tracking Health Coverage During the Unwinding
• CMS Issues Guidance on Medicaid and CHIP Services in School-Based Settings
• Medicaid’s Role in Small Towns and Rural Areas
• State Agency Partners Navigating the Unwinding
• Eligibility and Enrollment Performance Indicator Unwinding Data
• Section 1332 Waiver Application Process
• Early Rate Filings Show Premium Increases
• State updates: AZ, CT, DE, MA, MD, MI, MN, NY, OR, RI & WY

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:
• Call Center Strategies to Support Unwinding
• State-Based Marketplace Transition Data During Unwinding
• Surveys to Monitor Coverage Transitions During the Unwinding
• Increasing Access, Quality, and Equity in Postpartum Care in Medicaid and CHIP
• Promising Strategies to Help Medicaid Enrollees Retain Insurance Coverage
• State updates: AR, AZ, KY, MA, MI, MN, NC, NJ, PA, RI, UT, WA, WI & WY

Uncategorized

• CMS Unwinding Data Release
• Misleading Marketing as Millions Search for Coverage
• Interventions to Avoid Choice Errors in the ACA Marketplace
• The Intersection of Housing and Health
• State updates: AK, AL, CA, CT, DE, MA, MI, MN, MS, NM, NY, PA & WI

Weekly updates

• Mental health parity proposed rules
• State updates: CA, CO, CT, DC, GA, IL, NC, NH, NJ, NV, NY, PA & WI
• Medicaid is 58 years old!
• How managed care is supporting unwinding

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:
• Medicaid Renewal Mitigation Strategies
• Promoting Equity in Mental Healthcare
• State Unwinding Renewal Data
• The One Year Anniversary of 988
• Preventing Intimate Partner Violence
• State updates: AK, CA, CO, CT, IA, KY, MD, MI, MN, MS, NJ, WA, WI & WY

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:
• State Reporting to Monitor Unwinding
• Limiting Junk Insurance
• Value-Based Payment for Prescription Drugs
• Behavioral Health Services in Rural Communities
• State updates: AR, AZ, ME, MN, MO, NC, NJ, NY & OR

Uncategorized

In This Week’s Update:
• New CMS Unwinding Resources
• No Surprises Act Proposed Rule
• States of Unwinding: July 7, 2023
• Facilitating Multi-Stakeholder Health Equity Collaboration
• Modernizing Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment
• State updates: AK, CA, DE, FL, MD, MI, ND, NJ, OK, OR, PA, USVI & WI

Uncategorized

In This Week’s Update:
• Best Practices: Reporting Unwinding Data
• Social Insurance during the Pandemic: Successes, Shortcomings, and Policy Options for the Future
• Celebrating Black Women Leaders in Medicaid
• State Employee Health Plan Cost Growth
• State updates: AZ, CT, DC, IL, MA, MD, MN, NJ, NV, NY, PA, VA, WA & WI

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:
• New States of Unwinding
• Early childhood mental health services
• Scorecard on state health system performance
• State updates: CA, FL, IL, KY, MA, MT, ND, NM, NV, OR, SC, TX & WI

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:
• HHS letter to governors on Medicaid redeterminations
• SHVS’ State Health Equity Measure Set
• CMS’ National Health Expenditure Projections
• KFF Report on Consumer Experiences in Health Insurance
• NAMD’s Perspective on Unwinding
• State updates: AR, HI, IN, KS, KY, MD, ND, NH, NM, NY, SC & WI

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:
· SHVS Updated Expert Perspective
· Marketplace Network Adequacy and Usability
· Enhancing Access to Medicaid Family Planning Program Services
· Adults Who Did Not Take Medication as Prescribed to Reduce Costs
· State updates: CA, CO, CT, ID, IL, MA, MD, ME, ND, NJ, NY, SC, SD, TX & UT

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:
• Enrollee’s Experiences With The Unwinding
• Medicaid can improve maternal health
• Pharmacy Availability of Opioid Use Disorder Treatment
• State updates: AZ, CA, CO, GA, IL, ME, MA, MT, NY, SC, WA, WI

Weekly updates

In This Week's Update:
• Demonstration Facilitation Toolkit
• Congressional Budget Office Insurance Coverage Projections for 2023 to 2033
• Medicaid Leadership institute, Class of 2024
• State updates: AZ, IA, KY, MA, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NM, OR, PA & RI  

Uncategorized
Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:
• Where we are on Unwinding
• Serving Justice-Involved Individuals Through 1115 Demonstration Evaluations
• Should the Federal Government Establish Minimum Standards for Marketplaces?
• School-Based Services in Medicaid
• State Updates: CA, CO, DE, IL, IN, KT, MI, MN, NH, NJ, NY, OR, PA, WA, WI

Uncategorized

In This Week’s Update:
• End of the Public Health Emergency
• Sequencing Communications to Encourage Coverage Transitions
• A Closer Look at Medicaid Call Center Options as the Unwinding Kicks Into High Gear
• State updates: AR, CO, IA, IN, MA, MI, MN, MO, NJ, NV, OR, PA, RI, VT & WA

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:
• States of Unwinding
• HHS’ New Website Launch
• Milbank Leadership Programs
• Access to Maternity Providers: Midwives and Birth Centers
• Adults Forgo Healthcare Because of Transportation Barriers
• State updates: CA, CO, GA, MD, MN, MS, NC, NJ, NY, OR, PA & WA

Uncategorized

In This Week’s Update:
• The Basic Health Program
• Medicaid Unwinding Estimated Coverage Losses
• Strategies for Providing Whole Child Care
• Regulatory-Palooza Week
• State updates: CA, CT, DC, ID, IN, KY, MA, MI, MN, NM, NY, OR, PA, VA & WA

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:
• Supporting Reentry for Justice-Involved Populations
• ACA’s Preventive Services Requirement
• Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters
• Final 2024 Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters
• Attempts to Scam Medicaid Members Popping up Nationwide as Unwinding Commences
• Protect Medicaid 2023
• State updates: CO, DC, IA, IL, KY, ME, MI, MN, ND, NE, NM, NY, OR, RI, UT, WA & WV

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:
• Health Coverage for DACA Recipients
• Termination of the National Emergency Declaration
• Sustainable Financing Strategies to Support Community Investments by Health Plans and Hospitals
• Crossing the Bridge to the Marketplace
• Medicaid Stability is Critical to Nation’s Continuum of Health Insurance Options
• State updates: AZ, CA, CO, DE, ID, IL, KY, MA, MI, NJ, NM, NY & PA

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:
• Promoting Equity in Medicaid Managed Care
• Coverage of Preventive Services Without Cost-Sharing in Jeopardy
• HHS Reminds States of Civil Rights Obligations During Unwinding
• Black-White Disparities in Maternal Vulnerability and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes
• State updates: CA, ID, MD, MI, MN, MT, NH, NJ, NM, NY, SC, TX, VT & WA

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:
• Decision in ACA Preventive Services Case
• The Expanding Role of Medicaid in the Criminal-Legal System
• Resources to Support State Implementation of Renewal Mitigation Strategies
• Maryland’s Total Cost of Care Model
• State updates: AK, CT, FL, KY, MA, MI, NC, NJ, NV & NY

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:
• Happy Birthday ACA!
• New Resource to Advance Maternal Health Equity
• Inequities in Health Insurance Coverage and Access
• Creating Health System Accountability through Community Partnerships
• Preventive Services Use Among People With Private Insurance
• State updates: AZ, CA, CO, CT, KS, KY, LA, MD, NM, OK & RI

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:
• New SHVS Unwinding Resources
• Maternal Mortality Data
• Most Adults with Past-Due Medical Debt Owe Money to Hospitals
• Opportunities to Support Early Literacy Promotion in Pediatric Primary Care
• Oregon Health Authority’s Healthcare Market Oversight Program
• State updates: DC, IL, KS, ME, MN, MS, NC, OR & RI

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:
• Princeton Pulse Podcast
• Maintaining Access to Services After Transitioning from Medicaid
• What the Growing Medicaid Undercount Means for Data Users and Policymakers
• Accelerating Progress Toward Healthcare Equity
• Accelerating Progress Toward Healthcare Equity
• State updates: CA, CO, DE, IL, KS, MA, NC, NE, NY, OH, WI, WV & WY

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:
• State-by-State Unwinding Dates
• Medicaid Enrollment Growth: Who May Be at Risk
• O’Neil Institute Healthcare Litigation Tracker
• Unwinding Home and Community-Based Services PHE Flexibilities
• State updates: IA, IL, MA, MN, NC, NV, NY, PA, SC & VA

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:
• How SBMs and DOIs can prepare for unwinding
• SHVS on FCC Ruling
• Navigating Medicaid Unwinding Transitions to Private Health Insurance
• State updates: AL, CA, IA, ID, IL, MI, NJ, NV, OK & OR

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:
· Executive Order Promotes Community Engagement
· Strategies to Connect Children of Undocumented Status to Coverage
· Q&A: Actuarial Analysis of a Medicaid Palliative Care Benefit
· Catalog of Value-Based Initiatives for Rural Providers
· State updates: AK, CA, CO, FL, GA, IA, IL, MI, MT, NC, NY, RI, SC, TN, UT, VT & WA

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:
• SHVS on Medicaid Unwinding
• Medi-Cal Section 1115 demonstration
• CMS’s 2020 Rule on Medicaid ‘Continuous Coverage’ Is Blocked as to Additional Dual-Eligible Enrollees
• Remaining States Should Expand Medicaid to Maximize Coverage and Protect Against Funding Drop
• Is Carve-In Financing of Medicaid Behavioral Health Services Better than Carve-Out?
• State updates: AK, AZ, CA, CO, CT, KY, NC, ND, NV, NY, OK, OR, PA, VT, WA & WI

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:
• CMS Releases New Unwinding Guidance
• New SHVS Publications: Operationalizing Community Engagement
• New SHVS Unwinding Communications Resource Available: Video Message with Your State’s Branding
• Biden Administration Proposes New Rules to Expand Access to Birth Control Coverage Under the ACA
• State updates: CA, KS, MA, ME, MI, MN, MO, NC, NE, NH, NJ, OH & WI

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:
• Text Messaging Flexibility to Support Unwinding
• Section 1115 Demonstrations
• Can Employer-Sponsored Insurance Be Saved? A Review of Policy Options: Price Regulation
• State Medicaid Innovations to Support Home Visiting Services
• Strengthening Marketplace Network Rules for Essential Community Providers
• State updates: AL, CA, CO, IL, KS, MD, MI, ND, NM, NV, NY, OH, VA, WA, WI & WY

Uncategorized

In This Week’s Update:
• New SHVS unwinding materials
• Promising Practices to Foster Meaningful Health System and Community Partnerships
• Mothers’ Mental Health Challenges Predated the COVID-19 Pandemic
• Realizing the Promise of All-Payer Claims Databases
• State updates: AR, CO, MI, MN, NC, NE, NJ, OR, SC, SD, UT & WA

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:
• New “In Lieu Of” Services Guidance
• A Playbook for Implementing a State Cost Growth Target
• Millions of Uninsured People Can Get Free ACA Plans
• How Sharing Data Builds More Efficient and Effective Benefits Systems
• State updates: AZ, CA, DC, GA, KS, LA, MA, MN, ND, NE, NJ, NY, RI & WA

Uncategorized

In This Week’s Update:
• SHVS webinar: Unwinding Provisions in the Omnibus
• Medicaid Director Letter
• Medicaid Innovation Award: Coffee Chat with Kentucky and West Virginia
• New Report Highlights Gap in the No Surprises Act
• Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Adults Face Healthcare Access Challenges Related to Limited English Proficiency
• State updates: CO, MN, NJ, NM, NY, OK, SC, TN & VA

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:
• 2024 NBPP
• New Urban Institute Report Estimates Impact of PHE Expiration 
• State and Local Estimates of the Uninsured Population in the U.S. Using the Census Bureau’s 2021 American Community Survey
• Discussion with Medicaid Innovators
• State updates: CA, CO, MD, NC, NH, NM, NV & WA

