Almost 150 organizations joining the 2021 Oregon State of Reform Health Policy Conference
Matt Beuschlein | Oct 18, 2021 | Oregon
With a week to go until the 2021 Oregon State of Reform Health Policy Conference, we wanted to share the list of nearly 150 organizations that will be attending our event. It's an impressive list and one that we're honored to host and convene on October 26th! We are looking
AHCCCS Launches New Opioid Services Locator
Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System | Oct 15, 2021 | Arizona
The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) announces the launch of a new, web-based, opioid services locator to help Arizonans who are looking for services to treat Opioid Use Disorder and where to find Naloxone, the opioid overdose reversal medication. “The opioid epidemic remains a major public health challenge in Arizona
CalOptima’s text campaigns to boost vaccination rates in Medi-Cal communities prove effective
Soraya Marashi | Oct 15, 2021 | California
CalOptima is one of the Medi-Cal plans in the state to receive special authorization from the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) to send text messages to members. As a result, CalOptima is using text campaigns to boost COVID-19 vaccination rates among communities on Medi-Cal. DCHS data has
Virginia Department of Health announces updates to vaccine dashboards
Virginia Department of Health | Oct 15, 2021 | Virginia
Today, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) announced that data about boosters and third doses have been added to its vaccine dashboards. This enhancement to the dashboards is another step in VDH’s continued efforts to provide timely and accurate information in a transparent way to the public about our COVID-19
Whitmer signed order creating new Health and Aging Services Administration within MDHHS
Patrick Jones | Oct 15, 2021 | Michigan
Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed an executive order creating the Health and Aging Services Administration (HASA) within the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services yesterday, Oct. 14. The new structure combines the Aging and Adult Services Agency and Medical Services Administration to focus on integration, coordination, and innovation for the
Covered California for Small Business Announces a Weighted Average Rate Change of 4 Percent for 2022
Covered California | Oct 15, 2021 | California
Covered California for Small Business unveiled the health plan choices and rates for small-business employers and their employees for the upcoming 2022 plan year. The statewide weighted average rate change is 4 percent, which represents the second-lowest annual increase in the program’s seven-year history. The rate change is lower than
Kids “can either get vaccinated or you can get Delta,” says Hawaii state epidemiologist
Nicole Pasia | Oct 15, 2021 | Hawaii
Hawaii Department of Health state epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Kemble set the record straight Wednesday on how the Delta variant and COVID-19 vaccines affect Hawaii’s keiki, especially as kids return to in-person learning. Dr. Natasha Ching, a pediatric disease specialist at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children, joined Dr. Kemble
Q&A: Office of Rural Health director discusses the workforce pipeline and access challenges for rural communities
Patrick Jones | Oct 15, 2021 | Utah
Ashley Moretz is the director of the Office of Primary Care & Rural Health at the Utah Department of Health. He has been the director since Feb. 2020 and aims to improve health care access to rural, underserved communities in Utah. In this Q&A, Moretz discusses the challenge of workforce
Florida Health Insurance Advisory Board to vote on eight legislative recommendations
Nicole Pasia | Oct 14, 2021 | Florida
Eight policy recommendations on health insurance affordability could go before the Florida Legislature during the 2022 session, which convenes Jan. 11. The Florida Health Insurance Advisory Board (FHIAB), consisting of various health plan carriers, agents, and employer representatives and chaired by Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier, discussed these recommendations at Tuesday’s
Premera sues GS Labs, alleging COVID test price gouging
Aaron Kunkler | Oct 14, 2021 | Washington
Premera Blue Cross is suing a COVID testing company, alleging that the lab attempted to exploit the pandemic through price gouging for its services. GS Labs is the subject of the lawsuit filed on Oct. 14 in Western Washington District Court. The Nebraska-based lab system was established in January 2020,
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