In this week’s update: CMS announces another round of funding for the Innovation in Behavioral Health Model; the USDA notifies states that SNAP funding is suspended due to the federal government closure; Kentucky holds a hearing on fluoride; Massachusetts considers prior authorization reform; a Michigan court allows the DHHS to rebid its prepaid inpatient health plans; and Wyoming considers maternity care shortages.

In this week’s update: Fifteen governors launch the Governors Public Health Alliance, NASHP releases new model law on site neutrality, California Governor signs PBM licensure bill into law, Governor signs CARE Court expansion into law, California to begin selling insulin under its own label, Florida analysis finds notable disenrollment from KidCare program, Florida Auditor General criticizes DBPR for lack of wholesaler and manufacturer monitoring, Mississippi study committee explores health insurance solutions, and North Carolina Governor offers update on medical debt relief program.

In this week’s update: SCOTUS hears oral arguments on conversion therapy case, California Governor signs prior authorization and corporate practice of medicine bills into law, New Maine healthcare commission to focus on healthcare transactions, Federal Court dismissed a challenge to Michigan’s 2022 constitutional amendment that protects abortion care, New Hampshire issues its Rural Health Transformation Plan, New York Drug Utilization Review Board recommends pausing Medicaid coverage of Duchenne drug, Ohio House committees holds hearings on reproductive healthcare legislation, and Pennsylvania lawmakers introduce legislation to regulate AI in healthcare.

In this week’s update: CMS issues guidance for emergency services payments in care for undocumented immigrants, Colorado Governor reinstates prior authorization requirements for behavioral health services, Colorado PDAB approves first ever UPL, Idaho DOGE Task Force extends consideration of Medicaid expansion repeal, Maryland PDAB initiates process to approve UPLs for two drugs, Michigan legislature enrolls budget that sustains healthcare spending, New Mexico special session addresses healthcare, and North Dakota Medicaid program submits SPA to cover services rendered by community health workers and community paramedics.

In this week’s update: California Governor signs bill prohibiting ICE in hospitals, Florida Agency for Health Care Administration requests additional funds for drug importation program and other expenses in FY 2025 - 2026, Florida Medicaid expansion ballot initiative delayed until 2028, Florida dental therapists poised to make play in 2026, Georgia Pathways to Coverage program receives two year extension, Kansas special committee hears about implications of 340B program, Federal Court in Maine denies preliminary injunction request in 340B litigation, Missouri ballot summary for an anti-abortion constitutional amendment is ordered to be rewritten, North Carolina legislature adjourns without Medicaid budget agreement, and North Dakota forms an interim committee to help formulate state application for the Rural Transformation Program.

In this week’s update: New StateVitals COVID-19 vaccine state guidance tracker published, CMS releases application information on Rural Transformation Program, West Coast Health Alliance issues winter virus vaccination recommendations, NASHP annual conference concludes in San Diego, Florida Surgeon General highlights goal of banning mRNA COVID vaccines, GAO releases report on Georgia’s Pathways to Coverage program, Illinois releases Medicaid managed care RFP, Massachusetts House Committee passes supplemental budget to support hospitals, Michigan House passes legislation to define medical decision-making responsibilities, and Washington AI task force considers prior authorization recommendation.

In this week’s update: HHS releases MAHA report on childhood chronic disease, CMS issues preliminary guidance on state directed payment programs, California enrolls healthcare bills before the end of session, Preliminary injunction in Mississippi 340B reform litigation denied, Nebraska opts to fund statewide drug disposal program, South Carolina prepares for bill hearing to consider total abortion ban, and multiple states issue new standing orders or guidance on COVID-19 vaccines.

In this week’s update: NASHP’s Annual Conference begins Monday, FDA guidance on COVID-19 vaccines causes issues in some states, Pacific states form a vaccine alliance, Texas and Florida join effort to ban abortion medication, Florida Surgeon General ends state vaccine mandates while the Governor creates a MAHA commission, Ohio Medicaid must recalculate payments to nursing homes, TennCare will cover obesity medications, and Texas bans abortion medications from being mailed into the state.

In this week’s update: HHS releases MAHA tracker, Alaska Medical Board considers proposed rule regarding gender affirming care, California Governor vetoes housing and behavioral health legislation, Colorado Governor freezes provider reimbursement rates as part of $103 million in cuts to the current fiscal year’s budget, Idaho DOGE panel to explore Medicaid expansion repeal, Louisiana releases Medicaid Dental Benefit RFI, North Carolina CON legal battles continues, and Federal Court finds Oregon 2018 drug pricing transparency law can be implemented.

In this week’s update: CMS announces initiative to disenroll noncitizens from Medicaid, Covered California announces average health insurance premium increase of 10.3 percent, Colorado General Assembly enrolls bill to reimburse Planned Parenthood with state Medicaid funds, Florida expecting a Medicaid budget shortfall in new fiscal year, Georgia Insurance Commissioner to penalize health insurers for mental health parity violations, Idaho Medicaid providers to see a four percent cut, Iowa Governor confirms Medicaid work requirement are to be implemented in January 2026, Kentucky Governor makes Designer Xanax a Schedule I controlled substance, New Hampshire expands Right to Try law, and New Mexico interim committee hears research on prior authorization and provider administrative burden.

In this week’s update: Federal appeals court upholds 2021 Arkansas law banning gender affirming care for minors, Indiana set to adjust Medicaid spending assumptions moving forward, Indiana state court of appeals upholds 2022 abortion ban, Louisiana audit finds Medicaid benefits paid out to deceased individuals, New Jersey enacts safeguards for accessing substance use treatment, New York adopts certificate of need regulatory changes, North Carolina Medicaid agency issues new provider cuts in response the General Assembly’s stopgap budget, Ohio to consider GLP-1 out of pocket costs for state employees, and Oregon to delay implementation of 1115 Medicaid re-entry program.

