Mar, 20, 2026

State Health Updates

  • Maine – The Department of Health and Human Services will be hosting informational webinars for clinician and community partners on the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). The webinars will include an overview of the program, the state’s implementation activity, adjustments to Maine’s budget to meet federal requirements and the final award, and plans for launching RHTP activities. The anticipated timeline for funding opportunities and next steps for provider participation will also be discussed.
  • Maryland – The Department of Health is seeking a RHTP Administrator to provide administrative and managerial oversight of the implementation of the RHTP. 
  • Missouri – CMS approved an extension of the “Missouri Former Foster Care Youth” section 1115 demonstration. This demonstration provides Medicaid coverage to Missouri residents who were former foster care youth under age 26, were in foster care under the responsibility of another state for at least six months as of the date they turned 18 and were enrolled in Medicaid while they were in foster care. This demonstration also requires all children in the care and custody of Missouri and those receiving adoption subsidy assistance to enroll in a single specialty health plan on a continuous basis.
  • New Hampshire – The Governor and Executive Council approved four contracts to implement the state’s RHTP plan. These contracts will establish hubs overseen by the Governor’s Office of New Opportunities & Rural Transformational Health (GO-NORTH) to support stronger access, improved service delivery, workforce growth, and long-term rural health system sustainability.
  • New York 
    • The New York Department of Health, NY State of Health, and the United Hospital Fund hosted the first in a series of roundtables dedicated to addressing the implementation challenges presented by H.R.1.
    • Governor Hochul announced $20 million in state grants available to eligible providers to fund medication abortion healthcare services under the New York State Supplemental Abortion Provider Support Fund. The Fund provides financial support to providers of medication abortion to ensure they can provide equitable access to timely and quality abortion services.
  • North Dakota – North Dakota Health and Human Services announced the first RHTP funding opportunity is now available to support the retention of healthcare professionals in 37 critical access hospitals and their owned and operated clinics.
  • Oklahoma – The Oklahoma RHTP has released its first public grant application through a notice of funding opportunity for the Community-Led Wellness Hubs: Microgrants program, one of 29 programs included in the state’s RHTP initiatives. Microgrant funding will support one-time purchases of equipment and other lasting assets that can help improve healthcare access, health outcomes and overall community wellness in rural Oklahoma communities.
  • West Virginia – Governor Patrick Morrisey issued a statement on the passage of the RHTP supplemental. 
  • Wisconsin
    • Governor Tony Evers signed legislation to extend postpartum Medicaid coverage from 60 days to one year. Expanded postpartum coverage will be available for Wisconsin families starting July 1, 2026, following CMS review and approval of Wisconsin’s state plan amendment. 
    • Governor Evers also signed “Gail’s Law,” to expand access to breast cancer screenings. The legislation requires health insurance policies, including Medicaid, to fully cover medically necessary supplemental breast screenings or diagnostic breast examinations for those with dense breasts or who are at an increased risk of breast cancer.