State Health Updates

• Arizona – Governor Katie Hobbs announced the launch of the official Arizona RHTP website. 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.
• California – The California Department of Health Care Services released the impact report on the first year of California’s Justice-Involved Reentry Initiative. This first-in-the-nation program provides targeted Medi-Cal services to incarcerated individuals up to 90 days before release. The report provides stories of individuals who have benefited from these services. In its first year, the initiative delivered more than 159,000 billable pre-release services and prescriptions and enrolled more than 24,000 incarcerated individuals in Medi-Cal prior to release.
• Illinois – The Illinois Department of Health (IDPH) launched a “30 Days of Public Health” initiative to raise awareness of the role they play in promoting health equity across Illinois. IDPH debuted new public service advertisements and creative content to highlight public health services and community programs.
• Minnesota – CMS approved a five-year extension of the “Minnesota Substance Use Disorder System Reform” section 1115 demonstration. This extension allows the state to continue receiving federal financial participation for Medicaid services provided to enrollees who are primarily receiving treatment and/or withdrawal management services for a substance-use disorder while they are short-term residents in facilities that meet the definition of an Institution for Mental Diseases (IMD).
• Montana 
  • The Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) announced the launch of a new website designed to help Montanans navigate upcoming changes to the state’s Medicaid program as a result of H.R.1.
  • DPHHS announced it is seeking proposals to launch and implement the Rural Health Center of Excellence (CoE), as part of the RHTP. The CoE will serve as the heart of the RHTP and will be driven by three primary objectives: data-driven strategy, long-term sustainability, and performance incentives. Additionally, a centralized website page has been created with resources to help vendors effectively navigate the request for proposals.
• Nebraska – The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services is seeking applications for each of the six newly established RHTP Health Care Advisory Regions (HCARs) in Nebraska. HCARs are being established across Nebraska to provide structured, region-specific healthcare insight and coordinated input into RHTP.
• New Jersey – Governor Mikie Sherrill signed legislation to eliminate selective restrictions for advanced practice nurses (APNs) practicing in New Jersey. APNs with extensive clinical experience are able to continue independently providing primary and behavioral healthcare services.
• Pennsylvania – The Shapiro Administration unveiled Pennsylvania’s Maternal Health Strategic Action Plan, “Healthy Moms, Vibrant Futures.” The comprehensive multi-agency plan is the first in Pennsylvania and contains strategic goals, data and research, ongoing work, and recommendations to combat maternal health disparities that can shape quality of life for both mothers and their children.
• South Carolina – The South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) hosted a stakeholder meeting on the RHTP, providing an overview of the state’s vision and goals as well as the grant opportunities. SCDHHS also posted a frequently asked questions document on the RHTP.  
• Virginia
  • Governor Abigail Spanberger signed several bills to make healthcare more affordable and accessible: SB669 reforming the practices of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs); SB405 investing in Virginia’s healthcare workforce through nursing scholarships and loan programs; HB220 eliminating additional fees on healthcare premiums; and HB60 prohibiting insurance discrimination for individuals taking pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention.
  • Virginia’s Insurance Marketplace announced that pregnancy is now a qualifying life event for a special enrollment period.
• Washington
  • The Washington State Health Care Authority announced that Trinity Wilson has been appointed Medicaid Director, effective April 1. Congratulations, Trinity! 
  • Governor Bob Ferguson announced Washington state is joining the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN), a coordinated worldwide partnership dedicated to monitoring and responding to global disease outbreaks.