State Health Updates

• Arizona – The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System has posted its 2025 Opioid Treatment Program (OTPs) reports online and is inviting the public to review and share feedback. These reports, submitted by registered OPTs across Arizona, provide insight into how these programs are supporting individuals living with opioid-use disorder.
• Colorado – The Department of Health Care Policy & Financing hosted a webinar on the Rural Health Transformation Program to provide an overview of the state’s application and walk through next steps in the process. 
• Florida – The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration has submitted an amendment to the Florida Managed Medical Assistance 1115 demonstration. The proposal would exempt individuals who are permanently disabled from the 12-month Medicaid redetermination requirement to prevent disenrollment due to administrative or procedural reasons and to mitigate gaps in Medicaid coverage.
• Iowa – The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has approved a temporary extension and amendment of Iowa’s section 1115 demonstration, known as the “Iowa Wellness Plan” through December 31, 2026. As a part of this approval the state’s non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) waiver will not be extended beyond that date, even if other parts of the demonstration are extended.
• Minnesota – The Minnesota Department of Human Services has launched a new website to enhance transparency around its efforts to strengthen fraud prevention, detection, and enforcement. The site provides clear definitions of fraud, waste, and abuse; a timeline of actions the agency has taken; key decisions that advance transparency and program integrity; and data on preliminary investigations, cases opened, law enforcement referrals, and administrative actions.
• Nebraska – The Department of Health and Human Services is seeking a Rural Health Transformation Program Procurement Administrator to lead strategic contracting initiatives, guide a team of professionals, ensure full regulatory compliance, and strengthen vendor partnerships.
• New Jersey – The New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance has adopted final rules outlining requirements for state-regulated insurers to cap certain out-of-pocket costs on critical prescription medications. Governor Phil Murphy previously signed legislation to cap out-of-pocket costs for asthma inhalers and epinephrine auto-injector devices in addition to capping consumer costs for insulin. 
• North Carolina   
  • The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) announced the launch of the Children and Families Specialty Plan, a statewide health plan to ensure access to comprehensive physical and mental health services for Medicaid-enrolled children, youth and young adults currently and formerly served by the child welfare system. With approval from and at the direction of the North Carolina General Assembly and in partnership with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, the plan went live on December 1, 2025.
  • NCDHHS is expanding its employment initiative, Project Spark, by launching 10 new locations across the state. The expansion will increase access to services and supports that help individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities secure competitive integrated employment – jobs in typical community settings where people with disabilities work alongside colleagues without disabilities, earn at least minimum wage, and receive the same benefits and opportunities as others in similar roles.
• Oregon – T.K. Keen has been appointed as Oregon’s new insurance commissioner, after serving as the interim insurance commissioner since June. Congratulations T.K.!
• Rhode Island – The state received approval from CMS to extend its section 1115 demonstration entitled, “Rhode Island Comprehensive Demonstration” for an additional five years. 
• Virginia – Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger announced the first cabinet secretary appointment of her administration, Marvin Figueroa, to serve as Virginia’s next Secretary of Health and Human Resources. Before serving at the US Department of Health and Human Services in the Biden administration, Figueroa was Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Resources under Governor Ralph Northam.
• Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island – The Northeast Public Health Collaborative (an alliance of public health agencies from eight states and the city of New York) announced that it continues to recommend that all newborns receive a hepatitis B vaccine birth dose within 24 hours of delivery. The Collaborative based its recommendation on a review of the relevant scientific literature and medical professional guidance related to the hepatitis B vaccine among newborns.