State Health Updates

• Arizona 
  • The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) will host two informational webinars to share proposed updates to applied behavior analysis (ABA) services. The first session is for ABA providers and provider associations. The second session is geared towards families, caregivers, and community advocates.
  • AHCCCS announced the launch of the AHCCCS Solutions Center, a new, centralized platform designed to make it easier to connect with AHCCCS and submit requests on behalf of providers. AHCCCS will host a training webinar for providers, vendors, and other partners who interact with AHCCCS on behalf of providers.
• California – Governor Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta announced that California is taking decisive action to dismantle a large-scale identity theft and hospice fraud scheme targeting the Medi-Cal program in Los Angeles. This joint enforcement effort, led by the California Department of Health Care Services and the California Department of Justice’s Division of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse, underscores California’s commitment to protecting Medi-Cal members and safeguarding taxpayer dollars from fraud, waste, and abuse.
• Connecticut – The Connecticut Department of Social Services announced a webinar to update stakeholders on the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) on April 13. As a reminder, SHVS continues tracking state RHTP implementation: this expert perspective identifies the state agencies leading RHTP work and includes links to state RHTP webpages.
• Georgia – The Georgia Department of Human Services’ Division of Aging Services is hosting Community Conversations to seek feedback for the 2028-2031 State Plan on Aging this spring. In-person and virtual options will be offered. 
• Kansas 
  • Governor Laura Kelly signed Senate Bill 271, bipartisan legislation that permanently updates the income eligibility requirements for Kansas’ CHIP and protects access to affordable health coverage for Kansas children. 
  • Governor Kelly also signed Senate Bill 20, which regulates Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs). Senate Bill 20 enacts several changes to current PBM practices, including granting the Kansas Insurance Commissioner increased authority to regulate PBMs, ensuring all pharmacies are reimbursed using the National Average Drug Acquisition Cost, mandating that drug rebates pass through to health plans, and bans spread pricing so PBMs can no longer charge health plans more than they reimburse pharmacies.
• Kentucky – Governor Andy Beshear signed House Bills 393 and 510 and Senate Bill 97 to support healthcare relating to Alzheimer’s disease, organ donation and healthcare coverage for prosthetics and orthotics. 
• Louisiana – Governor Jeff Landry signed an executive order establishing the Office of Rural Health Transformation and Sustainability within the Louisiana Department of Health. The new office will lead the implementation of Louisiana’s RHTP. The Governor also announced the formation of the RHTP Advisory Council which will guide implementation and ensure rural health transformation efforts align with statewide priorities, address local community needs, and promote sustainable, data-driven improvements in care delivery.
• Maine – Governor Janet Mills signed LD 2129, legislation to prohibit medical debt collectors from placing a lien on a person’s home or garnishing their wages. The new law builds on earlier legislation signed by Governor Mills that prohibited medical debt from appearing on consumer credit reports, helping protect Mainers’ credit scores and financial stability. As a reminder, SHVS is tracking state medical debt cancellation efforts.
• Nebraska – The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services will open RHTP applications for the Nebraska Rural Health Workforce Incentive Program on April 15, 2026. This program will provide financial incentives to support healthcare professionals in relocating to, or continuing to serve in, rural Nebraska counties to strengthen recruitment, retention, and the expansion of clinical services in rural communities.
• Nevada – The Nevada Health Authority (NVHA) is currently seeking applicants for initiatives funded through the RHTP. NVHA also posted a frequently asked questions document related to the requests for applications. 
• North Carolina 
  • The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) announced Maggie Woods as the RHTP Director to lead North Carolina’s effort in transforming healthcare and access for more than 3.5 million rural North Carolinians.
  • NCDHHS announced a $5.7 million investment to increase access to substance-use services. Twelve community-based organizations were awarded funding to provide services in rural areas, crisis co-response teams, treatment and prevention for youth, transitional and recovery housing, peer support, mobile outreach, and other evidence-based treatments and supports.
• Oklahoma – The Oklahoma Insurance Department (OID) received a conditional approval letter from CMS to operate a State-Based Exchange on the federal platform (SBE-FP) beginning May 1, 2026. CMS will continue to provide technical assistance to OID as it works toward being able to carry out all required functions of an SBE-FP. 
• Oregon – The Oregon Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) is hosting a series of community forums in April and May to hear from people about the high cost of prescription drugs and the effect it has on their lives and budgets. The board conducts annual drug reviews and presents a list of medications that may create affordability challenges to the Oregon Legislature each year. The feedback from the community forums will help inform PDAB’s drug review process.
• Pennsylvania – The Pennsylvania Insurance Department (PID) announced that, since 2024, the Commonwealth-run Independent External Review process has overturned about 48% of eligible claims submitted, meaning hundreds of Pennsylvanians received healthcare benefits their insurers originally refused to cover. The independent external review process helps Pennsylvanians by providing them with an additional outlet to exercise their right to appeal a denied health insurance claim. Pennsylvanians are eligible for an external review when the claim continues to be denied after an internal appeal to the insurance company. At that point, Pennsylvanians can request PID to assign the appeal to an independent reviewer.
• Rhode Island – Governor Dan McKee announced he has submitted a budget amendment reflecting anticipated spending for state fiscal years 2026 and 2027 under Rhode Island’s $156 million year 1 award from the RHTP, following recent final approval from CMS. 
• South Carolina – The South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services posted applications for grants offered under four of the state’s RHTP initiatives: Connections to Care, Wellness Within Reach, Leveling Up, and Shoring Up to Sustainability. Applications are being accepted through June 1, 2026.
• Virginia – Governor Abigail Spanberger signed a series of bills to increase access to healthcare and lower costs. The legislation signed by the Governor included: HB736 which seeks to prevent delays in care by limiting prior authorization; HB425 which expands access to telemedicine service for women experiencing high-risk pregnancies or women 35 years of age or older on Medicaid; and HB6 which establishes the right to contraception.
• Washington – The Washington Health Care Authority posted an application for its RHTP advisory committee (RHT-AC). The RHT-AC will help prioritize projects and funding for the RHT Program Plan, including activities that require competitive bid processes. The committee will also make recommendations to the state Legislative and Executive branches about opportunities for policy and regulatory alignment with RHT Program learnings.