In this week’s update: SAMHSA unveils $40 million in funding for behavioral health initiatives in communities, Alabama Attorney General issues cease-and-desist letters to companies over mail-order abortion pills, Arizona finalizes budget with rural health and human services funding, Arkansas RHTP grant released focusing on healthcare workforce and service gaps, Idaho opens first round of RHTP funding opportunities, Montana to move forward with July 1 Medicaid community engagement implementation, New Jersey calls for expanded access and coordination in youth mental health services, North Carolina expands RHTP efforts with EMS workforce funding opportunity, Rhode Island creates commission to study hospital staffing levels and patient safety, Rhode Island Senate advances bill to establish a licensure pathway for foreign-trained dentists and hygienists, and Virginia enacts Sickle Cell reform package.

In this week’s update: CMS releases Interim Final Rule on Medicaid work requirements, Connecticut Governor signs law restricting private equity influence in hospitals, Colorado judge hears arguments on manufacturer lawsuit against PDAB, Florida Governor considers options on FY27 Budget, Illinois Legislature enrolls 340B reform and downcoding legislation, Hawaii experiences federal funding cut to its Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, Louisiana Legislature enrolls measures to establish a PDAB and accelerate MCO utilization review determinations, Sixth Circuit Court affirms decision to dismiss lawsuit against a 2022 Michigan constitutional amendment protecting abortion access, New York Governor signs FY27 budget with an increase to Medicaid, Ohio Medicaid MCOs are required to apply new statewide prior authorization standards, CMS approves Oregon’s proposal for rural maternity care support, Pennsylvania releases RFI for Community HealthChoices MCO procurement, Texas House holds interim committee hearings on affordability and RHTP, Washington seeks comments on defining medical frailty for its Medicaid work requirements implementation, and West Virginia Governor announces $3.4 million in new RHTP funding.

In this week’s update: Alaska Legislature passes bills to fulfill RHTP application commitments, California 1115 Waiver open for public comment, Connecticut enacts CON reform, Illinois Legislature enrolls bill prohibiting certain downcoding practices, Iowa enacts prior authorization reform and a tax on vapes and alternative nicotine products, Minnesota releases RFI on Medicaid work requirements, Mississippi Legislature holds hearing on RHTP implementation, Nevada providers urge Legislature to strengthen 340B protections, New Mexico Governor expands health professional loan repayment program, Tennessee faces lawsuit on law prohibiting joint PBM and pharmacy ownership, and Vermont enrolls reference-based pricing bill.

In this week’s update: CMS proposes caps to Medicaid provider payment rates, California has deferral of $1.3 billion in Medicaid reimbursements, Illinois’ House engrosses bill to establish PDAB with UPL authority, Indiana Medicaid gets CMS approval to incentivize hospitals to lower costs, Iowa’s Governor Reynolds signs bill restricting telehealth abortion medication access, Maryland PDAB votes to set UPL on Ozempic, New Jersey Assembly engrosses comprehensive PBM reform bill, Pennsylvania Attorney General Sunday appeals ruling authorizing Medicaid funding for abortions, Tennessee Governor Lee enacts law prohibiting joint PBM, pharmacy, and health plan ownership, Virginia Governor Spanberger vetoes PDAB Advisory Panel bill, Wyoming gets CMS approval for updated RHTP application.

In this week’s update: SCOTUS overrides ban on mail-order abortion medication access, Arizona to utilize AI for Medicaid prepayment claim review, Colorado Governor signs FY27 budget with Medicaid reductions, Delaware Governor announces introduction of two bills to lower healthcare costs, Georgia issues Medicaid fraud, waste and abuse RFI, Indiana Supreme Court denies petition to hear challenge to state abortion ban, Iowa Governor signs prior authorization reform bill into law, Minnesota Senate opts not to concur with House adopted Medicaid reform bill, Missouri General Assembly enrolls healthcare omnibus bill, New Hampshire House Committee opts to sit on insurer assessment bill, Rhode Island Attorney General announces a series of healthcare reform legislation, Virginia Governor signs package of bills related to healthcare, and West Virginia Governor announces additional RHTP funding.

