State Health Updates
- Arizona – Governor Katie Hobbs announced that 141,000 more Arizonans have had their medical debt erased. To date this effort, which is a partnership between the Hobbs administration and the national nonprofit Undue Medical Debt, has eliminated $642 million in medical debt for more than 485,000 people across Arizona. SHVS has updated our expert perspective tracking state medical debt cancellation initiatives.
- Colorado – The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) issued a statement reaffirming its commitment to evidence-based vaccination guidance and continued access to preventive care. CDPHE recommends that families and providers follow the 2025 Recommended Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
- Connecticut – Access Health CT, the state’s official health insurance Marketplace, announced the final deadline to enroll in a health or dental plan for 2026 has been extended to Saturday, January 31. Access Health CT is working with state officials on a plan to implement the new state subsidy program that will lower costs for eligible Connecticut residents who purchase their health insurance through the exchange.
- Maryland
- Department of Health Secretary Dr. Meena Seshamani issued a statement that Maryland’s childhood vaccine schedule will continue to follow the guidance of the American Academy of Pediatrics. In addition, Governor Moore announced the Vax Act as part of the governor’s legislative agenda during the 2026 Maryland General Assembly. The proposed legislation would establish new authority for the secretary of the Maryland Department of Health to issue official recommendations for immunizations, screening, and preventive services for Marylanders based on science and clinical guidance. The bill would also decouple the state’s vaccine authority from that of federal government bodies, providing space for Maryland’s health secretary to consider the guidance of federal agencies and entities as elective.
- Maryland Health Connection, the state’s official health insurance Marketplace, is warning consumers shopping for coverage to be aware of scams. The blog post reviews what is included in ACA health plans as compared to limited-benefit plans and encourages consumers to confirm sellers who contact them are licensed to sell insurance in Maryland by contacting the Maryland Insurance Administration.
- Massachusetts – Governor Maura Healey announced a new investment of state funds into the ConnectorCare program, increasing affordability for Massachusetts residents after the loss of enhanced premium tax credits on the Marketplace. Nearly 75% of Massachusetts Health Connector customers will see no increase in premiums with the new funding.
- Michigan
- Following updates to the U.S. childhood immunization schedule, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services issued a statement reiterating Chief Medical Executive Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian’s standing recommendation advising healthcare providers and families to follow the child and adolescent immunization schedule produced by the American Academy of Pediatrics or the American Academy of Family Physicians.
- Michigan submitted a request to extend the Flint Michigan Section 1115 demonstration. Michigan requests approval of a five-year extension for the demonstration with no changes. The state seeks to maintain uninterrupted coverage and services for children up to age 21 and pregnant women affected by lead exposure from the Flint water system.
- Minnesota – The Minnesota Department of Human Services announced it will freeze new provider enrollments in 13 categories of Medicaid services at the direction of CMS as a “fraud fighting measure.” A start date for the freeze is not yet determined. The pause is initially slated to last six months.
- Mississippi – The Mississippi Division of Medicaid submitted a state plan amendment seeking to update the reimbursement rates for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) services, effective December 1, 2025.
- New Hampshire – Governor Kelly Ayotte announced the appointment of Donnalee Lozeau as Director of the Governor’s Office of New Opportunities & Rural Transformational Health (GO-NORTH), which will administer New Hampshire’s RHTP.
- New Jersey
- The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) published a Rural Health Transformation Program Vendor Resource Directory, assembled in partnership with the Department of Human Services, aimed at connecting vendors and key RHTP stakeholders in order to accelerate the implementation of rural health projects. The NJDOH Office of Primary Care and Rural Health also released the Rural Health Transformation Program: Advancing Technology, Prevention, and Workforce Capacity (2026) request for applications.
- Governor Phil Murphy announced that more than 53,000 New Jersey residents will see a combined $86 million in medical bills abolished as a result of the state’s ongoing partnership with national nonprofit Undue Medical Debt. To date, this partnership has seen nearly $1.4 billion in medical debt eliminated for over 828,000 New Jersey residents.
- New Mexico – The New Mexico Health Care Authority announced $1 million in grant funding available to support the primary care provider workforce, including by establishing or expanding residency programs and developing new primary care workforce training pathways.
- Pennsylvania – Pennie, the state’s official health insurance Marketplace, announced that it is extending open enrollment until January 31.
- South Dakota – The Department of Social Services created a page dedicated to sharing information about the impacts of H.R.1 on South Dakota Medicaid. The page provides a summary of the Medicaid provisions of H.R.1 based on which Medicaid or CHIP population they apply to.
- Washington – The Washington Health Benefit Exchange announced that more than 278,000 Washingtonians have signed up for health and dental insurance for 2026 through Washington Healthplanfinder. The deadline for this year’s open enrollment is January 15, for coverage that starts on February 1.
- West Virginia – The West Virginia Department of Health (DH) announced the official launch of health.wv.gov, the department’s newly redesigned website serving as a central hub for information on the RHTP and the department’s broader public health mission. DH also announced it is seeking a leadership team to implement the RHTP.