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:
• Webinar: A Discussion with Medicaid Innovators
• Report: Number of Uninsured Children Stabilized and Improved During Pandemic 
• New Marketplace Enrollment Numbers
• Adults in Medicaid-Enrolled Families Unaware of Redeterminations
• The Erosion of Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance and Potential Policy Responses
• Reducing Racial Disparities in Childbirth-Related Outcomes Through Community Collaboration
• State updates: CO, MI, NC, NJ, NM, NY, OR, TN, TX & WA

Uncategorized

In This Week’s Update:
• Medicaid Expansion’s Fiscal Impact
• Essential Health Benefits Request for Information
• Sugary Beverage Taxes and Public Health
• The ACA’s Preventive Services Benefit is in Jeopardy: What Can States Do to Preserve Access?
• State updates: CA, CO, CT, DE, MI, NC, NE, NJ, NY, OK, OR & WA

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:
• Unwinding Deadline Request
• SHVS Resource Page
• Developing a Payment and Spending Strategy to Advance Health Equity: Checklist for Medicaid Decision-Makers
• 2022 March of Dimes Report Card
• Comparing Federal Government Surveys that Count the Uninsured: 2022
• State updates: AL, CA, CO, DC, IA, MN, NJ, NC, OK, OR, TX, VA & WI

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:
• New SHVS State Spotlight Series
• Continuity of Coverage Expert Perspective
• Improving Data to Advance Health Equity Solutions
• Equity Changemakers Institute
• Rural Health Equity Toolkit
• State updates: AR, CA, CO, MN, NY, PA, SC, SD & WI

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:
• OEP Kicks Off
• CMS Final Rule
• State-Based Strategies for Boosting Health Plan Enrollment
• The Institute for Medicaid Innovation 2022 Medicaid Managed Care Organization Survey
• Social Determinants of Health for Infants and Toddlers
• State updates: AL, AR, AZ, CA, IL, MI, MS, NJ, OR & SD

Uncategorized

In This Week’s Update:
• Marketplace Coverage
• Unwinding FAQ
• No Surprises Act Implementation
• OEP kicks off next week
• Birth Equity in Medicaid
• 50-State Medicaid Budget Survey Archives
• State updates: CA, GA, IL, ME, NJ, NV, NY, PA, TN & WI

Uncategorized
Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:
• Maternal Health Compendium
• CMS Proposed Rule on Medicaid and CHIP E&E
• State Access to Behavioral Health Services
• Strategies in Behavioral Health Integration
• State updates: CO, DE, IL, KY, MD, MI, NE, NH, PA & SC

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:
• PHE Renewed
• “Family Glitch” Rule
• Screening for Social Needs in Healthcare Settings
• Families USA Launches New Center to Lower Costs
• Strengthening Oral Health in the U.S.
• State updates: AK, AZ, CA, KS, MD, MI, MN, NM, OR, VA, WI, & WV

Uncategorized

• SHVS webinar on E&E proposed rule
• Addressing Health-Related Social Needs Through Medicaid Managed Care
• Center for Health and Wellbeing Launches Princeton Pulse Podcast
• CMS Sets Parameters for Optional Health Home Benefit for Medically Complex Children
• State updates: IN, MI, MN, & more

Uncategorized

In This Week’s Update:
• Latest Medicaid and CHIP enrollment numbers
• National strategy on hunger, nutrition and health
• Robust, Diverse, and Resilient Behavioral Health Workforce in Massachusetts
• NAMD Federal Policy Brief: Behavioral Health Equity
• State updates: AL, KS, MA, MN, NE, NV, NJ, NM & OR

Uncategorized

CDC Data Shows More Than 80% of Pregnancy-Related Deaths are Preventable 
Health Insurance Coverage Estimates from the 2021 ACS and CPS
The Future of Aging Policy: A Snapshot of State Priorities
How Changing the Marketplace Coverage Benchmark Could Impact Affordability
State updates: AZ, MI, NC, NJ, NV, OH, OK, OR & RI

Uncategorized

In This Week’s Update:
• Summary of E&E Proposed Rule
• Advancing Oral Health Equity for Medicaid Populations
• Analysis of Recent National Trends in Medicaid and CHIP Enrollment
• State-Level Trends in Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance
• State updates: CA, KS, KY, MI, NM, NY, OK, OR & WV

Uncategorized

• Public Charge Rule and Preventive Services Decision
• Protecting Coverage for Postpartum Individuals
• Requesting an Extension of Nurse Aide Training
• Aligning in Crisis: Strategies & Tools to Leverage Federal Funding
• State Updates: DE, IN, ME, MN, NC, NJ, NY, OK, TN & WV

Uncategorized

•Enrollment and eligibility proposed rule
•Expanding Equitable Telehealth Access: Federal Funding Opportunities to Support Universal Broadband
•Assessing Physician Acceptance of Medicaid Patients Using State Health Compare
•State updates: AZ, CA, FL, IA, LA, MN, MO, NC, NE, NH, NJ, RI & WI

Uncategorized

• No Surprises Act Final Rule
• ASPE Projects Coverage Losses Post-PHE
• Lessons From the California Health Care Quality and Affordability Act
• States Take Charge of Healthcare Costs
• Unwinding the Medicaid Continuous Coverage Provision: Projected Enrollment Effects
• State updates: AL, CA, CO, CT, IN, MI, NV & WI

Weekly updates

•PHE Likely to be Extended
•Advancing Health Equity Learning Collaborative
•A Community-Centered Approach to Data Sharing and Policy Change: Lessons for Advancing Health Equity
•Optional Medicaid Health Home Benefit
•State updates: AZ, CA, CO, GU, HI, IL, MA, MD, MN & OH

Uncategorized

In This Week’s Update:

Inflation Reduction Act
Toolkit: Medicaid Managed Care Procurements
Section 1902(e)(14) Waiver Approvals
New Public Health Modernization Project
Developments in Section 1115 Budget Neutrality Policy
State Updates: CO, CT, FL, GA, ID, MS, NJ, NM & OR

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:

National Uninsured Rate Reaches All-time Low
Analysis of State Medicaid Enrollment Forms
Meeting Social Needs in Tennessee Medicaid
Colorado Option Advances Equitable Access to Healthcare
Strengthening Communications to Medicaid Enrollees
State Updates: AZ, GA, IL, ME, MI, MN, MO, NJ, NY, OR & UT

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:

57th anniversary of Medicaid
Section 1557 proposed rule
Medicaid Managed Care Contracts
CMS Releases Maternity Care Action Plan
Latest Legal Challenges to the ACA
Technology to Improve Quality within MMC
State Updates: AZ, CA, CT, DE, GA, IN, KS, LA, MA, MS, NY & WI

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:

• COVID-19 PHE Renewed
• New Funding for Connecting Kids to Coverage 
• Transitions to Exchange Coverage
• Medi-Cal and Health Equity for Pregnant People
• State Updates: CA, GA, MA, ME, MI, MT, NE, OR, TN & WA
 

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:

Transition to 988
Social Screening in Healthcare Settings
Medicaid Pathways Program applications open
Health Coverage Options for Ukrainian Nationals
Health Plan Premiums Poised to Spike in 2023
State Updates: AK, AR, CA, CT, MI, MN, MT, NJ, NY & OR

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:

New SHVS Social Care Resource
Implementing ‘988’
Expiration of ARPA subsidies
Post-PHE State Telehealth Policy Trends
State updates: CO, ME, MT, NH, NC, NV, TN & WA

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:

Maternal Health
Children’s Uninsurance
Building Community Power
State Health System Performance
State Updates: CA, CT, MA, NM, OK, OR, VT & WI

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:

Measuring Screening for Social Risk Factors
COVID-19 Vaccines for Children
SBM Race and Ethnicity Data Collection
LGBT Experiences Accessing Care
State Updates: AZ, CA, CO, IL, IN, KY, WV & WI

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:

New SHVS Unwinding Resources
Budget Neutrality Requirements
Healthcare Debt in America
Help Improve Medicaid and SNAP Data Coordination
Reducing Health Disparities Among the Medicaid Population
State Updates: DC, LA, ME, MI, MN, NE, NJ, NM, NC, OR, VA & WA

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:

New SHVS Unwinding Tool
Medicaid Leadership Institute Applications Open
Medicaid Managed Care Innovation In Response to Pandemic
FAQ's on Agent Compensation and Availability of Coverage
Implementing Social Risk Factor Screening Measures
Standards for Provider Network Adequacy in Medicaid
State Updates: CO, DE, GA, MI, NH, NC, TX, VA & WV

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:

New SHVS Expert Perspective: State Medicaid Strategies
Racism As A Barrier to Health Equity
CMS Extends Deadline to Use ARP Funding 
State of Babies Yearbook
Mental Healthcare: Addressing Inequities In Quality
State Updates: AZ, CO, DE, IL, LA, MT, NC, WI & WV

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:

Twelve Month Postpartum Expansion News
Medicaid: Social Risk Factor Screening Measures
Averting Premium Shock in the Marketplace
What Racism Costs Everyone
State updates: LA, MN, ND, NJ, NM, NY, OK & OR

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:

PHE news
New tool: ARPA Funding for Communities
Healthcare Costs in the Absence of ARPA
School-based behavioral health services
State Updates: CA, CO, GA, MA, MI, MN, NH, TX, VA & WA

Uncategorized

In This Week’s Update:

New SHVS Unwinding Communications Resource
Assist Leadership Programs
Assisting states with Medicaid Redeterminations
Medicaid Continuous Coverage: Fiscal and Enrollment Implications
Leveraging Medicaid to Reduce Youth Homelessness
State updates: AL, CT, FL, LA, MD, MI, MT, NC, OR, WA & WI

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:

New SHVS Resources: NBPP and Family Glitch
Text Messaging As A Strategy For The Unwinding
The Role of Marketplaces in Mitigating Coverage Loss
Medicaid Funding of Community Health Workers in States
State Updates: CA, GA, HI, ME, MN, NE, SC, TN & WI

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:

Final 2023 NBPP
New Medicare Special Enrollment Period
New SHVS toolkit: Medicaid Estate Recovery
County Health Rankings
Prioritizing Childhood Mental Health
State updates: AZ, CO, CT, FL, NM, OH, OR, PA, TN & WI

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:

CMS Health Equity Strategy
Toolkit: Preparing for the end of PHE
Consumer Experiences with Healthcare Costs
Healthcare Cost Growth Targets and Health Equity
Approaches to Increase Primary Care Spending
State Updates: CA, KS, KY, MA, MI, MN, NE, RI,  VT & WA

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:

Federal PHE extended 
Achieving Substantial Reforms on Access to Coverage 
Decline in marketplace premiums 
Equity in state-based marketplace plans 
Reducing maternal mortality and morbidity
State updates: CA, CT, DE, MA, NY, OK, OR, PA & WI

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:

New Proposed Rule to Fix Family Glitch
Returning to Normal Eligibility and Enrollment Operations
2023 NPP and Health Equity
Medicaid Churn and Coverage Transitions
State Strategies to Address Adverse Childhood Experiences
State Updates: CA, CO, CT, GA, MD, MN, NC, NM, NY, OK, TX & WI


Weekly updates

• New State Plan Extends Postpartum Medicaid Coverage to 12 Months
• 4.8 Million Medicaid Enrollees May Transfer Health Coverage—How States Can Prepare 
• The Bridge Between Medicaid and the Marketplace—What Role Might MCOs Play in Unwinding the PHE?
• North Carolina’s COVID-19 Support Services Program: Lessons for Health Policy Programs to Address Social Needs
• California’s Marketplace Tries New Tactics to Reduce the Number of Uninsured and Underinsured
• Still Time to Apply: State Medicaid Churn Learning Collaborative Opportunity

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:

Medicaid churn learning collaborative 
Creating new opportunities for doulas
New unwinding resources for states 
Overview of the Public Charge Proposed Rule
State Strategies to Support Telehealth Infrastructure
State updates: AK, CO, IL, IA, NV, NC, VA, WA & WI 

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:

CMS maternal health learning collaborative 
How states are preparing for end of PHE
No Surprises Act Enforcement
DCHBX’s efforts to address systemic racism 
State updates: AZ, AR, CO, DE, MN, MT, NE, NY, OR, PA & WA