In this week’s update: Attorneys General sue to protect access to gender affirming care, SNAP waivers approved by USDA, CON reform to be considered in Alabama, Arizona Governor issues EO on drug discount cards, Arkansas Governor calls on Insurance Department to disapprove of insurers’ rate increases, Illinois Governor signs AI therapy prohibition bill, Massachusetts Governor signs updates to Shield Law, Montana advocacy groups file suit to declare constitutional initiative on abortion invalid, New Hampshire Governor signs bill prohibiting surprise billing for ground ambulance services, North Carolina continues judicial activity on CON, Oklahoma Governor blocks public funding to abortion providers, and Oregon Governor signs behavioral health reform into law.

In this week’s update: The White House announces a new patient records system, some state budgets are still not finalized, a federal judge blocks Arkansas’ PBM pharmacy ownership prohibition, California tackles male mental health, Colorado may need a special session to address the OBBBA, and Maryland’s PDAB determines that two diabetes drugs are unaffordable.

In this week’s update: Alaska adopts significant prior authorization reform, California announces new mental health parity regulations, Delaware adopts a package of health care access and delivery measures, Florida amends its 1115 waiver for home health care, Montana releases its draft Medicaid work requirements, Nevada reinstates a 40-year old abortion law, and Tennessee’s abortion trafficking law is blocked.

In this week’s update: CMS intends to limit Medicaid-funded continuous eligibility and workforce initiatives moving forward, NASHP to work with states on maternity care deserts, Connecticut enacts bill preserving fluoridation standards, Iowa’s Integrated Health Home program to sunset, Kentucky submits 1115 demonstration application to assist enrollees with job services, Pennsylvania House passes budget framework and the Senate opts to gut it, Pennsylvania Governor launches joint inspections into substance use and mental health providers, South Carolina submits 1115 demonstration application to implement work requirements with expanded coverage, and Fourth Circuit upholds West Virginia law banning abortion medication.

In this week’s update: California continues to move PBM reform, Florida Governor issues veto on nursing education reform, Missouri circuit court reimposes preliminary injunction on state’s abortion restrictions, SCOTUS declines petition from Montana on parental consent law, Montana prepares to submit 1115 demonstration application for Medicaid work requirements, New York implements new network adequacy rules, Maine Governor holds onto healthcare related bills until next session, North Carolina enacts PBM reform, Texas Governor issues special session agenda with some healthcare implications, and Wisconsin Governor signs budget into law with new provider tax.

In this week’s update: President signs HR 1 into law with significant state implications, Connecticut Governor signs bill authorizing reduction of health insurers’ rate increases and other healthcare reform efforts, Illinois Governor signs PBM and prior authorization reform into law, Iowa judge rules PBM reform law may be delayed for plaintiffs of lawsuit, New Hampshire Legislature enrolls prohibition of gender affirming care for youth, New Jersey Governor signs FY2026 budget into law, New York Governor releases Master Plan for Aging, Ohio Governor signs budget into law with healthcare line-item vetoes of note, and Wisconsin Supreme Court issues ruling finding 1849 law does not prohibit abortion.

In this week’s update: California reaches budget agreement, Colorado to use opioid settlement funds for Naloxone, Delaware Governor signs executive order protecting gender affirming care, Iowa PBM reform law challenged in court, Maine enrolls PDAB legislation, New Hampshire enrolls ambulance surprise billing reform, North Carolina considers mini budgets, North Carolina Legislature continues its work on healthcare reform package, Ohio sends budget to Governor with healthcare policy implications, Oklahoma Governor issues Executive Order to examine and implement MAHA initiatives, SCOTUS rules in favor of South Carolina to prohibit Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood, and Oregon PBM reform fails for two reasons.

In this week’s update: Senate Finance Committee releases reconciliation proposal with enhanced cuts to state Medicaid dollars, ALEC to consider model legislation on facility fees and 340B transparency, states agree to new opioid settlement, SCOTUS ruling supports state laws banning puberty blockers and hormone treatments for teens, Delaware budget to fund Hospital Cost Review Board, Florida enrolls budget with healthcare investments, Iowa submits 1115 demonstration application to CMS to implement work requirements, Idaho Supreme Court calls for new abortion ballot initiative language, Maine adopts legislation to advance physician associate title, Michigan House passes Nurse Licensure Compact, New Hampshire budget at stalemate with healthcare implications, and Rhode Island General Assembly enrolls 340B reform bill.

In this week’s update: CMS to propose rule on state directed payments, California Legislature offers proposed budget, Connecticut FQHCs withdraw Medicaid rate petition, Iowa Governor signs PBM reform into law, Louisiana adjourns with some limited action on PBM reform and a special session likely, Louisiana enrolls measure pertaining to Medicaid eligibility verification procedures, Louisiana enrolls measure expanding authority for pursuing legal actions against out-of-state physicians providing abortion medications, Massachusetts Senate set to vote on supplemental budget increasing hospital funding, Minnesota Legislature advances budget bills to Governor, Montana Supreme Court strikes down 2021 abortion laws, New York Legislature advances Medical Aid in Dying Act, Oregon enacts legislation limiting corporate investment and management in healthcare, Pennsylvania Senate passes pharmacy disclosure bill, Pennsylvania House passes measure to limit private equity in healthcare, and West Virginia Governor suggests a special session on public employees insurance plan issues.