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Wednesday, September 23 · 9 stories
- State Policy · OR
Oregon to Notify 600,000 Medicaid Members of Coming Program Changes
Approximately 600,000 Oregon Health Plan members will receive notices about upcoming changes to the state's Medicaid program following new federal requirements. The notices will inform members of modifications to their coverage. The timing of the changes and specific effective dates were not detailed in the available information. The notifications represent a significant communication effort affecting roughly half of Oregon's Medicaid enrollment, requiring coordination between the state and health plans to ensure members understand how their benefits or program participation may shift.
- State Policy · CT
Connecticut GOP Candidate Proposes $336M Medicaid Cut, Managed Care Transition
Connecticut Republican gubernatorial candidate Ryan Fazio announced a tax cut plan that would reduce Medicaid spending by $336 million annually by 2031 through eliminating coverage for undocumented residents, fraud reduction efforts, and transitioning to a managed care model for the state's Medicaid program. The proposal would also cut $1.2 billion in annual state spending and $500 million in borrowing. The managed care transition faces strong opposition from the Democratic-controlled state legislature. The plan's fiscal projections rely on outdated revenue forecasts and do not account for recent investments in municipal aid, childcare, and social services.
- State Policy · MT
Montana DPHHS Director Charlie Brereton to Leave Oct. 30, Harrington Named Successor
Charlie Brereton will step down as director of Montana's Department of Public Health and Human Services on October 30 after four years, moving to the private sector. Dr. Doug Harrington, the department's state medical officer, will replace him. The transition occurs as DPHHS oversees a $233 million federal Rural Health Transformation Program grant, implements new Medicaid and SNAP work requirements set to begin this fall, and manages a $7 billion biennial budget covering Medicaid, behavioral health, and other health and human services programs. Brereton led the agency through Medicaid unwinding, behavioral health investments, and rural hospital stabilization efforts.
- State Policy · MD
Maryland Health IG Reports $42M in Improper Payments from Audits Now Public
Maryland's Office of Inspector General for Health conducted 1,369 investigations and 53 audits over fiscal years 2023-2025 identifying $42 million in improper or unrecovered payments from healthcare providers and local health departments. The agency has now posted 20 audit reports publicly for the first time after operating largely without public disclosure since becoming independent in 2022. The reports detail $4.3 million owed by 13 healthcare providers for inadequate documentation and duplicate payments, plus $1.7 million owed by local health departments for documentation errors and missing equipment. The Maryland Department of Health, not the IG, handles recoveries and has historically forgiven portions of identified overpayments.
- State Policy · MO
Over Half of Missouri Counties Lack Labor and Delivery Services, March of Dimes Reports
A new March of Dimes report finds that more than 50% of Missouri counties are maternity care deserts with no labor and delivery units or obstetric physicians, affecting nearly 140,000 women of childbearing age. Between 2010 and 2024, nine Missouri counties lost hospital-based obstetric services, driven by high fixed costs, low birth volumes, and higher Medicaid patient shares at rural hospitals. Research shows that after rural counties lose obstetric services, risks of preterm birth, out-of-hospital birth, and delivery at facilities without dedicated obstetric units increase. The closures add an average of 25 minutes to travel times for families near affected facilities.
- State Policy
Nine States to Vote on Tax Measures Affecting Medicaid and Public Program Funding
Voters in at least nine states will decide tax ballot measures this fall that could significantly alter revenue available for Medicaid and other public services. California's Proposition 40 would impose a one-time 5% wealth tax on billionaires to close budget gaps in Medicaid, food assistance, and education programs — a response to federal funding losses from the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Colorado and Washington state also face income tax measures. California's measure would raise tens of billions for Medicaid and other services, though competing ballot measures could undo it if they receive more votes. The outcomes will determine state capacity to fund Medicaid programs amid tightening federal support.
Tuesday, September 22 · 10 stories
- State Policy · SD
South Dakota Task Force Advances Regional Ambulance Hub Plan, Citing Need for State Funding
A South Dakota legislative task force concluded Monday that regionalizing ambulance services will require multi-year state funding and a permanent advisory board to sustain rural EMS coverage. The state received $719,000 in federal Rural Health Transformation Program funding through 2029 to plan regional hub models, but lawmakers acknowledged additional state revenue sources will be needed beyond federal support and regionalization savings. The task force created subcommittees to develop regionalization structures and revenue models for the 2027 legislative session. Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement rates insufficient to cover EMS costs remain a core sustainability challenge, particularly for volunteer-dependent rural services.