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:

Virginia Invests in Doulas to Improve Maternal Health Outcomes
End of PHE eligibility and enrollment toolkit
Medicaid enrollment trends during COVID_19
New SHVS issue brief: messaging public charge
TA opportunity: easy-to-use digital tools and services
State updates: AK, MD, MN, NV, NY, OR & PA

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:

New CDC maternal mortality statistics
No Surprises Act interim final rule
Trends in Medicaid managed care
Oregon’s kindergarten readiness metric
Improving Child Physical Abuse Detection & Reducing Disparities
State updates: IA, MN, NC, NJ, NY, OR, PA & WI

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:

CMS RFI: health care access
CMS clarifies parameters for covering COVID-19 vaccines 
Medicaid churn learning collaborative
Preventing millions of children from Losing Medicaid
State updates: CA, CT, LA, NY, NV, NC, OK & PA

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:

Health equity and 1115 waivers
Building Racial Equity into Medicaid
State Updates: CA, CO, DE, MA, NY, OR & PA
Data for Community Health Affinity Groups
Comparing Federal Surveys That Count the Uninsured
Improving Substance Use Services for Youth

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:

Texting Medicaid enrollees
No Surprises Act Toolkit
ARP funding for HCBS IT needs
Medicaid enrollees’ communication preferences
Using Medicaid to Expand Access to Doula Care
State updates: AL, AZ, CA, MA, MN, NC, NY, PA, TX, WA & WI

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:

Final Marketplace Enrollment for 2022
Medicaid-financed Crisis Response Services 
A Blueprint for Racial Equity
OEP Numbers and New Funds for Outreach
State Updates: CO, GA, IN, ME, MD, MI, MN, MT, NJ, NV, OR & WY

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:

• Using Data Dashboards to Track Health Coverage
• Medicaid’s Response to Opioid Epidemic
• Payment Strategies to Improve Health Outcomes 
• Behavioral Health Integration
• State Updates: CO, CT, LA, MN, NC, NJ, NY & UT

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:

Public Health Emergency Extension
Healthcare.gov Enrollment Data 
COVID-19 Testing Reimbursement 
Crisis Intervention Services
Low-Income Parents’ Access to Needed Care
Improving Data on Race and Ethnicity
State Updates: MA, MD, ME, MN, NV, NY, OR, PA, VT & WA

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:

• New Proposed ACA Rules for 2023 
• State Health Coverage for Pregnant Immigrants & Children
• Census Data Quality Challenges in 2020 
• Budget Neutrality and Section 1115 Waivers
• Enrollment Figures for Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP
• State Updates: AR, CA, CO, GA, MA, ME, MD, NJ, NV, PA & WA

Weekly updates

As we begin 2022, State Network will continue delivering the latest research from experts in the field on topics like COVID-19 and the related public health emergency, innovations in Medicaid focused on eliminating disparities and advancing health equity, prescription drug prices, and more. 

Uncategorized

In This Week’s Update:

Notable Sate Health & Value Strategies pieces from 2021
Advancing Health Equity through APMs
Addressing hunger through cross-sector partnerships
State updates: CA, LA, MA, MD, MN, NC, NE, NJ, OK & PA

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:

• HHS Actions on Improving Maternal Health
• 4.6 Million Enrolled Via Open Enrollment Period
• Increasing COVID-19 Vaccination Rates in Medicaid
• Use of Race in Clinical Diagnosis and Its Implications  
• Protecting Youth Mental Health
• State Updates: AZ, CT, MA, ME, MN, NY, NV, OH, OR, TN & WI

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:

• States to Cover Vaccine Counseling for Children
• Measuring Medicaid Social Care Interventions 
• Pediatric Vaccine Partner Webinar
• Colorado’s New Guidance on Transgender Health
• State Updates: CO, CT, DE, KY, MI, NC, NV, NY, PA, RI, TX, VA, & WA

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:

• CMCS Strategic Vision
• Increasing Cancer Screenings via Medicaid Managed Care 
• State Updates: AZ, CA, MT, NC, OR, RI, UT, VA & WY
• Using Federal Funds to Address Drivers of Health
• Rethinking Telehealth for Addiction Treatment
• Policies to Reduce Maternal Morbidity and Mortality

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:

• Medicaid Continuous Coverage Unwinding: IT Strategies
• State Updates: AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, GA, MN, NJ, NY, NV, OK, OR & WA
• Patient-Centered Addiction Care
• Healthcare for People Experiencing Homelessness
• Partnering with Healthcare to Build a Stronger Child Care System

 

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:

• Open Enrollment Period Begins
• Webinars on Managed Care and “No Surprises Act” 
• State Updates: AZ, MD, MN, MT, NC, OH, OR & SC
• Consumer Views on Healthcare Affordability
• Updated Navigator Resource Guide
• Health Equity Focused Learning Community

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:

• New SHVS Resources: PHE Unwinding
• State Updates: CO, CT, NC, NJ, NV & WV
• Enforcement of the No Surprises Act
• Perceptions of Healthcare Affordability
• Improving Race and Ethnicity Data

Uncategorized

In This Week’s Update:

• CMS Innovation Center’s Strategic Vision
• State Updates: AL, CA, CT, MI, MN, MT, NC, TX & WA
• Latest No Surprises Act Interim Final Rule
• Building an Equity-Centered Data System
• Medicaid Eligibility for COFA Migrants

Weekly updates

• SHVS Publications Review: Affordable Coverage for Immigrants, Funding Mobile Crisis Services, 2022 Open Enrollment 
• State Updates: CO, DE, MN, NJ, NY & WI
• Upcoming Webinar: Equity in Medicaid Managed Care
• Home Visiting Programs and Health Equity
• State-Based Marketplaces Expanding Via New Federal Grants
• Leveraging federal dollars for Home-and Community-Based Services

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update

• New SHVS Resource on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity 
• Recent Efforts to Extend Medicaid Postpartum Coverage
• Medicaid/CHIP Continuous Eligibility for Kids
• Strategies for Growing the Direct Care Workforce
• State Updates: AK, AZ, CA, IL, KS, NC, NY, TX & WI

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:

• SHVS Webinar on Afghan Refugee Guidance
• Interim Final Rule on Surprise Billings
• Strategies for Open Enrollment Outreach
• State Updates: AK, AZ, AR, CA, IA, IL, KS, KY, ME, MN, MO, NC, NE, NJ, NM, NY, PA, TX & WV
• No Surprises Act Enforcement
• Long-term Services and Supports
• Leveraging COVID-19 Relief for Cross-Sector Data Sharing

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:

• New SHVS Resources for States
• State Updates: CT, FL, IL, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NJ & UT
• Medicaid Churn Toolkit
• Racism and the COVID-19 Vaccine
• Minimizing Losses in Postpartum Coverage Post PHE

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:

• Health Equity Implications of PHE Unwinding
• State Updates: CA, CO, KS, LA, MA, ME, MN, NC, NJ, NM, NY, PA, OR and UT
• SEP Enrollment Report
• Medicaid’s Role in Back to School
• Oral Health and Health Equity 

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:

• New SHVS Resources: Equity in Managed Care and Increasing Response Rates among Underrepresented Groups
• State Updates: AZ, CA, CO, KS, LA, ME, NM, OH, OK, OR & TX
• Strategic Vision for the CMS
• Incorporating Equity into Trauma-Informed Care
• State Strategies to Increase COVID-19 vaccines in rural areas 

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:

• Expanding the Public Insurance Navigator Workforce
• Medicaid Managed Care and Health Equity Resource
• State Updates: CA, CO, IL, KS, MD, MN, NJ, NV, NY, PA & OR
• Changes in Federal Data Due to COVID-19
• Provider Attitudes Towards SDOH Screening
• Opportunities for Improving Pediatric Care

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:

• HHS Plan for COVID-19 Boosters 
• State updates: CO, DE, FL, IL, IN, MA, MD, MI, MN, NM, NY, NC, TN, WI & WY
• COVID-19 and Delays in Seeking Health Care for Children   
• How Insurers Can Advance Health Equity
• Transforming Child Care Through Anti-Racism

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:

• New SHVS resource: Health Equity Language Guide for State Officials
• CMS Issues Guidance for Programs Post-Pandemic 
• State updates: AZ, CA, CO, MD, MO, NJ, OH, OR, PA, SC, UT & WI   
• Innovation at CMS: A Vision for the Next 10 Years
• Discrimination and Adverse Health Care Consequences
• Latest Enrollment Data During SEP

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:

• New SHVS Resource: Equitable Vaccine Distribution
• Event: Strategies for States to Drive Equitable Vaccine Distribution and Administration
• State Updates: AL, CT, IL, MT, NC, ND, NH, NM, NY, PA, RI, VA & WI  
• Health Insurance Among Workers with Disabilities  
• State Health Policy Resources from Altarum
• Impact of COVID-19 and Federal Policies on Small Business Insurance

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:

• CMS Repeals 2019 Public Charge Determination
• HHS Renews Public Health Emergency
• State Updates: CA, LA, ME, MD, MO, NC, OR & WI
• Leveraging Community Expertise to Advance Health Equity
• The Case for the Accountable Health Communities Model
• Medicaid Policy Options for CYSHCN Post-COVID-19

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:

• HealthCare.gov SEP Enrollment Numbers
• Advancing Equity in Telehealth
• State Updates: AZ, DC, DE, ID, KS, MD, NC, NJ, NY & WI
• Funding Opportunity for • Substance Use Crisis Response
• Streamlining Benefits Access Systems
• Innovations in Medicaid Managed Care Webinar Series

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:

• New SHVS expert perspectives   
State updates: MD, MT, ND, NH, NY, OK, OH, WA & WI
• Lessons From Early Rate Filings   
• Advancing Medicare and Medicaid Integration
• Medicare Coverage Gap Fact Sheet

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:

• New CMCS Director  
• ACA Parameters for 2022
• Rule Limiting Surprise Billing
• State Updates: IL, LA, MA, MO, NC, NJ, NY, OK, OR, RI, & VA   
• Building Health Equity Into Medicaid Budgeting
• Understanding Racial Health Disparities in NY
• Learning Collaborative on Midwifery-Led Care Models  

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:

• Medicaid and CHIP Enrollment
• Expanded Funds for State-Based Marketplaces
• State updates: AZ, CA, CO, CT, GA, IN, KY, MN, NE,NJ, PA, & WI
• State Health Care Cost Benchmarking Models
• Native Americans and Health Equity
• Oversight on Health Care Provider Consolidation

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:

• SCOTUS Decision Affirming the ACA
• Special Enrollment Period Insures 1 Million
• State Updates: CO, CT, NC, NJ, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA, WV, & WY
• Upcoming Webinar on State Health Equity Measurement
• State Employee Health Plans and Cost Containment Strategies
• Health Sector Economic Indicators

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:

• Health Equity in National Payment Reform Efforts
• State updates: AK, AZ, CO, MI, ND, NJ, NY, NC, OK, OR, WA, WV & WI
• Event: Performance Measurement for State Medicaid
• Leveraging Medicaid for Children’s Health
• Health Equity and Premium Pricing

Weekly updates

In This Week’s Update:

• “Month of Action” to vaccinate 70% of Americans 
• New resources on COVID-19 vaccine distribution
• State updates: AZ, CO, GA, LA, MN, NE, NJ, NM, NY, PA, TX, & WA
• Event: New State Option for Community-Based Mobile Crisis Interventions 
• Apply for Medicaid Leadership Institute
• Telehealth and equity

Weekly updates

• New CMS Administrator
• State updates: CO, DC, ME, MI, NC, OH, TX, VT, WA & WI
• Chilling effect on immigrants families during pandemic
• Webinar: Exploring states’ option for mobile crisis interventions
• Health equity tracker
• Medicaid waivers to address homelessness: Lessons from states

