State Health Updates

• California 
  • The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) announced the release of a plan outlining the state’s approach to implementing new federal requirements under H.R.1. The plan provides details on upcoming changes, guiding principles for implementation, and resources for members and stakeholders to prepare for transitions. About two million Medi-Cal members, primarily within the new adult expansion group, are at risk of losing health coverage due to these federal changes.
  • DHCS announced that 139 organizations have successfully completed capacity-building projects designed to strengthen their ability to deliver Enhanced Care Management (ECM) and Community Supports, cornerstones of California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal. Across the state, these projects expanded ECM and Community Supports by training hundreds of new staff, including care managers and outreach workers, investing in electronic health records to improve care coordination, and developing peer-led outreach models while hosting hundreds of community events to build trust with communities.
• Colorado – Connect for Health Colorado, the state’s official health insurance Marketplace, announced that after five consecutive years of record growth, enrollment in health coverage through the Marketplace for plan year 2026 dropped 2%. Despite rising costs due to less federal financial assistance, 277,228 Coloradans enrolled in health insurance, with 69% of customers receiving financial help to lower the cost of their monthly premiums, thanks to a new affordability program that the state rolled out for 2026.
• Connecticut
  • Governor Ned Lamont announced that his administration has submitted a supplemental plan to the Connecticut General Assembly to use funding from the recently created Emergency State Response Reserve in response to federal funding reductions. The supplemental plan totals $18.7 million and will be used to support items necessary for food and nutrition assistance, Medicaid assistance, youth mental health services in schools, and children’s wraparound services, including healthcare and childcare.
  • Access Health CT, the state’s official health insurance Marketplace, announced it will offer a special enrollment period for eligible consumers to enroll in the new state subsidy starting February 1. Households with an annual income between 100% and 200% of the federal poverty level (FPL) will receive a state subsidy to replace 100% of the expired federal enhanced premium tax credit (ePTC) amounts and households with an annual income over 400% and up to 500% FPL will receive a state subsidy to replace 50% of the expired ePTCs. 
• Maryland
  • The Maryland Health Benefit Exchange announced that a total of 255,612 consumers enrolled during the open enrollment period–up 3% from last year, as the state’s new premium assistance program replaced some or all of the expired federal financial help for those under 400% FPL, with those under 200% FPL receiving the most help. Enrollment by Black and Hispanic consumers grew 4% and 2% respectively. Initial numbers show an increase in enrollment, however consumers buying-down to cheaper plans leave families vulnerable to medical costs.
  • Governor Wes Moore announced $164 million in hospital surge funding to support access to care amid high rates of respiratory illness in Maryland. Funding—administered to Maryland hospitals facing the largest surge of flu cases and patient stays—will help cover increased operational costs, such as staffing, and provide greater budget flexibility to manage the high volume of influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and COVID-19 cases. The funding announced ranges from $49,000 to $32.8 million—supporting 25 Maryland hospitals in fiscal year 2026.
• Minnesota – The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) announced that new federal data released by CMS shows the overall rate of improper payment in Minnesota’s Medicaid program is far below national averages. CMS found an error rate of slightly over 2.1%, compared to a national average of 6.1%. The data for the review was compiled before DHS began implementing new strategies to minimize the risk of fraud.
• New Jersey – The New Jersey Department of Children and Families announced that the Family Connects NJ program—the state’s Universal Nurse Home Visiting program—has been expanded to support more families welcoming home a newborn in six new counties. The service is now available in all of South Jersey, and most of Central and North Jersey, with program rollout on track to reach statewide implementation next year.
• New Mexico
  • New Mexico has approved $24.4 million in funding to expand behavioral health services statewide, allowing communities to address gaps in care while longer-term regional plans are developed. The funding was authorized under Senate Bill 3 and will be administered by the New Mexico Health Care Authority. It allows the 13 designated behavioral health regions to begin implementing services while comprehensive multi-year regional behavioral health plans are still in development. 
  • BeWell, the state’s official health insurance Marketplace, is lifting up the voices of enrollees about what affordable insurance means to them through a public dashboard where enrollees can write their stories. BeWell is also lifting up consumer voices in a new video available on YouTube.
• New York
  • Governor Kathy Hochul announced the launch of the Health Care Access Loan Repayment (HEALR) program, a $48.3 million initiative designed to expand access to care for Medicaid members and uninsured individuals across New York state. The HEALR program will provide significant financial incentives to healthcare professionals who commit to serving high-need populations, addressing critical workforce shortages while reducing barriers to essential health services in underserved communities. 
  • Governor Hochul announced that construction is underway for a new $1.7 billion public health laboratory to transform New York’s ability to detect, prevent, and respond to emerging threats.
• Oregon
  • The Oregon Health Authority announced that 118,372 people in Oregon enrolled in Marketplace coverage during open enrollment. Nearly 60% of enrollees who applied for financial assistance received help in 2026, compared to 80% in 2025. Marketplace enrollment partners reported that increased premiums led some individuals and families to delay enrollment, select plans with higher out-of-pocket costs, or forgo coverage altogether.
  • The Oregon Department of Human Services Office of Developmental Disabilities Services seeks public comment on updates to its six 1915(c) Medicaid waivers. Changes include making it easier for children with low incomes to access waiver services and fewer forms for enrollees to sign.
• Washington – The Washington Health Benefit Exchange announced that more than 290,000 Washingtonians selected a plan for 2026 health and dental insurance through the Marketplace during open enrollment, with around 40,000 fewer Washingtonians receiving premium tax credits in 2026 than 2025. Customers also canceled their coverage more than any year prior—more than 28,000 in 2026 compared to just over 20,000 in 2025. Based on higher costs, the Marketplace is expecting that even more customers will disenroll before final counts are published in the spring.