The state of California recently adopted their $310 billion 2023-24 state budget, and despite a $31.5 billion shortfall, leaders prioritized investments in healthcare. Key healthcare investments include CalAIM and a renewed Managed Care Organization (MCO) Tax. The budget includes a total of $156.6 billion to support the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS). Of this … Read more
The Michigan Legislature recently passed the state’s 2023-2024 budget, which designates hundreds of millions of dollars to improve public health. The $82 billion budget is the largest in the state’s history and is expected to be signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Michigan Association of Local Public Health Executive Director Norm Hess said in … Read more
On May 12th, Gov. Gavin Newsom released his May Revision proposal of the 2023-2024 state budget. Despite a $32 billion shortfall, California associations are praising the revision for maintaining and protecting investments in healthcare. Since the 2022 Budget Act was enacted last June following two years of growth, revenues have consistently fallen short of monthly … Read more
Washington lawmakers released their two-year operating budget last weekend, which provides nearly $2 billion for mental health initiatives. The $69 billion budget will provide funds for mental health support, emergency housing, and rental assistance over the next two years. It includes $211 million for community behavioral health capacity, which more than doubles last … Read more
In early February, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer introduced her budget for the upcoming 2024 fiscal year, and State of Reform reported on some of the governor’s public health-related funding priorities. Whitmer’s budget also focuses on addressing the contaminated water from failing infrastructure and to support communities in having lead free service lines. Whitmer calls … Read more
In this edition, we look at some health-related bills we’re watching in the legislature. With the deadline to pass bills out of their committees of origin only a couple weeks away, lawmakers are working to advance legislation concerning reproductive rights, drug affordability, and more. We also include some information from a recent committee hearing about … Read more
This edition of “5 Things We’re Watching” in Texas includes coverage of HHSC’s work to prepare for Medicaid redeterminations, an update on the Texas Medical Association’s ongoing litigation against the federal government over how to resolve disputed medical claims, and a conversation with Texas Association of Health Plans’ Jamie Dudensing about the top-of-mind priorities for … Read more
Our first Oregon newsletter of 2023 includes an effort underway to regulate PBMs in the state, healthcare highlights from Gov. Kotek’s first state budget proposal, recent discussions about whether to pursue universal health coverage expansion in the legislature, and more. Thank you for reading! Eli Kirshbaum State of Reform 1. Lawmakers focus on PBM … Read more
Gov. Wes Moore’s win puts the governorship back in Democrats’ hands after two terms of Republican control, which put Maryland Democrats in full control of the state’s government. During Moore’s State of the State address, he hinted at his legislative agenda, which includes healthcare-related items like addressing Maryland’s workforce shortage, attracting and retaining … Read more
Hawaii Gov. Josh Green, MD, submitted additional budget requests to fund housing and healthcare initiatives to the legislature on Monday. Green filed his executive budget for the fiscal biennium 2023-25 in December 2022. It features $2.1 billion in capital improvement project requests for fiscal 2024 and $1.4 billion in fiscal 2025. The budget … Read more