State Policy
States Prepare for Medicaid Work Requirements, Expand Rural Health Programs in August 2026
State Health and Value Strategies compiled state Medicaid and health policy activity from August 2026. States prepared enrollees for upcoming Medicaid work reporting requirements under H.R. 1, awarded additional Rural Health Transformation Program grants, and established rural health advisory councils. Massachusetts returned $14.5 million in dental insurance rebates under state law, becoming the first state to enforce dental rebate requirements. Two states received CMS 1115 waiver approvals, and Oregon secured approval to transition to a State-Based Marketplace. States also acted on vaccine access, reproductive healthcare, healthcare affordability, primary care investment, and medical debt.
Why it mattersState agencies must prepare operational systems for Medicaid work reporting requirements while managing ongoing waiver activity, rural health program expansion, and affordability initiatives that will affect managed care network adequacy and benefit design.