In this week’s update: SCOTUS temporarily reinstates mail-order abortion medication rule, Arkansas opens up application portal for RHTP Funding, Connecticut Legislature enrolls bill providing oversight of private equity nursing home ownership, Idaho Medicaid managed care implementation delayed due to MMIS contract, Montana seeks applicants for RHTP Center of Excellence Advisory Council, New Mexico releases RFP for RHTP technical assistance vendor for rural providers, North Carolina Senate passes bills related to Medicaid reimbursed facility fees and hospital price transparency, North Carolina county officials delay vote on WakeMed and Atrium Health merger, Oklahoma Attorney General requests state audit of Oklahoma Health Care Authority, Oklahoma enacts bill banning abortion-inducing medications, Settlement reached in Oregon case challenging corporate medicine law, Tennessee enacts bill allowing COPA to expire for health system, and Lawsuit filed in Virginia to overturn abortion ballot initiative.

In this week’s update: Alabama Medicaid releases RFPs for Medicaid Management Information System, Colorado Legislature enrolls budget limiting coverage for immigrant children and capping dental benefits, Florida House rejects Governor’s efforts at vaccine repeal bill, Kentucky circuit court finds certain provisions of near-total abortion ban unconstitutional, Fifth Circuit blocks mail-order abortion medication nationwide, Mississippi Governor launches Rural Health Transformation Program Office, Nebraska becomes the first state to implement Medicaid work requirements, North Carolina enacts bill to fund Medicaid shortfall and implement program integrity measures, Federal District Court finds North Dakota’s 340B contract pharmacy law unconstitutional, Oklahoma Senate enrolls bill criminalizing abortion pill dispensing, Pennsylvania releases applications for Rural Health Transformation Program grant funding, Utah Medical Licensing Boards requests a suspension of the AI Pilot Prescription Program, and Wyoming state court granted temporary block on state abortion band.

In this week’s update: CMS issues Medicaid FWA letters to Governors and Medicaid Directors, Connecticut Senate engrosses bill restricting REITs in healthcare, Delaware Senate enrolls bill removing COPA requirement for major medical equipment, Idaho Rural Health Transformation Committee begins process to award state’s funding, Kentucky to implement 1115 reentry demonstration, Louisiana Attorney General asks 5th Circuit to block mail-order abortion medication, North Carolina Legislature enrolls bill covering Medicaid shortfall and introducing program integrity measures, Pennsylvania court finds ban on Medicaid abortion coverage unconstitutional, South Carolina Senator seeks to block debate on abortion ban bill, Tennessee Legislature enrolls bill restricting joint PBM, pharmacy, and health insurer ownership, Sixth Circuit affirms ERISA exemptions from pharmacy anti-steering laws, and Virginia Legislature rejects Governor’s amendments to Prescription Drug Affordability Advisory Panel bill.

In this week’s update: Florida opens applications for RHTP grants, Idaho Governor signs Medicaid work requirements legislation, Iowa House subcommittee advances bill restricting mail-order abortion medication, Iowa Legislature enrolls bill to expand subacute mental health services, Maryland PDAB votes to set upper payment limit on Jardiance, Missouri House committee advances emergency contraception bill, Nevada launches the Nevada Hospital Price Finder tool, Federal judge in Oregon rules that state law requiring insurance coverage of abortion care and contraception is unconstitutional, Oklahoma Legislature enrolls bill to order a referendum seeking to move Medicaid expansion authority from the constitution to statute, Tennessee Legislature enrolls bill removing CON requirements for acute care hospitals, Tennessee Legislature enrolls bill setting expiration date on a hospital system’s certificate of public advantage, and Virginia Governor issues amendments to the Prescription Drug Affordability Advisory Panel bill.

In this week’s update: Kansas Legislature overrides Governor Kelly’s veto of two abortion bills, Federal judge in Louisiana issues a hold on a telehealth abortion pill case, Louisiana Governor establishes Office of Rural Health Transformation and Sustainability, Maine Governor enacts legislation expanding physician associate scope of practice, Maine Legislature enrolls two bills to bolster vaccine access, Minnesota Senate committee advances Medicaid fraud bill, Nebraska opens applications for the Rural Health Workforce Incentive program, North Carolina announces new Rural Health Transformation Program Director, Ohio Rural Health Transformation Program funding released, Tennessee House enrolls bill setting expiration date on hospital system’s COPA, Texas Attorney General launches fraud investigation into Medicaid providers, and Utah case on abortion trigger law now delayed.

