As the state with the highest number of uninsured people in the U.S., Texas is looking at ways to increase coverage. Health professionals discussed the challenges Texans face and a variety of options to increase coverage at the 2024 Texas State of Reform Health Policy Conference last month. Texas 2036, a public policy think tank, … Read more
The second regular session of Alaska’s 33rd legislature began on Jan. 16th, and a variety of health-related bills have been introduced or carried over from last year. Within health policy, lawmakers are focusing on many issues including workforce, health coverage, and prescription medicine therapy. Below are some key healthcare-related bills to keep an eye on … Read more
Policy leaders and community advocates came together at the 2023 Tennessee State of Reform conference last month to discuss coverage retention efforts during the Medicaid unwinding, and what the healthcare system is doing to support Tennesseans through the process. The Division of TennCare is currently working its way through the federally required Medicaid redeterminations. The … Read more
The Maryland State Reinsurance Program (SRP) Work Group met last week to provide an overview of the Report on the Impact of the SRP. It states that no changes should be made to the SRP’s design, parameters, and state funding mechanisms. An action plan was considered in preparation of the possibility of Congress allowing the … Read more
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a unified healthcare financing bill, Senate Bill 770, into law on Oct. 7th. California has become the first state in the country to pass such a bill, paving the way towards greater healthcare equity and accessibility. The bill requires the secretary of California Health and Human Services Agency (CalHHS) to consult … Read more
The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) automatically renewed 67 percent of Medicaid beneficiaries last month, with the regular renewal process having begun in April. Medicaid eligibility renewals are taking place throughout every state in the country, and Arizona expects to redetermine the eligibility of about 2.5 million individuals until March of 2024. During … Read more
On Wednesday, the Colorado Division of Insurance (DOI) outlined the results of health plans’ premium rate reduction filings for the Colorado Option for the 2024 plan year, submitted by carriers on March 1st. The Colorado Option requires carriers to offer the standardized public option plan with premiums that are 10% and 15% lower … Read more
On Friday, members of the University of California Berkeley’s School of Public Health hosted a presentation about a recent research study on a proposed public option health insurance plan, called “Golden Choice.” The plan is designed to increase market competition and improve the affordability of coverage over time. The study was conducted by school faculty … Read more
The Colorado House Health and Insurance Committee advanced Senate Bill 93 to the committee of the whole on Tuesday. The measure would lower the state’s interest rates on medical debt from 8% to 3% and require debt collection agencies to provide consumers an itemized statement on the medical charges in question. The bill’s … Read more
On Thursday, Covered California announced that over 1.7 million individuals have signed up to receive healthcare coverage during the 2023 open enrollment process. This announcement comes as Medi-Cal eligibility redeterminations are set to begin on April 1st, with millions of Californians estimated to lose coverage. Covered California is the state’s health insurance marketplace that offers … Read more