- State Policy
Arizona Launches Work Requirement Portal as States Update Medicaid Eligibility Systems
Arizona's Medicaid agency launched KeepMyAHCCCS.com to educate members about federal work requirements under H.R. 1, offering exemption information and contact updates. Nebraska DHHS notified Medicaid members that new federal noncitizen eligibility restrictions take effect October 1, 2026, potentially shifting some members to other programs. Meanwhile, Delaware and Massachusetts enacted protections limiting immigration enforcement in healthcare facilities. The District of Columbia passed medical debt protections capping interest at 3%, prohibiting credit reporting, and requiring financial assistance screening. Colorado's marketplace released 2027 open enrollment resources reflecting premium assistance and immigrant coverage changes.
- State Policy
Eight States Announce Medicaid, Health Care Policy Actions in September 2026
Connecticut finalized $50 million in Rural Health Transformation Project grant agreements for four rural hospital systems and technical assistance. Kansas awarded $16 million in RHTP funds to 14 providers for emerging health technology implementation. Kentucky established a medical debt relief program targeting $250 million in debt for over 130,000 residents. Massachusetts proposed $2 million for universal postpartum home visiting and updated perinatal mental health screening regulations. Michigan opened grant applications for community navigators to assist residents affected by federal eligibility requirements under H.R. 1. Additional actions were announced in Colorado, Maryland, and other states.
- State Policy · VA
Virginia Survey Finds 51% of Families with Children Face Food Insecurity
A statewide survey commissioned by the Federation of Virginia Food Banks, Virginia Department of Social Services, and No Kid Hungry Virginia found 51% of families with children are food insecure, up from 42% in the final federal USDA survey that ended in 2025. The University of Chicago survey of 5,600 Virginians shows rising food insecurity amid inflation and SNAP eligibility changes under H.R. 1, which resulted in more than 100,000 Virginians losing benefits over the past year. The survey also found three out of four food-insecure adults have chronic conditions and three in five visited an emergency room or urgent care at least once in the past year. Governor Spanberger signed an executive order to streamline inter-agency coordination as H.R. 1 threatens 300,000 with Medicaid loss in 2027.
- State Policy
Rural Maternal Health Access Deteriorates Following H.R. 1 Passage
Rural maternal health care access has worsened following passage of H.R. 1, compounding pre-existing challenges including 109 rural hospital closures since 2005, workforce shortages, and low reimbursement rates. The legislation's impact on rural maternity services adds to infrastructure vulnerabilities affecting pregnant Medicaid beneficiaries in rural areas. State Medicaid agencies face mounting pressure to address maternal health deserts through alternative delivery models, enhanced reimbursement, or emergency transport solutions as traditional brick-and-mortar access points continue closing.
- State Policy · OK
Oklahoma Transitions Four State Mental Health Clinics to Private Operation
Oklahoma's Department of Mental Health is privatizing four state-run certified community behavioral health clinics, with over 90% of affected state employees receiving job offers as part of the transition. The privatization effort shifts clinic operations from direct state management to private providers. The timing and effective date of the transition were not specified in the report. This matters for states considering similar CCBHC delivery model changes and for understanding workforce continuity during Medicaid behavioral health delivery system transitions.
- State Policy · MA
Massachusetts Proposes $2M to Expand Postpartum Mental Health Services Under Medicaid
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey is requesting $2 million from the state legislature to expand the Welcome Family program, which provides free home nurse visits for postpartum mental health screening to new mothers. The expansion would increase coverage from 3,000 to 68,000 households annually. Several other states enacted similar legislation this year: Illinois mandated at-home mental health screenings for all new mothers, while Maryland and Virginia required Medicaid and other insurers to cover postpartum depression screenings. The Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health expects a 200% increase in state legislative activity on maternal mental health in the coming year.