Weekly updates

• SHVS Resources On Collecting Race, Ethnicity, and Language Data
• Treasury Clarifies Use For COVID-19 Relief Funds  
• State updates: AL, AZ, CA, CO, FL, KS, MA, MD, MN, NC, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OK, PA, TX, VA, WA, & WI
• Upcoming Webinar On Improved Behavior Health Crisis Resources
• Health Equity From A Medicaid Medical Director’s View
• Estimating And Examining The Cost Of Postpartum Coverage Expansion

Weekly updates

• New CDC Guidance on Masks
• CMS Enhances Home and Community-Based Care
• HHS Interprets Section 1557 to Include LGBTQ Americans
• State Updates: CA, MI, MO, NC, NJ, OH, OR, VA & WI
• Implementing Primary Care VBP Through Medicaid Managed Care
• COVID-19 Vaccines Experiences Among Hispanic Adults  
• Analyzing COVID-19’s Effect on Young Mental Health

Weekly updates

• Federal SEP Enrollment
• New State Health Insurance Resources
• State Updates: CA, LA, MI, NC, NJ, NY, RI, UT, VA, WI, WV
• Medicaid Strategy To Address Health-Related Social Needs
• Case Study:  New Jersey’s Maternal Health Efforts

Weekly updates

• American Families Plan
• Public Option Proposals
• Final 2022 NBPP Rule
• American Rescue Plan Analysis
• COVID-19 State Updates: CA, KS, PA, WV
• Other State Updates: AK, AZ, ME, NM, NV, NY, VA
• New Medicaid Leadership Training Opportunity
• Principles for Antiracist, Equitable Response to COVID-19
Case Study: Washington’s Individual Market

Weekly updates

• Navigator Grants and 2021 OEP Numbers
• American Rescue Plan: Postpartum Coverage and Tax Credits
• COVID-19 State Updates: CA, NC, ND, NE, NJ, WI
• Other State Updates: GA, KS, MO, NM, OH, TN, TX
• ARP Funding for States and Localities
• Supporting Young Children Post-COVID-19
• Health and Housing Institute for States

Weekly updates

• CMS Administrator Hearing
• Black Maternal Health Week Announcement
• Resources on American Rescue Plan Act
• COVID-19 State Updates: AZ, KS, MA, NJ, WI
• Other State Updates: CA, DC, IL, MA, MD, MN, NE, NJ, OK, PA, WI
• Expanding Affordable Coverage Options
• Health Care Pricing Transparency
• Building Healthier Communities Together Town Hall

Weekly updates

• President Biden’s FY 2022 Funding Request
• New Marketplace Enrollment
• CDC Racism and Health Website
• COVID-19 State Updates: FL, MN, VA, WI
• Other State Updates: CA, CO, IL, MA, NM, OH, VA, WA
• The No Surprises Act and State Balance Billing Protections
• Federal Relief Funding for Kids During and Beyond COVID-19
• Moving to Value-based Care post-COVID-19

Weekly updates

• ARPA Funding for HCBS
• HHS Measures to Encourage Vaccinations
• Special Enrollment Period
• COVID-19 State Updates: MA, MN, NE, NJ, NY, OR, WA, WI
• Other State Updates: AL, AZ, DE, NE, NJ, OR, VA
• Connecting Patients with Social Services
• Reducing Disparities in COVID-19 Vaccinations
• Health Equity Toolkit for Decisionmakers

Weekly updates

• New SHVS Resources on the American Rescue Plan
• ACA Anniversary
• Expanding COVID-19 Vaccine Access
• COVID-19 State Updates: MA, MI, NC, NY, OR, RI, WI
• Other State Updates: AK, CO, DE, MD, ME, MN, MT, HI, MN, NC, ND, NH, NJ, NV, NY, OR, PA, RI, WI
• Webinars on the American Rescue Plan
• Enrollment in Nongroup Health Insurance by Income Group
• OEP Experiences in NJ and PA

Weekly updates

• HHS Secretary Sworn In 
• Biden Administration Moves To Address COVID-19 Disparities 
• COVID-19 Vaccines and Emerging Viral Variants 
• COVID-19 State Updates: CA, CO, DC, DE, MD, MA, NJ, NY, NC, PA 
• Other State Updates: NJ, NC, OK, UT
• Lessons From State Balance Billing Laws 
• State, County, and Local Estimates Of The Uninsured Population

Weekly updates

• American Rescue Plan Signed
• Public Charge Rule Update
• COVID-19 State Updates: AK, CO, DC, LA, ME, MN, NC, PA, RI, WI
• Other State Updates: CT, MN, NY, OR
• Webinar on American Rescue Plan
• Updated Health Insurance Marketplace Calculator
• Medicaid Demonstrations and Impacts on Health Coverage

Weekly updates

• Medicaid Enrollment Update
• State Marketplace Insurance Subsidy Considerations
• COVID-19 State Updates: CA, CO, CT, KS, LA, MA, MD, MN, NC, NJ, NY, WI
• Other State Updates: NC, NJ, PA
• Addressing COVID-19 Vaccine Concerns
• Building Effective Partnerships with Communities
• A Year of COVID-19 in Rural America

Weekly updates

• New SHVS Resources
• COVID-19 State Updates: AK, AZ, MN, NC, OR, UT, WV, WI
• Other State Updates: DE, MN, NJ
• Medicaid’s Role in Behavioral Health
• Medicaid Expansion and Children
• COVID-19 State LTSS Resource Guide

Weekly updates

• New CMS Administrator Announced
• Toolkit for Managing Medicaid Costs
• COVID-19 State Updates: CA, ID, KS, NC, NJ, NY, PA
• Other State Updates: AL, AZ, NV, OK
• Webinar: Health Disparities in Medicaid Managed Care
• Equitable Vaccination Campaigns
• Strategies for Buying Health

Weekly updates

• COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force Additions
• SHVS Resources
• COVID-19 State Updates: CT, MN, NC, OR, VT, WI
• Other State Updates: CA, KS, NJ, OR, PA
• Webinar: Analyzing Health Disparities in Medicaid Managed Care
• Awareness of Coverage Options for Uninsured Adults
• Payment Reform and SDOH
• Screening for Social Needs in Pediatrics

Weekly updates

• COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution
• Communications Tactics for State-based Marketplaces
• COVID-19 State Updates: AL, DC, MA, MN, NC, NJ, NV, OR, PA, RI, UT
• Other State Updates: AK, AZ, NE, NJ, NM, NY, OR, PA, WI
• New Executive Orders and Public Charge
• Medicaid Outreach Partnership
• Coverage for Pregnant and Postpartum Women

Weekly updates

• New Executive Order on Medicaid and the ACA
• New SHVS Publications
• COVID-19 Updates: CA, NC, UT, WI
• Other State Updates: AL, AZ, CO, DE, FL, KY, NJ, PA, TX
• Attitudes & Values Around Health and Race Amid COVID-19
• SBM Experiences with 2020 COVID-19 SEPs
• Implementing Pharmacist Contraceptive Prescribing

Weekly updates

• New Administration’s Health Care Actions
• Public Health Programming Resumes Following COVID-19
• State Updates: CA, DC, MA, MN, NY, NC, WA
• Other State Updates: CO, MN, NC, PA
• The ACA in Maryland
• Leveraging Value-Based Payment Approaches to Promote Health Equity
• Tracking State Allocations of Vaccines

Weekly updates

• Final 2022 NBPP Rule
• No Surprises Act
• COVID-19 State Updates: MI, NC, WA, WI
• Other State Updates: AZ, CO, NJ, OR, OH, PA, TX
• Advancing Equity in the Nation’s COVID-19 Public Health Response and Recovery Efforts: Options for a New Administration
• Immigrant Access to COVID-19 Vaccines: Key Issues to Consider

Weekly updates

• Extension of PHE
• SHVS Publishes Two New Expert Perspectives
• COVID-19 State Updates: AZ, CA, KS, MD, MA, VA, WA
• Other State Updates: CO, DE, MN, NC, OK, TN, WA
• Medicaid Managed Care Organization Investments in Affordable Housing
• SIREN Conversation Series
• Primary Care and Health Equity

Weekly updates

The ten most popular State Network resources of 2020.

Weekly updates

• New CMS Model on Dual-eligibles
• Webinar: Supporting Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs During COVID-19
• COVID-19 State Updates: CA, CT, MI, NC & OR
• Other State Updates: CO, MA, MI, MO, OH, OR & WA
• SCOTUS Medicaid Work Requirements Cases
• COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution: Legal Issues and Challenges
• Technology Opportunities for the ACA Marketplaces

Weekly updates

• The CHART Model Explained
• COVID-19 State Updates: AK, AR, CA, MD, MN, NJ, NM, NY, OR & WI
• Other State Updates: AR, LA, PA, WI & WV
• Webinar: Supporting Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs During COVID-19
• Leveraging Title V and Medicaid for Social-Emotional Development
• Ensuring Value in Telehealth
• Rural Health in a COVID-19 World

Weekly updates

• New SHVS Expert Perspectives
• COVID-19 State Updates: AZ, ME, OH, OR & PA
• Other State Updates: OK, TX & WI
• Webinar: Supporting Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs During COVID-19
• COVID-19 & State Medicaid Budgets
• Systemic Racism & Health Care, COVID-19 & Treatment
• Building Racial Equity Into The Walls Of Health Policy

Weekly updates

• Strategies for Overcoming Barriers to Health Equity
• Podcast Interview With Dr. Fauci
• COVID-19 State Updates: CA, DC, MD, MN, NE, NY, PA, VA & WI
• Other State Updates: MN, OK, OR & WA
• U.S. Maternity Care Versus Other Developed Countries
• Health Care Workforce Policy Toolkit
• Lessons from RI in Increasing Childhood Vaccinations

Weekly updates

• Transition COVID-19 Advisory Board
• CMS Managed Care Rule
• COVID-19 State Updates: CA, MI, NC & WI
• Other State Updates: HI, IN, NC, OR, TN & WA
• 2020 Annual Medicaid Survey Results
• Family Engagement and Children’s Social and Emotional Development
• Medicaid Leadership Series Podcast

Weekly updates

• The Election and Health Care
• COVID-19 State Updates: AZ, CA, CO, DE, NE, NC, NJ, PA & RI
• Other State Updates: GA, NE, OR, PA, VA & WA
• Webinar: Screening for Social Risk Factors Part II
• New Drug Death Data
• Health and Equity in Rural Places
• Children with Special Health Care Needs and COVID-19

Weekly updates

• HHS’ COVID-19 Interim Final Rule
• New SHVS Resources
• COVID-19 State Updates: MI, NE, NJ, OR & VA
• Other State Updates: IN, MD, MN, NJ, NC, OR, PA, RI & WI
• Webinar: Screening for Social Risk Factors Part II
• Navigator Resource Guide
• Integrated Care for Dual-Eligibles During COVID-19
• Two-Part Webinar Series on Medicaid Managed Care

Weekly updates

• New SHVS Health Equity Resource
• COVID-19 Expert Perspectives
• COVID-19 State Updates: DE, MA, NC, NJ, PA, WA & WI
• Other State Updates: CA, NE, OK, PA, WA & WI
• Webinar: Changes in the Coverage Environment During COVID-19
• Webinar: Driving Reductions in Health Care Disparities
• Supreme Court Vacancy and the ACA
• COVID-19 Social Care Playbook

Weekly updates

• New SHVS Resources on Screening for Social Risk Factors
• COVID-19 and Medicaid Flexibilities
• COVID-19 State Updates: CT, KY, MI & NC
• Other State Updates: CO, DE, GA, MN & NJ
• Webinar: Screening for Social Risk Factors
• Webinar: Changes in the Coverage Environment During COVID-19
• FY 2021 Medicaid Enrollment & Spending
• Learning and Action on Policy and Partnerships

Weekly updates

• Renewal of Public Health Emergency
• Tracking Medicaid Enrollment Growth
• COVID-19 State Updates: MA, NC & VA
• Other State Updates: AZ, CA, CO, CT, KY, NC, NM, OH, PA & VA
• Children’s Uninsured Rates on the Rise
• New Mothers’ Access to Health Care
• Theme Issue on Drivers of Health