In this week’s update: Federal investigation into undocumented Medicaid enrollees yields limited findings, Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing Executive Director resigns, Colorado Joint Budget Committee staff drafts state budget with Medicaid cuts, U.S. Supreme Court rules against Colorado’s ban on conversion therapy, Idaho to delay Medicaid managed care implementation, Idaho Governor approves restoring funds to Medicaid mental health programs, Maryland Legislature establishes protections for emergency abortions, Mississippi Legislature sends bill to ban abortion-inducing drugs to Governor, Nevada Health Authority submits SPA to update Medicaid reimbursement policies, New Mexico Senate Republicans request a fraud, waste and abuse committee, North Carolina State Treasurer requests the North Carolina Supreme Court to revisit CON law, South Dakota announces interim committee work related to healthcare, South Dakota awards $7.8 million in opioid settlement grants, Tennessee House of Representatives is set for a vote on CON reform measure this week, Virginia Legislature enrolls contraception bills, Pharmaceutical companies sue Washington state over its recently enacted 340B drug pricing law, and 4th Circuit upholds a preliminary injunction on West Virginia 340B law.

In this week’s update: Colorado House Committee adopts measure to require certain businesses to help fund Medicaid, Idaho enrolls measure to cut Medicaid disability services by $21.8 million, Idaho enrolls bill establishing Medicaid work requirements, Illinois PDAB bill moves past first committee vote in the House, Iowa enrolls bill to raise taxes on HMO plans, Iowa enrolls bill to strengthen conscience protections for providers, Kansas enrolls PBM dispensing and transparency bill, Mississippi Governor signs CON reform into law for rural hospitals, Missouri Senate passes measure enhancing access to outpatient services for involuntary mental health treatment, Nebraska seeks to limit retroactive Medicaid eligibility, Oregon PDAB approves 2025 Drug Review Report and identifies subset list for 2026 review, Oklahoma House adopts measures to send Medicaid expansion questions back to the ballot, and West Virginia establishes a Rural Health Transformation Program email listserv.

In this week’s update: Federal judge temporarily blocks HHS from changing childhood vaccine recommendations, HHS launches investigation into 13 states for possibly violating the Weldon Amendment, Alabama becomes the 24th state to join the Physician Assistant Licensure Compact, Trump Administration requests information from Florida on Medicaid fraud oversight, Idaho Legislature weighs competing bills on directing Rural Health Transformation Program funds, Iowa House Committee approves measure to address Medicaid shortfall, Kansas Governor enacts bill expanding optometrist scope of practice, Maryland PDAB publishes draft UPL regulations for public comment, North Carolina Senate Committee establishes healthcare priorities ahead of upcoming short session, Oklahoma Rural Health Transformation Program releases first NOFO, Tennessee continues movement on CON reform, Utah Governor signs healthcare measures into law, and Wisconsin Governor signs bill extending postpartum Medicaid coverage into law.

In this week’s update: CMS releases new implementation details on the BALANCE model, Alabama Senate committee passes DLR measure, Colorado Governor’s budget continues to propose cuts to medical education funding, Delaware Senate introduces measure to cap healthcare costs, Florida proposed Medicaid work requirements stalls in the House, Maine responds to Medicaid fraud, waste and abuse request for information, Michigan Senate passes package of bills on medical debt and hospital financial assistance programs, Minnesota Governor announces proposal to transform state’s human services system, Mississippi Legislature enrolls bill to loosen CON requirements for rural hospitals, Montana intends to adopt Medicaid work requirements in July, Rhode Island senate democrats release healthcare package proposal, Tennessee subcommittee holds hearing on CON bill, Virginia Legislature passes alternative to PDAB bills, and Wyoming Governor signs abortion ban into law.

In this week’s update: CMS extends deadline for GENEROUS Model Application, Colorado House passes behavioral health workforce bill, Colorado Senate Committee votes down bill to enhance oversight of health care transactions, Florida Department of Health cuts AIDS drug assistance program, Iowa Legislature enrolls prior authorization reform measure, Minnesota sues CMS for withholding $243 million in Medicaid payments, Minnesota 340B covered entities report over $1.3 billion in 340B revenue, New York Attorney General orders hospital to resume gender affirming care to minors, Tennessee bills to prohibit co-ownership of PBMs and pharmacies advance in committees, Texas Attorney General declares gender affirming care ban applies to mental health providers, South Dakota Legislature enrolls legislation clarifying abortion ban, Virginia lawsuit filed challenging reproductive rights constitutional amendment, Washington House Committee advances 340B reform measure, and Wyoming Legislature passes fetal heartbeat abortion ban.