- State Policy · RI
Rhode Island Redesigns Medicaid and Public Benefits Decision Notices for Clarity
Rhode Island has redesigned the decision notices sent to approximately 60,000 residents monthly regarding Medicaid coverage and other public benefits. The redesigned notices aim to make approval, denial, and change decisions easier to understand for beneficiaries. The changes took effect this month. The redesign matters for state agencies and health plans because clearer notices can reduce appeals, call center volume, and coverage gaps caused by beneficiary confusion about eligibility decisions.
- State Policy · UT
Utah Disability Watchdog Cites State Oversight Failures After Three LTSS Client Deaths
The Disability Law Center released a report Monday accusing Utah's Department of Health and Human Services of inadequate oversight of Safe and Sound Services, a licensed provider whose transport driver has been charged with murder after three clients with disabilities died in his vehicle in February 2026. The center says DHHS allowed a high-risk provider to serve individuals with complex needs despite prior complaints of physical assaults, failure to provide medical care, dangerously low staffing ratios, and facilities lacking heat or running water. Utah DHHS responded that it has hired a contractor to assess risk mitigation, added four oversight staff, and is exploring stricter provider qualification standards. The provider's license has been revoked.
- State Policy · IN
Indiana Medical Frailty Definition Unfinished Three Months Before Work Requirements Start
Indiana's Family and Social Services Administration has not finalized its medical frailty exemption criteria for Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP) work requirements set to begin in three months. The exemption will determine which HIP enrollees — able-bodied adults ages 19-64 — are excused from work requirements due to medical conditions that prevent compliance. The delay creates uncertainty for thousands of low-income enrollees and health plans administering HIP. Medical frailty definitions are critical because they determine who faces coverage loss if work requirements are not met versus who receives an automatic exemption.
Monday, September 21 · 10 stories
- State Policy · MI
Michigan Child Food Insecurity Rises 40% Since 2019 Despite Medicaid, WIC Enrollment Declines
A new Kids Count report shows child food insecurity increased nearly 40% across Michigan since 2019, rising in 82 of 83 counties, even as Medicaid and WIC enrollment declined in most counties despite rising unemployment and stagnant incomes. The state has seen modest policy wins, including a 2026 budget increasing K-12 per-pupil spending and a new law requiring lead testing at 12 and 24 months. Federal SNAP cuts under the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" have reduced benefits for Michigan children, and proposed federal data changes threaten county-level tracking of food insecurity and Census-based program funding allocations.
- State Policy · WV
West Virginia Allocates $291,000 in Federal Rural Health Funds to Expand Nursing Education Capacity
West Virginia will allocate $291,403 from its federal Rural Health Transformation Program grant to WVU Medicine's Center for Nursing Education to expand capacity by 100 students annually, targeting rural and Health Professional Shortage Area communities. The funding will support tuition assistance, academic services, and wellness resources for students who commit to serving in West Virginia's healthcare workforce. The allocation is part of West Virginia's Mountain State Care Force initiative under the state's $199 million five-year Rural Health Transformation grant from CMS, established under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. WVU Medicine currently has over 1,000 vacancies across its network.
- State Policy · NM
CMS Delivers $74 Million in Rural Health Transformation Funds for New Mexico Regional Care Hubs
CMS announced a $74 million investment in New Mexico through the federal Rural Health Transformation Program to expand access to specialty, maternal, behavioral health, and chronic disease care in rural, frontier, and tribal communities. The funds support six Regional Hub Organizations leading Healthy Horizons, one component of the state's five-year RHTP strategy. The hubs will begin by coordinating with local providers and community partners to identify needs, set priorities, and develop plans that bring services closer to home. The investment is part of New Mexico's larger fiscal year 2026 award under the $50 billion RHTP and is grant funding, separate from Medicaid demonstration or waiver authority.
- State Policy · AR
Arkansas Schedules January Special Election for Senate District 18 Following Dismang Resignation
Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders set a January 5, 2027 special election to fill the Senate District 18 seat vacated by former Republican Sen. Jonathan Dismang, who resigned this week to become vice president of external affairs for Arkansas Electric Cooperatives. A special primary will coincide with the November 3 general election. Dismang, who served as an architect of Arkansas' Medicaid expansion, leaves Republicans with a 27-6 majority in the state Senate. Candidates have until noon September 24 to file for the vacancy in the district covering White County and parts of Faulkner and Cleburne counties.