Weekly updates

• Equitable Allocation of COVID-19 Vaccine
• SHVS Brief on Medicaid Data
• COVID-19 State Updates: CA, NC, VA & WI
• Other State Updates: CA, CO, DC, MN, NE & PA
• SHVS Webinar: Quality and Equity Measures
• Utility Services and Health Equity
• Public Sector Leadership Resources

Weekly updates

• Service Use Among Medicaid & CHIP Beneficiaries Age 18 and Under During COVID-19
• What the Supreme Court Vacancy Could Mean for the ACA
• COVID-19 State Updates: CA, DC, DE, MD, NY, NC, PA, VA
• Other State Updates: CO, DE, OK, PA, WA, WI
• Webinar: Buying Value: Measures that Matter for Quality and Equity
• Issues to Watch for When Medicaid Maintenance of Eligibility Requirements End
• Potential Fiscal Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Medicaid and Early Childhood Services
• New Subsidized Marketplace Data Available from the 2019 American Community Survey


 

Weekly updates

• New SHVS COVID-19 Resources
• CMS Medicaid Fiscal Accountability Rule
• COVID-19 State Updates: AZ, MN, NC, NY, OR & WA
• Other State Updates: CA, MD, NJ, OR & WI
• New SHVS Webinar: Measures for Quality and Equity
• The Role of Racial Justice in Building a Culture of Health
• Toolkit: Improving Care for Complex Care Populations

Weekly updates

• Essential Health Benefit Benchmark Plans
• COVID-19 State Updates: AK, CA, DC, KY, MD, MN, NC, OH, OR & WA
• Other State Updates: MN, NJ & TX
• 2019 Health Insurance Coverage Estimates
• Scorecard on State Health System Performance

Weekly updates

• FEMA Disaster Relief Fund Grants and Eligibility Determinations
• CDC Order on Residential Evictions
• SHVS Expert Perspective on Open Enrollment
• COVID-19 State Updates: AZ, DC, NC & WI
• Other State Updates: AZ, CA, MI, OK, OR & WI
• COVID-19 Recession's Effects on Health Insurance Coverage
• Medicaid’s Role in Addressing Racial Health Disparities
• State Practices for Contracting with Managed Care Organizations

Weekly updates

• Updated Tools for Supporting Essential Providers During COVID-19
• COVID-19 State Updates: CO, MA, MN, NC, NV, OR, VA & WA
• Other State Updates: DE, NE, NH, NJ, PA & VA
• Supporting Community Health Workers/Promotores
• Special Enrollment Periods: the FEMA SEP
• Racial Equity Throughout Data Integration

Weekly updates

• Risk Adjustment Based on Social Factors
• Cost-sharing Reduction Payments and the ACA
• COVID-19 State Updates: NC, OR, PA, WA & WI
• Other State Updates: MN, NE, NH, OR & UT
• Federal Executive Orders on Economic Relief
• The "Bermuda Triangle" of COVID-19 Testing
• Racial Disparities in COVID-19

Weekly updates

• New CMS Rural Health Model
• Expert Perspective on CMS Premium Rebate Guidance
• COVID-19 State Updates: AR, MD, NC, NJ, PA, RI, VA & WA
• Other State Updates: AK, NE, NY, OK & PA 
• New Strategies for Financing LTSS
• Lessons from OR for Engaging Consumers
• Maternal and Obstetric Care Challenges in Rural America

Weekly updates

• Considerations for State Medicaid and CHIP Agencies As they Prepare to Unwind Eligibility and Enrollment Flexibilities Obtained During
the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
• COVID-19 State Updates: AZ, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, NC, TX, & VA
• Other State Updates: CA, ME, MI, MO, & NH
• Emergency Special Enrollment Period Would Boost Health Coverage Access at a Critical Time
• Introducing the Social Determinants of Health in Rural Communities Toolkit
• COVID-19: A Catalyst for Integrating Youth Behavioral Health Care Across Settings

Weekly updates

• Updated Toolkit: Unwinding Federal Medicaid Flexibilities
• State Budgets and Health Programs in Response to COVID-19
• COVID-19 State Updates: AZ, CA, MA, MD, ME & NJ
• Other State Updates: CO, HI, MN, NJ, NV, OR, PA & VA
• Ensuring Safe Access to Necessary Care
• Changes in Coverage Due to COVID-19

Weekly updates

• Public Health Emergency Renewal
• COVID-19 State Updates: ME, MN, MT, NC, OR & WA
• Other State Updates: DC, OK, OR & WI
• Fiscal Effect of Temporary Increase in Medicaid FMAP
• Effect of State Budget Crises on Medicaid
• State Programs to Support Children During COVID-19

Weekly updates

• New SHVS COVID-19 Resources
• CARES Act Provider Relief Fund Deadline
• COVID-19 State Updates: CA, CO, DE, IA, ME, NE, NJ, NY, RI & WI
• Other State Updates: MA, MN & OR
• Webinar on Open Enrollment Period 2021
• COVID-19 and the Effect on Health Insurance
• Supporting Individuals with Complex Care Needs in COVID-19

Weekly updates

• Protecting Farmworkers During COVID-19
• COVID-19 State Updates: MD, NE, NC & OR
• Other State Updates: LA, NC, OR, VA, WA & WI
• Webinar: COVID-19 and Open Enrollment
• Updates to Buying Value Measure Selection Tool
• 2021 Health Care Cost Model
• Lowering Infant Mortality in Alabama

Weekly updates

• New SHVS Expert Perspective
• Data and Equitable Policy During COVID-19
• COVID-19 State Updates: DE, OR & VA
• Other State Updates: AZ, GA, MN, NE & OK
• Webinar: Ensuring Access to LTSS During COVID-19
• JHPPL Special Edition on ACA 10th Anniversary
• Key Considerations for Governors to Scale the COVID-19 Contact Tracing Workforce

Weekly updates

• New SHVS COVID-19 Resources
• COVID-19 State Updates: AZ, CA, GA, MA, MN, NC, NE, NV, OR, PA, WA & WI
• Other State Updates: LA, NJ, NM, WA & WI
• Medicaid Insurers Participation in Marketplaces
• Maryland Primary Care Program
• Adapting Outpatient Visits During COVID-19

Weekly updates

• Resources on Health Equity
• COVID-19 State Updates: GA, MD, OR, PA & WI
• Other State Updates: CA, CO, KY, OR & WV
• Targeted Testing to Advance Health Equity
• SDOH Data-sharing and the Law
• Facilitating Medicaid Enrollment During COVID-19

Weekly updates

• HHS Announces New Release of Provider Relief Funds
• Webinar: Rethinking Telehealth After the COVID-19 Surge
• COVID-19 State Updates: CO, MA, MD, ME, NY, PA, RI, UT, VA & WI 
• Other State Updates: AZ, CO, KS & MD
• Medicaid May Shape Marketplace Entry of Insurers
• Electronic Consultations: A Win for Patients, Clinicians, and Payers
• Addressing Child Poverty after COVID-19

Weekly updates

• SHVS Resources on Health Equity
• COVID-19 State Updates: ME, NC, NJ, NM, NY, OR & WA
• Other State Updates: CO, DE, HI, KY, ME & WA
• Structural Racism and Root Causes of Health Inequities
• Leveraging Federal and State Authorities to Ensure Access to LTSS
• Resources for Medicaid Directors

Weekly updates

• COVID-19 and the Fee-for-service Payment Model
• COVID-19 State Updates: CA, CO, MA, NJ, NV, RI, VA, WA & WI
• Other State Updates: IN, NE, OK & OR
• Health Equity Principles for COVID-19
• Practices and Resources for Quarantine Hotels
• New Report Suggests Surge in Medicaid Enrollment

Weekly updates

• SHVS Webinar on Medicaid IT Investments
• Other SHVS Publications on COVID-19
• State Updates: AZ, MD, MI, NC, NE, NJ, NY, OH, OK, RI, WA, WI & WV
• A Cross-Sector Response to Health Disparities in COVID-19
• Quick Takes for Medicaid Leaders Amid COVID-19
• Principles for an Equitable State Response to COVID-19

Weekly updates

• SHVS Webinar on Coverage Churn
• New CMS Guidance
• State Updates: AZ, CO, LA, MD, ME, MN, NJ, NY, PA, VA, WA & WV
• New SHVS Webinar on Medicaid IT & COVID-19
• Overlap Plans as Low-cost Option
• Estimate of Loss of Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance Coverage
• Supports for Managed Care and Provider Networks

Weekly updates

• SHVS Resources on Health Equity and COVID-19
• State Updates: AZ, CO, DE, LA, ME, MI, NC, NE, NM, NY, OH, OR, TX & WV
• Webinar: COVID-19 and Coverage Options
• Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Hispanic Adults
• COVID-19 Recession and Health Insurance Coverage
• Maternal Health and COVID-19
• Rural Health and COVID-19

Weekly updates

• SHVS COVID-19 Webinars
• Additional SHVS Resources
• State Updates: AZ, CA, CO, MA, NH, NJ, PA, RI, VA, & WA
• New SHVS Webinar: Health Equity & COVID-19
• Webinar: Preparing for the Post-COVID-19 World
• Surprise Billing and COVID-19 Treatment

Weekly updates

• New SHVS COVID-19 Resources
• State Updates: COVID-19 State Updates: CA, CT, DE, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, MI, MN, MT, NC, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, VA, VT, WA, WI
• Other State Updates: MN
• New SHVS Webinar: COVID-19 & Medicaid Managed Care Performance
• Coordinating Care for Incarcerated During COVID-19
• Supporting Out-of-Hospital Births to Protect Moms and Babies and Reduce Hospital Strain

Weekly updates

• Additions to SHVS COVID-19 Resource Page
• Federal Funding Opportunities
• COVID-19 State Updates: AZ, MA, ME, MI, MN, NJ, OR, TX, WA
• Other State Updates: LA, TN
• Impact on Access to Care and Economic Opportunities for Communities of Color
• Blueprint from Washington State to Respond to COVID-19
• Stemming the Risk of Disability Bias During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Weekly updates

• Additions to SHVS COVID-19 Resource Page
• New CMS Rules and Guidance
• SAMHSA Emergency Grant
• COVID-19 State Updates: ID, MA, MD, MN, MT, NJ, NY, WA, WI
• Other State Updates: CA, NJ
• Eligibility for Coverage and COVID-19
• Impact on Access to Food for Older Adults
• COVID-19 Changes to HCBS Using Appendix K

Weekly updates

• New SHVS Resource Page on COVID-19
• SHVS COVID-19 Webinar
• Affordable Care Act Anniversary
• COVID-19 State Updates: CA, CO, DE, FL, IA, IL, LA, MA, MD, ME, MN, MO, NC, NJ, NV, NY, OR, SC, TX, WA
• Other State Updates: NE, FL, SC
• Hospital Readiness for COVID-19
• Maternal and Infant Mortality in Medicaid

Weekly updates

• SHVS Webinar on COVID-19
• ACA 10th Anniversary
• COVID-19 State Updates: DC, FL, MD, ME, MI, MN, NH, NJ, NM, NV, PA, RI, WA
• Other State Updates: ME, OK
• Protecting the Vulnerable During a Pandemic
• COVID-19 Crisis Communications Guide

Weekly updates

• SHVS Expert Perspective on COVID-19
• CMS FAQ on COVID-19
• Future COVID-19 Updates
• COVID-19 State Updates: AZ, CA, CO, FL, MA, MI, NJ, NM, OR, WA
• Other State Updates: CO, OK, OR
• Webinar: Responding to COVID-19
• Webinar: Healthy Adult Opportunity Medicaid Demonstration
• Waiving Cost-sharing Requirements for COVID-19 Testing and Care
• SHVS Resources on Medicaid’s Role in Addressing Maternal Health

Weekly updates

• States Respond to COVID-19
• Texas ACA Court Case
• State Updates: AZ, MD, MI, NM, OR & WA
• Webinar: Medicaid and Maternal Mortality
• New Learning Hub on Managed Care
• Fiscal Impact of Medicaid Capped Funding Demonstrations
• Discussing Racial Disparities

Weekly updates

• Updated SHVS Resource Page on Public Charge
• State Updates: CO, MI, MO, NH, NJ, NY, RI & WA
• Webinar: Medicaid and Maternal Mortality
• Effects of Medicaid expansion in Michigan
• Creating Meaningful Consumer Engagement in Medicaid
• Addressing the Social Determinants of Health in Children and Families

Weekly updates

• New SHVS Resource on Public Charge
• State Updates: CA, ID, NJ, NY, PA & RI
• New SHVS Webinar: Medicaid’s Role in Maternal Mortality
• Risks and Challenges of Adopting a State-Based Marketplace
• Successful Partnerships for Integrating Care
• Rural Hospital Closures

Weekly updates

• SHVS Expert Perspective on Proposed 2021 NBPP
• ACS Data and Social Determinants of Health
• State Updates: GA, MD, MI, NY, OH, PA & VA
• CO and WA Governors Discuss Public Options
• Measuring the Impact of Trauma-Informed Primary Care
• Improving Social Needs Intervention Research

Weekly updates

• SHVS Capped Medicaid Funding Resources
• ACA Open Enrollment
• State Updates: CA, CO, DE, DC, LA, NJ, TN & WV
• Evaluating SUD Waivers
• Mapping Childhood Opportunity
• Fast-tracking Medicaid Enrollment

Weekly updates

• CMS Guidance on Capped Medicaid Funding
• Public Charge Rule Moving Forward
• State Updates: HI, IL, NC, NV, NY & OR
• 2021 Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters
• Advancing the Health Sector’s Role in Housing
• Data on Maternal Mortality in the U.S.