In this week’s update: States sue the Trump Administration on vaccine recommendations, NASHP opens applications for state Medicaid policy and strategy learning collaborative, CMS releases toolkit for Children’s Behavioral Health Services & EPSDT requirements, Arkansas to test pilot Medicaid work requirement checks, Indiana General Assembly passes healthcare reforms and wraps up regular session, CMS to withhold $259 million in federal Medicaid funding to Minnesota, New York Senate passes package of bills focused on healthcare affordability, Oregon Senate passes bill to regulate ICE presence in hospitals, South Carolina Senate passes teledentistry bill, South Dakota enacts rural health recruitment bill, Texas Attorney General files another abortion medication lawsuit, Wyoming House advances abortion measures, and Wyoming Senate advances measures related to Medicaid eligibility.

In this week’s update: Colorado Medical Services Board provides preliminary approval of Medicaid cuts, Connecticut seeks payment caps for unionized nursing home workers, Kansas Senate passes PBM regulatory reform, Minnesota Court of Appeals upholds constitutionality of state 340B contract pharmacy law, New Hampshire House votes against repealing all vaccine mandates, New Mexico Legislature passes bill to repeal abortion reporting requirements, New Mexico Legislature enrolls bills to address healthcare affordability and malpractice reform, Oklahoma purchases vacant hospital for new behavioral health campus, Federal District Court prohibits implementation of key provision of Texas law for vision care plans, Virginia House passes measure to establish PDAB, Wisconsin General Assembly passes postpartum Medicaid expansion and breast cancer screening legislation, and Wyoming Legislature opts against introducing abortion ballot measure.

In this week’s update: Trump Administration to cut $600 million in public health grants to some states, California Governor approves $90 million in grants to family planning providers, Delaware Legislature passes resolution to develop statewide perinatal mental healthcare system, Iowa House subcommittee advances effort to reform subacute mental health care, Iowa House subcommittee advances abortion medication restrictions, Louisiana 340B contact pharmacy law upheld by 5th Circuit, Minnesota advances automated Medicaid pre-payment review system, New Mexico medical malpractice reform bill moves out of committee, New York ASCs to be allowed to perform coronary interventions, South Dakota Governor signs two bills to enhance emergency medical services, Ivermectin bill stalls out in Utah Legislature, Virginia Governor signs bill to send reproductive rights to the ballot, Wisconsin Governor highlights healthcare affordability in his 2026 agenda, and Wyoming seeks to provide Medicaid reimbursement for birthing centers.

In this week’s update: NASHP announces new rural primary care learning network, new lawsuit from multiple state Attorneys General expected against drug manufacturers following settlement on antitrust cases in Connecticut, Florida submits 1115 IMD Demonstration application, Florida Senate committee votes to advance healthcare omnibus and 340B study bill, Illinois joins WHO’s Global Disease Network, Indiana to release RFP all Medicaid manage care programs, Kentucky House passes bill to remove state mandate on water fluoridation, Mississippi Governor signs certificate of need bill into law, Michigan to cancel efforts to overhaul Medicaid mental health administration, New Mexico Legislature adopts Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, North Carolina Governor signs Executive Order related to behavioral health, Oklahoma Governor calls for Medicaid expansion adjustments, Texas resident utilizes recently enacted statutory authority to open a lawsuit concerning Abortion medication, Virginia Senate passes PDAB bill, and West Virginia Senate committee advances abortion medication legislation.

In this week’s update: CMS announces private company investment in Medicaid work requirements implementation, CMS issues Final Rule on non-uniform provider taxes, State Marketplace Network releases state-based marketplace enrollment data, Department of Justice requests federal court to pause Mifepristone case, California psychiatric hospital emergency staffing rules delayed, Florida Senate committee advances bill enhancing vaccine exemptions, Indiana Senate passes bill authorizing civil lawsuits against abortion-inducing drug distribution, Massachusetts releases roadmap for 1115 demonstration extension, Michigan House committee advances 340B measure, Nebraska Governor reverses planned caregiver cap on aged and disabled Medicaid waiver, Oklahoma Governor issues executive order on Medicare Advantage plans, Rhode Island Governor’s budget proposal drops Medicaid coverage of GLP-1s for weight loss, Texas Attorney General files second lawsuit against out-of-state abortion medication provider, and Virginia Senate committee moves PDAB bill forward.