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Tuesday, August 11 · 2 stories
- State Policy · IN
Indiana Plans Federal Waiver to Restore HIP Cost-Sharing for Adult Enrollees
The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration will seek a five-year CMS waiver to reinstate cost-sharing requirements for able-bodied adults enrolled in the Healthy Indiana Plan under a new HIP 3.0 iteration. The waiver would revive a modified version of Indiana's previous copayment model for this population. The timing of the waiver submission and CMS review process has not been specified. This represents a return to Indiana's earlier HIP approach requiring enrollee contributions, which had been modified or suspended under previous waiver terms.
Monday, August 10 · 12 stories
- State Policy
NASHP Webinar to Cover State Multisector Aging Plans and Caregiver Support
The National Academy for State Health Policy will host a webinar on September 17, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. ET examining how states are using multisector plans on aging to advance caregiver support initiatives. The session will explore state strategies for integrating caregiver support across health and social service systems. States are increasingly using Medicaid waiver authorities and state plan options to fund and coordinate caregiver respite, training, and support services as part of broader efforts to sustain home- and community-based services delivery.
- State Policy
NHeLP Intern Advocates for Medicaid Coverage of Climate-Informed Doula Services
A National Health Law Program intern argues that Medicaid should cover doula care tailored to climate-related pregnancy risks, including extreme heat, flooding, and natural disasters. The piece focuses on how environmental hazards affect maternal health outcomes and birth experiences. While doula coverage is expanding in many state Medicaid programs, the article addresses the intersection of climate impacts and maternal health services. The advocacy positions climate-conscious doula care as a health equity priority for pregnant Medicaid beneficiaries in vulnerable communities.
- State Policy · WI
Wisconsin Expands Family Care Managed LTSS to 9,000 Members in 2027
Wisconsin's Department of Health Services will expand managed long-term care options to over 9,000 Medicaid members in southeastern Wisconsin starting in 2027. The expansion affects enrollees in Family Care and Family Care Partnership, the state's managed LTSS programs for older adults and people with disabilities. Implementation begins in 2027, though specific effective dates were not provided in the July 2026 announcement. The expansion increases managed care penetration in Wisconsin's LTSS delivery system and may trigger network adequacy requirements and contract amendments for participating MCOs.
- State Policy · WA
Washington Allocates $20M for Immigrant Long-Term Care After Medicaid Coverage Loss
Washington state allocated $20 million to provide long-term care services for fewer than 200 refugees, asylees, and other lawfully present noncitizens losing Medicaid coverage on October 1, 2026. State officials had anticipated the funding would cover more individuals. The coverage loss affects lawfully present noncitizens who are no longer eligible for full Medicaid benefits. The limited reach of available funding creates a significant coverage gap for this vulnerable population needing long-term care services.
- State Policy · MT
Montana Medicaid Work Requirement Threatens Coverage for Homeless Individuals with Disabilities
Montana's Medicaid work requirement is causing coverage loss for homeless individuals who cannot meet work or documentation standards due to disabilities like seizures. Adults aged 19-64 must work, volunteer, or participate in job training for 80 hours monthly, or document qualifying exemptions. Homeless individuals face barriers documenting exemptions and accessing exemption-granting providers. The policy affects Montana's expansion population, which includes approximately 100,000 adults.
- State Policy · AR
Arkansas Medicaid Expansion Faces New Political Threat in 2026
Arkansas' Medicaid expansion program, which covers over 300,000 low-income adults, is again facing potential elimination as state lawmakers debate its future. The program requires three-fourths legislative supermajority approval for funding, making it vulnerable to shifting political dynamics. Republican opposition has historically threatened the program despite its federal funding structure. The outcome will determine coverage continuity for hundreds of thousands of Arkansans enrolled through the expansion.
- State Policy · VA
Virginia Medicaid Doula Benefit Faces Access Barriers Four Years After Launch
Virginia Medicaid began covering doula services in 2022, but administrative and logistical barriers have limited access for beneficiaries. Expectant parents enrolled in Virginia Medicaid continue to face challenges obtaining doula support despite the benefit being active for four years. The implementation gaps highlight ongoing obstacles in translating coverage policy into actual service delivery. This affects maternal health outcomes in a state where Medicaid finances approximately 40% of births.
- State Policy
Research Suggests Best Practices for State Medicaid Renewal Outreach Communications
Research examines effective methods for state Medicaid agencies to communicate with enrollees during renewal periods and help them navigate administrative requirements. The analysis addresses how states can improve outreach strategies to reach beneficiaries facing renewal deadlines and support completion of required paperwork. The findings aim to reduce procedural coverage losses during redetermination periods by improving communication effectiveness. States implementing renewal strategies or responding to federal reporting requirements may apply these evidence-based practices to improve retention rates.
- State Policy · ID
Idaho Expands Community Paramedic Programs With Grant Support
Idaho is expanding community paramedic programs that provide in-home care and non-emergency services beyond traditional 911 response. These programs help patients navigate Medicaid coverage and access home-based services. The state is pursuing grant funding to scale these initiatives. Community paramedicine models can reduce emergency department utilization and support care coordination for Medicaid beneficiaries, particularly for home and community-based services.