Weekly updates

• New SHVS Publication on Supportive Housing
• State Updates: AZ, CA, CO, CT, NJ & PA
• Variations in C-section Rates
• State of Babies 2019 Yearbook
• Examining Bundled Payments

Weekly updates

• Proposed Medicaid Fiscal Accountability Rule
• State Updates: IL, KY, NH, NJ, OK, VA & WY
• New SHVS Publication on Supportive Housing
• Marketplace Premiums and Insurer Participation
• Medicaid Expansion and Opioid Overdose Mortality

Weekly updates

• Final Weekly Enrollment Snapshot
• State Updates: ID, KS, ME, MI, NJ & WA
• How States Compare on Addressing Affordability
• Top Ten Health Insurance Policy Issues to Watch in 2020

Weekly updates

• ID and UT Expand Medicaid
• State Updates: AK, CA, DE, MD, MN, NM, NV, & PA
• Building Partnerships with Families
• Convening a Consumer Advisory Board
• Guide to Becoming an Equity-focused Health Department

Weekly updates

• Ruling in Texas v. Azar
• Health Policy in Federal Spending Bill
• Exchange Program Integrity Rule
• State Updates: CA, KY, MA, NE, NV, PA & VA
• Implementing a Statewide Health Care Cost Benchmark
• Interactive Childhood Obesity Data
• New Medicaid and CHIP Data Book Published

Weekly updates

• Impact of Health Insurance Coverage on Mortality
• State Updates: CO, MI, NH, NY, PA, SC, VA & WA
• Rise of Uninsurance in Young Kids
• Medicaid MCOs as Agents of Payment Reform
• Top State Network Resources in 2019

Weekly updates

• 2018 National Health Care Spending
• Catalyst for Payment Reform Virtual Summit
• State Updates: LA, ME, MI, MN, OR, PA, VT & VA
• CMS Beneficiary Engagement Toolkit
• Improving Care for Children in Foster Care

Weekly updates

• New SHVS Expert Perspective on Standardized Plans
• State Updates: CO, CT, ID, NC, NJ, PA & WI
• Implementing ASAM Criteria for SUD Treatment
• Leveraging Medicaid MCOs in Payment Reform
• Evaluating Medicaid Section 1115 Waiver Demonstrations
• Stabilizing Individual Health Insurance Markets

Weekly updates

• CMS Announces Price Transparency Rules
• State Updates: DE, ME, MN, NC, PA, RI, UT, WV, & WY
• SUD Toolkit for Medicaid Leaders
• Consumer Engagement Driving Change in Medicaid
• Impact of Medicaid Block Grants on Community Health Center Revenues

Weekly updates

• CMS Releases T-MSIS Data
• Webinar: Standardized Designs Through State Marketplaces
• State Updates: CO, DC, GA, IN, ME, NJ, OH, PA & UT
• 2020 Marketplace Premium Changes by County
• Impact of Medicaid Expansion on Premature Deaths
• Practical Solutions for Serving Complex Populations

Weekly updates

• Open Enrollment Began Last Week
• State Updates: CA, GA, ID, NY, OR, TN & TX
• Webinar: Standardizing Health Plan Benefit Design
• Updated Navigator Resource Guide
• Comparing Latest Estimates of Uninsured
• Addressing Rural Health Care Needs

Weekly updates

• Public Charge Final Rule FAQ
• CMS Announces Average Premium Drop
• State Updates: AZ, CT, MA, NE, NJ, NY, OK, OR, PA & WA
• Webinar: Standardizing Health Plan Benefit Design
• County-level Look at Volatility of the Individual Market
• Provider Consolidation and Health Care Costs

Weekly updates

• Immigration and Health Care Proclamation
• State Updates: CT, NC, NY, PA, TX, VA & WA
• Medicaid MCOs and Health Equity
• Standardizing Health Plan Benefit Design
• New Data on Adverse Childhood Experiences
• Results from 50-state Medicaid Budget Survey

Weekly updates

• New SHVS Webinar on Standardized Plans
• State Updates: CO, DE, NJ, NM, NY, PA, & WI
• Medicaid MCOs and Health Equity Webinar
• Standardizing Health Plan Benefit Design in the Individual Market: Opportunities and Implications
• Report on Transitioning to a State-based Marketplace
• Call for Papers on ACA Implementation in the States

Weekly updates

• Executive Order on Medicare
• HHS Wellness Project
• State Updates: CO, ID, NJ, NY, OH, OR, TN & UT
• Webinar: Medicaid MCOs and Health Equity
• Strengthening Medicaid’s Access to Care for CSHCN
• Politico Pulse Check Podcast: Adam Boehler
• Lessons from CDC’s 6|18 Initiative

Weekly updates

• Health Equity Webinar Recap
• State Updates: CT, MD, ME, MI, PA, & WI
• New Coverage Data from Census Bureau
• Kentucky’s Medicaid Work Requirements
• Health-Care Led Jail Reentry Pilot

Weekly updates

• CMS Planning Grant Awards for SUD
• State Updates: CO, DC, NJ, NY, NC, RI, PA, TN & WA
• Individual Marketplace Trends by County
• Behavioral Health Provider Participation in Medicaid Value-Based Payment Models
• New Resource on Surprise Medical Bills  

Weekly updates

• SHVS Q&A on Medicaid Coverage for Justice-involved Populations
• Census Bureau Insurance Coverage Report
• State Updates: MI, MT, NV, WA, WV & WI
• New SHVS Health Equity Webinar
• Colorado Medicare Price Report
• Engaging Consumers in Care

Weekly updates

• Public Charge Webinar Recap
• Funding to Combat the Opioid Epidemic
• State Updates: AZ, FL, HI, IL, OK & PA
• Addressing Health-related Social Needs
• Meaningful Hospital Community Investments
• Improving Rural Maternal Health Access

Weekly updates

• Health Equity Webinar Recap
• Health Care Affordability Forum
• State Updates: FL, ID, ME, PA, RI & VA
• Public Charge Rule Webinar
• Drivers of Health Literature Review
• TennCare’s Episodes Payment Model

Weekly updates

• Health and Human Services SUD Fact Sheet
• State Updates: AZ, CO, DE, GA, MT & NJ
• Webinar: Evidence-Based Strategies for Reducing Health Disparities
• Webinar: Final Public Charge Rule
• Access to OUD Treatments
• Working with CBOs

Weekly updates

• Final Public Charge Rule Released
• State Updates: DE, LA, MN, NJ, NY, OR, & TX
• Webinar: Strategies to Reduce Health Disparities
• Webinar: Final Public Charge Rule Implications
• Trends in Employer-Sponsored Insurance
• State Opportunities to Support Family Caregivers
• Effects of Medicaid Expansion under ACA

Weekly updates

• CMS Bulletin on ABP Benchmark Plans
• State Updates: DE, IL, KY, LA, MT, NE, NY, OR & WV
• Evidence-Based Strategies for Reducing Health Disparities
• Surprise Medical Bills: State Considerations
• State Trends in the Opioid Crisis
• Increasing Rural Health Department Capacity to Address SDOH

Weekly updates

• Price Transparency Proposed Rule
• CMS Partial Medicaid Expansion Statement
• State Updates: CO, LA, MN, ND, NV, NH, UT, VA, WA & WY
• Medicaid Waivers with Housing Supports
• ROI Calculator for SDOH
• Pediatric Mental Health Care in the Emergency Department

Weekly updates

• Federal Drug Pricing Efforts
• State Updates: AZ, CA, CO, IN, MI, MO, NH & TX
• Health Equity for Kids
• Non-emergency Medical Transportation

Weekly updates

• CMS Releases 1332 Checklists and Templates
• CHIP Scorecard Update
• State Updates: DE, ID, NJ, NY, OR, RI & WV
• Coverage Parity for MH and SUD
• Webinar on Supportive Housing
• State-level Data on the Opioid Epidemic

Weekly updates

• Affordable Care Act Litigation
• SHVS Managed Care Webinar
• State Updates: AZ, CA, DE, NH, NJ, OR, PA & RI
• Surprise Medical Billing
• Impact of Integrated Medicaid Managed Care
• Medicaid Pharmacy Programs

Weekly updates

• CMS Funding Opportunity for SUD Treatment
• State Updates: LA, MA, ME, MT, NE, NJ, NY, & PA
• Individual Market Performance This Year
• Supporting Kids’ Social and Emotional Development
• RWJF Annual Message: Housing and Health

Weekly updates

• New RWJF/Vox Medicaid Video Series
• SHVS Webinars
• Drivers of Health
• State Updates: DE, MD, MN, MT, NC, TX, & WA
• New Research on Work Requirements and Community Engagement
• Patient Engagement Strategies

Weekly updates

• HRA rule
• MACPAC Report to Congress
• State Updates: DC, NJ, NV, NY, OH, SC & WA
• Precarious Work Schedules of Medicaid Beneficiaries
• Supporting Families with Young Children

Weekly updates

• Telling the Stories of Medicaid
• New SHVS Publication: Measuring Health Disparities
• SHVS Buying Value Benchmark Repository
• State Updates: CO, DC, DE, ME, ND, NJ, OR, PA, TX, VA, & WI
• State Health Care Transformation with Federal Support
• Improving Dental Health for Rural Kids

Weekly updates

• New CMS Podcast Episode, Funding Opportunity
• State Updates: AL, CA, CT, CO, FL, MD, MN, & NM
• New SHVS Webinar: Health Equity & Managed Care
• Work Requirements Targets Face Barriers
• Early Childhood Briefing Series
• Enhancing Access to Family Planning in Medicaid

Weekly updates

• New Medicaid Podcast
• State Updates: CT, CO, MD, ME, MI, OR & WA
• Webinar - Connecting Justice-Involved Pop. to Medicaid
• Monitoring and Evaluating Work Requirements
• Medicaid Expansion and Maternal and Child Health
• Extending VBP Models Into Medicaid Drug Purchasing

Weekly updates

• CMS Issues Guidance on Calculating Spread Pricing in Medicaid
• Department of Labor Issues Guidance on AHP Court Decision
• State Updates: MD, MT, NV, NH, NM, OR & WA
• Webinar: Strategies for Connecting Justice-Involved Populations to Medicaid
• Case Study: NY’s Surprise Billing Law
• Webinar: Addressing Transportation to Improve Community Health
• Behavioral Health Coverage in Medicaid Managed Care

Weekly updates

• CDC Report on Maternal Morbidity and Mortality
• State Updates: AR, CA, IA, IN, NE, NJ, NY & WA
• Upcoming SHVS Webinar on Serving Justice-involved Populations
• Individual Insurance Market Performance in 2018
• States Protect Against Short-Term Health Plans
• Health Care’s Role in Social Interventions

Weekly updates

• State Updates: AZ, CO, ME, MT, NC, NJ, TX & WA
• RFI for Section 1332 Waivers
• FAQs on Blueprint application process
• Trends and Disparities in Children’s Health Insurance
• Achieving Health Equity and Wellness for Medicaid Populations
• Galvanizing Nurses on Social Determinants

Weekly updates

• New CMS Models for Dual Eligibles
• State Updates: AZ, CO, ME, MA, NJ, OR, RI & SD
• Upcoming Webinar on Trends and Disparities in Children’s Health Insurance
• Building the Business Case for Investment in Childhood Obesity Prevention
• How Consumers Shape Health Care Reform
• Health Impacts of Early Childhood Interventions

Weekly updates

• Final 2020 Payment Notice
• State Updates: AZ, CA, CO, MD, NY, OR, WA, & WV
• State Medicaid Buy-Ins: Key Questions to Consider
• Upcoming Webinar on Children’s Coverage
• Impact of State-Level Policy, Operational Choices ACA Marketplace Performance
• Organizing Complex Care for Rural Populations: A Case Study of Three Montana Communities

Weekly updates

• SDOH and Medicaid's Next Generation State Practices
• State Updates: HI, ID, KS, KY, MI, NJ, NM & ND
• Do Consumers Understand Short-Term Plans?
• Improving the Health and Well-Being of the Nation’s Aging Population
• Improving Care for Children with Health Complexity

Weekly updates

• Reactions to Last Week’s Court Decisions
• DOL's AHP Rule FAQ
• State Updates: AZ, CO, FL, LA, ME, NE, NJ, & RI
• Webinar on Medicaid Buy-In
• Consumer-Focused Health System Transformation
• Webinar on the Integrated Care for Kids Model
• Q&A with NJ’s DHS Commissioner

Weekly updates

• Health Care in the Courts
• State Updates: CO, GA, LA, MN, NM, PA, & UT
• Leveraging Multi-Payer Databases for Value
• Advancing Health Equity in Medicaid via VBP

Weekly updates

• Monitoring and Evaluating Section 1115 Waivers
• State Updates: CO, ME, NJ, OH, TN, TX, & VA
• County Health Rankings and Housing Costs
• Strengthening Medicaid LTSS: A Toolkit for States
• How Oregon Uses Systems-level Data

Weekly updates

• Update on Medicaid Buy-in
• Seema Verma, Two Years In
• State Updates: DE, LA, ME, NY, OH, OR, PA, & VA
• Q&A with Louisiana’s Medicaid Director
• Opioids’ Impact on Children and Families

Weekly updates

• Analysis of State-Based Marketplaces
• RWJF Medicaid Briefing Series
• State Updates: AZ, CA, CO, NE, NM, PA, VT & VA
• CSR Litigation and State Options
• Promoting Health and Cost Control
• State of Babies

Weekly updates

• Health Care News from Capitol Hill
• New Pass-Through Funding Resources
• State Updates: CO, ME, NE, PA, RI, VA and WA
• New Early Childhood and Medicaid Initiative
• Health Impact Assessments and Better Decision-making
• Tracking Medicaid-Covered Prescriptions

Weekly updates

• CMS Launches New Podcast
• Growth in Health Care Expenditures
• State Updates: KY, MD, MN, NJ, NY, NC, PA & WA
• Policies for Action Medicaid Research Hub
• State Approaches to Surprise Billing
• Antipsychotic Use Among Children in the Foster Care System

Weekly updates

• Interoperability and Patient Access Proposed Rule
• State Updates: MN, MO, NJ, NM, NY, OH, PA, VA, & TX
• Analysis of Premium Tax Credits in 2020 NBPP
• 50-State Analysis of Drug Overdose Trends
• Advancing Interoperability

Weekly updates

• State of the Union and Health Care
• State Updates: ME, NJ, NY, NC, OR, RI & VA
• Screening for ACEs and Trauma
• Health Workforce Development Recommendations

Weekly updates

• Governors Set the Agenda for Health Care
• State Updates: CO, KS, ME, NE, NY & OR
• Marketing Tactics of Short-term Plans
• State Strategies to Address Health Care for Justice-involved Populations
• Trauma-Informed Care Champions: From Treaters to Healers

Weekly updates

Last week survey results from the Gallup National Health and Well-Being Index showed that the uninsured rate continues to rise, from a low of 10.9 percent as of the fourth quarter of 2016 to the current high of 13.7 percent, a net increase of about 7 million uninsured individuals. For an analysis of what may be contributing to the increase in the number of uninsured, both Health Affairs has a blog post on the subject and the New York Times published an article on their blog The Upshot.

Weekly updates

Last Thursday the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the proposed annual Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for plan year 2020. The Notice proposes regulatory and financial parameters for qualified health plans on the Exchanges, plans in the individual, small group, and large group markets, and self-funded group health plans. Our technical experts are reviewing the Notice and evaluating potential implications for states, so watch this space for upcoming programming.

Weekly updates

Breaking news from Friday: the partial government shutdown has prompted an appeals court judge to issue a stay in Texas v. Azar lawsuit. For an analysis of where the case stands and implications of the federal shutdown more broadly on health care, listen to this Kaiser Health News’ What the Health? podcast (start at 1:12).

Weekly updates

Over the holidays, Judge Reed O’Connor issued a stay and partial final judgment in Texas v. Azar. Doing so allowed the parties to immediately appeal his recent decision to invalidate the entire Affordable Care Act (ACA) to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. The December 30th ruling ensures the ACA remains fully in effect in all 50 states and DC. Following the decision, on January 3rd. 16 states and the District of Columbia filed an appeal to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Check out this Health Affairs blog post for background on the case and an update on the legal proceedings.

Weekly updates

Even though the end of the year is near, last week was not a slow news week. Late Friday the 14th, a federal district judge in Texas issued a highly anticipated decision in Texas v. Azar, ruling that the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) individual mandate to maintain health coverage is unconstitutional, and as a result the entire ACA is unconstitutional. Despite the ruling, the ACA is still the law of the land and most legal experts agree that this is only the first step in what is likely to be a long legal road that may end in the Supreme Court; consumers should be assured that if they enroll now they will have coverage in 2019. Heather Howard answers some burning questions related to the ruling and its implications in the latest Woodrow Wilson School Reacts post.

Weekly updates

As we enter the last week of open enrollment for states operating health insurance marketplaces through healthcare.gov, the Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services (CMS) released their weekly enrollment snapshot for week five. To date, nearly 3.2 million people have selected plans, of which 812,263 are new consumers; this is down from the 3.6 million people who had selected plans by this time last year. While there are many potential drivers of lower enrollment, we will likely have to wait till the dust settles on this open enrollment period to better understand the dynamics. However, as profiled below, several states that run their own state-based exchanges, and have extended open enrollments, are seeing sign-ups that are higher than last year.

Weekly updates

Section 1332 waivers were in the health care policy news spotlight this week. On Thursday, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Seema Verma announced the release of four waiver concepts designed to illustrate how states can waive certain Affordable Care Act provisions under Section 1332 of the law. For more information about the four waiver concepts, see this CMS fact sheet and a discussion paper, which describes each concept in detail. Manatt Health have written an Expert Perspective for State Health and Value Strategies on the new waiver concepts that breaks down the potential new options for states. Updates follow.

Weekly updates

Last Monday, the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service released additional guidance regarding health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs) and other account-based health benefits. The guidance addresses the interaction between the tri-department HRA proposed regulations released October 23 and existing provisions such as the employer mandate. State Health and Value Strategies will be addressing the implications for states of these proposals in a webinar on Wednesday, November 28.

Weekly updates

During the opening plenary at the National Association of Medicaid Directors fall conference, HHS Secretary Alex Azar announced a new opportunity for states to receive authority to pay for short-term residential treatment services in an institution for mental disease (IMD) for Medicaid beneficiaries with serious mental illness. Following Secretary Azar’s speech, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a letter to State Medicaid Directors outlining both existing and new opportunities for states to design innovative service delivery systems for adults with SMI and children with serious emotional disturbance. 

Weekly updates

Last week, on the state-level, three states approved expanding their Medicaid programs and the results of several gubernatorial elections signal potential changes in state health policy. For a synopsis of what the election results mean for health care, see this Health Affairs blog post. In addition, the Kaiser Health News podcast What the Health? includes an analysis of midterm election results. Also last week, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a proposed rule related to program integrity of Exchange operations. This Health Affairs blog post summarizes this rule, including implications for states. CMS also announced a proposed rule for Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) managed care programs. CMS released a fact sheet explaining the goals of this proposed rule. Updates follow.

Weekly updates

Open enrollment has officially begun! To kick off the OEP season, Georgetown University just launched an updated Navigator Resource Guide this week. The guide provides information on recent policy changes, a list of enrollment tools for consumers and assistors, and answers to hundreds of frequently asked questions (FAQs), ranging from questions about eligibility for marketplace subsidies to post-enrollment issues and small employer coverage. In addition, Kaiser Family Foundation put together a list of over 300 FAQs for consumers, navigators, brokers and other assistors. The FAQs cover a wide range of topics, including the 2019 repeal of the individual mandate tax penalty and a new section on short-term health insurance policies. Updates follow.

Weekly updates

The Departments of Health and Human Services and Treasury (“the Departments”) released updated guidance setting forth their interpretation of Section 1332 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which authorizes states to waive certain provisions of the ACA. The guidance details new principles to be advanced by state waivers and outlines how the Departments will review waiver applications going forward. The guidance is effective immediately, though there is a 60-day comment period. For a summary of the guidance and implications for states, see this Health Affairs blog post.

Weekly updates

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed this week requiring drug manufacturers to include the price of drugs in television ads. Under the proposed rule, prescription drug manufacturers would be required to post the Wholesale Acquisition Cost for drugs covered in Medicare or Medicaid in direct-to-consumer television advertisements. Kaiser Health News has an article that details the proposal.

Weekly updates

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced this week that the average premiums for individual health coverage on healthcare.gov, the federal marketplace, will drop by 1.5 percent for 2019, marking the first-time average premiums have fallen since the implementation of the federal exchange in 2014. Kaiser Health News published an article that examines the factors contributing to the average decline in premiums.

Also this week, CMS took several steps to support both Florida and Georgia in response to Hurricane Michael. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar declared a public health emergency in Florida on Wednesday, before Michael made landfall, and a public health emergency in Georgia on Thursday. Our thoughts are with all those who are struggling in the aftermath of the hurricane and working in both states to care for affected residents. Updates follow.

Weekly updates

On Wednesday last week, the Senate passed legislation, H.R. 6 - SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act, to address the opioid epidemic, which now goes to President Trump for his signature. The Kaiser Health News podcast What the Health? walks through the details of the final version of the bill (starts at 1:27), and the Addiction Policy Forum produced a summary that outlines the 41 key components of the opioid package. Also, on Monday State Health and Value Strategies hosted a webinar, facilitated by experts at Manatt Health, on the implications of the proposed public charge rule for Medicaid. The  proposal would change how the Department of Homeland Security determines whether immigrants are “likely at any time to become a public charge,” which may put immigration status at risk. The slide deck and recording are on SHVS's website.

Weekly updates

This week began with the release of a proposed rule by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that seeks to change how DHS determines whether immigrants are dependent on the government for financial support. On Monday, October 1, State Health and Value Strategies hosted a webinar, facilitated by experts at Manatt Health, on the changes proposed by DHS in determining whether immigrants—when seeking admission to the United States, an extension of their stay, or status change to become a legal permanent resident—are “likely at any time to become a public charge,” which may put immigration status at risk, and the implications of the proposed rule for Medicaid. Updates follow.

Weekly updates

This week, U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams released a new “spotlight” report on opioid addiction, Facing Addiction in America: The Surgeon General’s Spotlight on Opioids, which calls for a cultural shift in the way Americans talk about the opioid crisis and recommends actions that can prevent and treat opioid misuse and promote recovery. The Spotlight also provides the latest data on prevalence of substance misuse, opioid misuse, opioid use disorder, and overdoses. And, in case you missed it, this week the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) also awarded over $1 billion in opioid-specific grants to states to help combat the crisis. The awards support HHS's Five-Point Opioid Strategy, which was launched last year and enhanced this week.