- State Policy · IN
Indiana Prepares Medicaid Beneficiaries for Work Requirements Starting January 2027
Indiana's Family and Social Services Administration is deploying outreach tools, including texts and town halls, to prepare Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP) enrollees for new work requirements. The requirements take effect January 1, 2027, and will apply to both new applicants and current members eligible under HIP, the state's Medicaid expansion program. The state is providing advance notice and education to help beneficiaries understand compliance obligations before the policy goes live. This implementation affects Indiana's Medicaid expansion population and could influence enrollment and coverage continuity for working-age adults.
- State Policy · CA
California Health Foundation Urges Coordinated State Response to Medi-Cal Coverage Losses
California Health Care Foundation's health policy director testified before state lawmakers about millions of Californians losing Medi-Cal coverage and proposed a coordinated statewide response. The testimony addressed the growing uninsured population following what appears to be Medicaid redeterminations or eligibility changes. CHCF recommended state-level interventions to address coverage gaps and re-enrollment barriers. The testimony comes as California grapples with post-pandemic unwinding consequences and seeks policy solutions to stabilize coverage for vulnerable populations.
- State Policy · LA
Louisiana Increases Medicaid Rates for Independent Clinics as Federal Cuts Loom
Louisiana is raising Medicaid reimbursement rates for independently owned health clinics, giving them a larger share of available funding as federal Medicaid cuts approach. The rate changes will take effect as the state's Medicaid enrollment declines and federal funding faces new caps. Rural providers are competing for a shrinking pool of Medicaid dollars. The shift affects payment distribution among clinic types in Louisiana's fee-for-service and managed care programs.
Friday, August 7 · 10 stories
- State Policy · CA
California Medicaid Cuts Threaten Hospital Finances and Private Insurance Costs
California is implementing cuts to its Medi-Cal program that will worsen financial losses at hospitals already operating in the red. The reductions will likely force hospitals to reduce services and shift costs to privately insured patients through higher rates. The changes affect California's Medicaid program, which covers over 15 million residents. Hospitals serving high Medicaid volumes face the most immediate operational and financial pressure, with potential ripple effects across the commercial insurance market as cost-shifting accelerates.
- State Policy · NM
New Mexico Faces Rural Behavioral Health Access Gaps Despite Adequate Funding
A nonprofit healthcare CEO argues that New Mexico's rural behavioral health access problems stem from service delivery structure rather than insufficient funding. The state has allocated substantial resources for behavioral health services, but rural communities continue to experience significant access barriers. The CEO calls for systemic changes in how services are delivered to rural populations. This affects Medicaid beneficiaries in rural New Mexico counties who rely on the program for behavioral health coverage, as well as managed care organizations and providers operating in those areas.
- State Policy · MO
Missouri Voters Reject Constitutional Amendments That Would Have Raised Ballot Measure Thresholds
Missouri voters defeated two proposed constitutional amendments this week that would have made future ballot initiatives harder to pass. Proposed Amendment 4 failed 80% to 20%; it would have required constitutional amendments to win a majority in every congressional district. The rejected measures had implications for health policy ballot initiatives like Medicaid expansion, which Missouri voters approved via ballot measure in 2020. The defeat preserves the existing ballot measure process for future Medicaid policy changes at the state level.
- State Policy · DC
D.C. Budget Debate Centers on Using Opioid Settlement Funds for Existing Services
Washington, D.C.'s fiscal year 2027 budget proposal has sparked debate over whether opioid settlement funds should offset existing Medicaid and behavioral health spending or fund new addiction treatment programs. The dispute mirrors a national pattern in which states use settlement dollars to backfill current obligations rather than expand services. How D.C. allocates these funds will determine whether Medicaid beneficiaries gain access to new substance use disorder treatment capacity or whether the settlement primarily provides budget relief. The decision affects Medicaid spending priorities and could set precedent for how jurisdictions treat one-time settlement revenues in Medicaid budgeting.
- State Policy · VA
Virginia Launches Effort to Retain SNAP and Medicaid Benefits Amid Federal Changes
Virginia state leaders have initiated an effort to help residents maintain SNAP and Medicaid benefits in anticipation of upcoming federal changes. The initiative appears aimed at preventing coverage or benefit losses during a period of federal policy transition. Details on the specific federal changes prompting this action and the timeline for implementation are not provided in the available headline. This represents a proactive state response to protect enrollment during anticipated federal-level policy shifts.
- State Policy
Six States Face Medicaid Compliance Challenges Following HR 1 Work Requirements
More than a year after HR 1 passage, six states are grappling with implementation of more frequent eligibility checks and work requirements for Medicaid enrollees. The states face ongoing uncertainty around policy shifts, fraud concerns, and insurer strategies as they prepare for 2027 program changes. The article highlights states experiencing particular difficulty adapting to the new federal requirements. Affected states must navigate operational changes to eligibility systems, beneficiary engagement, and managed care plan coordination.
- State Policy · CA
California Medi-Cal Cuts Expected to Reduce Hospital Services, Raise Private Insurance Costs
California is implementing Medi-Cal budget cuts that will reduce hospital reimbursement rates. Hospitals already operating at negative margins on Medicaid patients will face additional financial strain. The cuts are expected to force service reductions and shift costs to privately insured patients through higher rates. The changes affect California's Medicaid program, which covers approximately 15 million beneficiaries through managed care plans and fee-for-service arrangements.