Weekly updates

As southern coastal states prepared for hurricane Florence this week, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar declared public health emergencies in North and South Carolina and Virginia. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced it is working to keep hospitals and other health care facilities open and running and has also waived certain Medicare, Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program requirements. We are thinking of all those effected by the storm and the folks in state government working hard to ensure the safety of people in their state.

Weekly updates

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) was back in court this week in two separate cases. On Wednesday, oral arguments were presented in Texas v. Azar, a lawsuit brought by state attorneys general in 20 states who are seeking a preliminary injuction against some or all of the ACA. The Kaiser Health News podcast What the Health? opens this week with an analysis of the case (starts at 1:06). Also this week, a federal judge ruled that the Montana Health Co-Op is entitled to $5.2 million that it would have received in the final quarter of 2017 if the Trump administration had not eliminated cost sharing reduction payments. The implications of this decision are discussed in a Health Affairs blog post by Katie Keith.

Weekly updates

There was significant federal activity this week with several announcements from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). On the Medicaid side, CMS released a State Medicaid Director Letter (SMDL) on budget neutrality for section 1115 demonstration waivers. Our friends and colleagues at Manatt Health have authored an Expert Perspective for State Health and Value Strategies (SHVS) that reviews the SMDL and discusses the implications for states. In addition, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation Center (CMMI) announced the Integrated Care for Kids (InCK) Model this week, a new child-centered service delivery and state payment model for children covered by Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. Finally, on the Marketplace side, CMS awarded $8.6 million in funding to 30 states and the District of Columbia to help strengthen their respective health insurance markets; for more information on these grants and how states can use them, check out this Health Affairs blog post. Updates follow.

Weekly updates

With the announcement this week by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the approval of New Jersey’s Section 1332 waiver to create a reinsurance program, there are now a total of seven states with approved Section 1332 waivers, with six approved to implement reinsurance programs. The New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance put out a press release announcing the approval, which is projected to achieve a 15 percent reduction in what premiums would otherwise be without a reinsurance program. We have updated our map of state activity, with links to applications, approval letters, and more.

Weekly updates

This week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a proposed rule to adopt the risk adjustment methodology that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services previously established for the 2018 benefit year. In response to the February 2018 New Mexico district court ruling, the proposed rule includes an additional justification regarding the use of statewide average premiums to calculate risk adjustment transfers and explains the reasoning behind operating the federal risk adjustment program in a budget-neutral manner. Comments for the proposed rule will be accepted through September 7, 2018.

Weekly updates

This week, the Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and Treasury issued a final rule clarifying the definition of, and expanding access to, short-term, limited-duration insurance coverage (short-term plans). The rule extends the federally permissible duration of short-term plans to up to 12 months, clarifies that renewals or extensions are permitted for up to 36 months, and proposes a standard disclosure that would advise consumers that the coverage was not required to comply with the Affordable Care Act’s consumer protections. The new rule is effective 60 days after publication in the federal register, such that short-term plans could be available for sale by early October. State Health and Value Strategies posted an expert perspective on our website authored by our friend and colleague Sabrina Corlette from Georgetown’s Center on Health Insurance Reforms that provides a summary of the final rule and options for states.

Weekly updates

This week, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule to readopt the risk adjustment methodology for the 2017 plan year. With this new rule, CMS will resume the risk adjustment program and begin collecting and paying out about $10.4 billion in risk adjustment transfers for 2017. For a summary of the final rule, check out this Health Affairs blog post.

Weekly updates

In light of the federal district court’s decision in Stewart v. Azar, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced it is re-opening the comment period for Kentucky’s Section 1115 waiver application, which included work/community engagement requirements. In the announcement, CMS noted that “[a]lthough an additional public comment period is not legally required, CMS is conducting one to ensure that interested stakeholders have an opportunity to comment on the issues raised in the litigation and in the court’s decision.” The agency is accepting comments through August 18, 2018. To learn more about the Stewart v. Azar decision and its implications for states, join us for our upcoming webinar (see below for the link to register).

Weekly updates

This week, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a press release announcing the suspension of about $10.4 billion in risk adjustment (RA) payments for 2017 until litigation around the federal RA program is resolved. The announcement was in response to a February 2018 New Mexico district court ruling that the government’s methodology for implementing the RA program was “arbitrary and capricious.” For a summary of the press release and its related implications, check out this Health Affairs blog post and a blog post by our friend and colleague, Sabrina Corlette from Georgetown University.

Weekly updates

This week, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a series of three new reports on marketplace enrollment and trends. The reports include data on: Effectuated Exchange enrollment for 2017 and 2018; overall trends on the operational and programmatic performance of the Exchange, and trends in subsidized and unsubsidized individual market enrollment from 2014 to 2017. A comprehensive summary of the reports, including details on the role of agents and brokers, can be found in this Health Affairs blog post.

Weekly updates

The cost of health care was the subject of a hearing this week held by the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. In case you missed it, you can watch a recording. The hearing was the first in a series on how to reduce the cost of health care in the United States and featured testimony from Niall Brennan, head of the Health Care Cost Institute, who argued that price increases are to blame for rising costs rather than an increase in the utilization of care. Also on the topic of the cost of health care in the U.S., Leavitt Partners released a report this week, the product of a combined quantitative and qualitative analysis of factors that may be influencing total cost of care in health care markets across the United States.

Weekly updates

This week, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) released a final rule that alters the way that association health plans (AHPs) are regulated. The rule was accompanied by a press release and a new webpage. The DOL rule significantly loosens the conditions under which a group of employers – or the self-employed – can join together under an AHP and be considered a “single employer” under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). Such AHPs would be regulated under federal law as large-group coverage, making them exempt from Affordable Care Act (ACA) and other federal and state requirements that apply only to the individual and small-group insurance markets. The final rule includes an implementation timeline and a pathway for AHPs to gain single employer status under ERISA. It also clarifies rules against health discrimination and which ACA protections AHPs are still subject to. Our friend and colleague Sabrina Corlette, from Georgetown University, provides an Experts Perspective of the rule and notes key implications states must consider when regulating AHPs.

Weekly updates

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the release of guidance that provides states with information on how CMS can support their efforts to address the opioid crisis. The guidance consists of an informational bulletin on the design of approaches to covering treatment services for Medicaid eligible infants with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome and a state Medicaid Director letter that advises states on which funding authorities may support health information technology efforts that could be used for the prevention and treatment of negative opioid outcomes. Next week State Health and Value Strategies is hosting a webinar on the status of state efforts to secure waivers to use federal Medicaid funding to provide care in Institutions for Mental Disease.

Weekly updates

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is in the news this week with the announcement by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) that it will not defend the ACA’s constitutionality and is siding with Texas and 19 other states in a lawsuit filed earlier this year. The lawsuit being pursued by Texas and other states claims that Congress' decision to eliminate the ACA’s individual mandate penalty requires that all or some provisions of the law be ruled invalid. In a brief filed yesterday by the DOJ in response to the lawsuit, the administration argued that "this Court should hold that the ACA's individual mandate will be unconstitutional as of January 1, 2019, and that the ACA's guaranteed-issue and community-rating provisions are inseverable from the mandate." For further analysis of the DOJ’s actions, check out this take in a Health Affairs blog post on the subject. Updates follow.

Weekly updates

This week State Health and Value Strategies (SHVS) published a new issue brief, Toward Hospital Global Budgeting: State Considerations, which digs into an innovative approach to shift hospitals from paying for volume to paying for value. The issue brief includes case studies of three states: Maryland, which pioneered global budgeting; Pennsylvania, which is preparing to launch its model; and Vermont, which offers an interesting twist on the concept. I hope the issue brief provides you with some ideas of how global budgeting might be a tool for payment reform in your state.

Weekly updates

This week the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released updated estimates of their baseline projections of the federal costs for premium subsidies under the Affordable Care Act for the 2018 to 2028 period. A few key takeaways: CBO previously estimated that repealing the mandate would reduce coverage by 13 million in 2027 and has now revised its estimate to around 8.7 million. Furthermore, CBO estimates that premiums will be “about 10 percent higher in 2019" because of the individual mandate repeal. For insights into CBO’s updated health insurance model, consider tuning in to a presentation on June 19 by CBO staff at the Bipartisan Policy Center which will be followed by a panel of budget and health care policy experts sharing their initial reactions to the proposed changes to the model.

Weekly updates

This week State Health and Value Strategies (SHVS) published Medicaid Buy-In: State Options, Design Considerations and Section 1332 Waiver Implications, which explores opportunities for states to leverage their Medicaid programs to strengthen coverage. SHVS hosted a companion webinar on Tuesday (if you missed it, you can download the slide deck and the recording) and has created a map to track state activity around Medicaid buy-in programs. The map includes links to relevant legislation and groups states by whether they are pursuing a buy-in program or have established a task force to study the impact of a buy-in program.

Weekly updates

Today President Trump gave a much anticipated speech on reducing the cost of prescriptions drugs and released American Patients First: The Trump Administration Blueprint to Lower Drug Prices and Reduce Out-of-Pocket Costs. The blueprint outlines actions that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will take including advancing generics to increase competition and exploring changes to the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program rules. Also this week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released its Rural Health Strategy, an interagency effort that seeks to improve access and quality of care for rural Americans.

Weekly updates

Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar addressed the World Health Care Congress this week and focused his remarks on value-based care and the role of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in transforming the health care system in the United states “into one that pays for value.” Azar outlined four areas of emphasis for HHS: health information technology; health care pricing transparency; new models in Medicare and Medicaid; and reducing barriers to care coordination.

Weekly updates

There was a flurry of activity surrounding the opioid epidemic in Washington D.C. this week as both the House and Senate advanced measures, which have states optimistic about the prospect of additional federal funding for the crisis. The Kaiser Health News Podcast, What the Health (starts at 7:11) has a good summary of the activity in Congress this week. Additionally, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Innovation Accelerator Program announced it is launching a new technical support opportunity for state Medicaid agencies through the Reducing Substance Use Disorder program area with an information session scheduled for May 2.

Weekly updates

On Monday the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the final 2019 Payment Notice Rule. Our colleague Sabrina Corlette from Georgetown’s Center on Health Insurance Reforms has authored an expert perspective for State Health and Value Strategies that focuses on the major provisions of the Payment Notice and accompanying guidance documents that have significant implications for states.

Weekly updates

Our friends, and insurance market technical experts, at Georgetown’s Center on Health Insurance Reforms, have produced a new report that examines how states regulate coverage arrangements that do not comply with the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) individual health insurance market reforms. Sabrina Corlette, one of the report’s authors, recently authored an Expert Perspective and led a webinar for State Health and Value Strategies on the proposed rule on short-term limited duration insurance, one of the coverage options that do not comply with the ACA profiled in the report.

Weekly updates

Today marks the eighth anniversary of the enactment of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The ACA has proven to be resilient, and despite efforts to repeal and replace it over the past eight years, the law’s fundamental elements remain in effect. In other news today, President Trump signed into law the $1.3 trillion spending package. The omnibus bill does not include any funding to stabilize the Affordable Care Act individual markets, but it does include additional funding for the opioid crisis and mental health care.

Weekly updates

Following the unveiling of President Trump’s initiative to address the opioid crisis, a new State Health and Value Strategies publication is available. Medicaid: The Linchpin in State Strategies to Prevent and Address Opioid Use Disorders by Manatt Health that illustrates the important role of Medicaid in addressing the crisis.

Weekly updates

This week State Health and Value Strategies published a new issue brief, State Reinsurance Programs: Design, Funding, and 1332 Waiver Considerations for States by Manatt Health that provides a roadmap for states contemplating development of a state-based reinsurance program under 1332 waiver authority. And for those states ready to get to work on a 1332 waiver application to implement a state reinsurance program, SHVS has created a template to streamline the application process. As new states pursue section 1332 waivers, we continue to update our map with the latest activity.