In this week’s update: ASPE releases report on impacts of Medicaid state provider tax laws on ESI premiums, CMS proposes stricter eligibility checks for health insurance exchange subsidies, Alaska Department of Health awards $249 million to complete first year RHTP funding, California Medicaid in-home care subject to $1.2 billion CMS payment deferral, Florida physicians challenge state’s proposed changes to school vaccine requirements, Illinois Governor Pritzker announces $1.4 billion in medical debt erased in two years, Indiana Family and Social Services Administration requests transition of Medicaid expansion population to section 1115 demonstration, New Hampshire executive council approves digital system purchase for Medicaid work requirements, Vermont Agency of Human Services proposes rule to eliminate prior authorization for Medicaid home health, and West Virginia CON repeal faces opposition from healthcare providers and legislators.

In this week’s update: Georgia Department of Community Health requests to increase FMAP for Medicaid expansion program, Idaho Health Insurers Working Group votes on draft legislation, Maine hospital associations and hospitals sue over revised 340B rebate pilot, Maryland Governor Moore offers support for bill to allow PDAB to use Medicare MFPs for UPLs, Nevada Health Authority releases RFP to operate PACE sites, New Hampshire rural EMS and mobile health units receive $11 million in RHTP grants, New York State Department of Health submits five-year renewal request for Medicaid Redesign Team waiver, Ohio Governor DeWine announces $92 million to support rural care access, Oregon Governor Kotek issues executive order on preserving healthcare access and primary care support, Pennsylvania Attorney General Sunday announces antitrust lawsuit against PBMs and drug manufacturers, Pennsylvania Department of Human Services releases RFI on Medicaid managed care procurement, and Texas Governor Abbott announces $78 million for Rural Texas Strong grants.

In this week’s update: CMS releases final rule on healthcare price transparency, Five governors ask HHS to delay Medicaid work requirements, California doctors and insurers sue Newsom administration over premium increases, Florida Department of Health holds public hearing on repealing school vaccine requirements, Indiana Family and Social Services Administration estimates 58,000 Hoosiers are not in compliance with Medicaid work requirements, Louisiana federal judge receives notice that FDA expects to complete mifepristone safety review by March 2027, Nebraska Governor Pillen receives praise from CMS Administrator Oz on rural health and Medicaid community engagement requirements, Texas Attorney General Paxton investigates health insurer over coverage denials, Utah Office of AI Policy expands healthcare AI sandbox and oversight, and Vermont federal judge denies preliminary injunction against 340B contract pharmacy law.

In this week’s update: Attorneys general sue states with abortion shield laws, CMS approves Medicaid section 1115 reentry waivers for three states and DC, Alabama Governor Ivey releases $55 million for rural digital health, EMS, and more, Arizona Attorney General Mayes alleges PBMs contributed to opioid epidemic, California Governor Newsom enacts law to increase GLP-1 access, California Governor Newsom enacts prior authorization and provider network laws, Colorado Governor Polis awards $169.6 million in RHTP grants, Idaho Department of Health and Welfare plans to implement MCO late payment penalties, Maine receives CMS approval for section 1115 waiver renewal with reentry expansion, Montana Governor Gianforte announces $8.7 million in RHTP funds for rural EMS, Tennessee law restricting provision of abortion information to minors upheld by Sixth Circuit, and Texas Governor Abbott announces $51 million for prevention, wellness, and nutrition programs.

In this week’s update: 37 states join CMS Medicaid quality initiative, Medical organizations and Medicaid enrollees challenge community engagement requirements, State attorneys general contest federal vaccine policy changes, Arkansas Governor Sanders announces $54.6 million for preventative health and rural healthcare workforce, California Governor Newsom vetoes bill to extend prior authorization validity, Colorado rising Medicaid costs expected to increase budget deficit to $1.6 billion by FY 2027-2028, Delaware Governor Meyer awards $22.7 million in RHTP grants to FQHCs, Florida Attorney General Uthmeier files lawsuit against insulin manufacturers and PBMs, Louisiana Joint Legislative Committee on Budget reviews 2027 Medicaid MCO contract extensions, Missouri Department of Social Services awards $45 million for rural hospitals, behavioral health, and EMS, and Nevada Health Authority releases 2025-2027 amended Managed Care Quality Strategy for public comment.

In this week’s update: All 50 states slated to join most-favored-nation Medicaid drug pricing model, Arkansas pharmacies sue PBM over alleged underpayment, California Governor Newsom enacts Medi-Cal community engagement law, Connecticut Comptroller Scanlon announces regulations for health insurer AI use, Connecticut Insurance Department approves double-digit rate increases for 2027 health plans, Connecticut Superior Court dismisses challenge to vaccine law, Florida Board of Pharmacy proposes rule to allow pharmacists to administer chikungunya vaccine, Idaho Insurance Director Cameron recommends interim healthcare committee, Kentucky Governor Beshear signs executive order to erase $250 million in medical debt, Massachusetts Executive Office releases request to extend section 1115 demonstration for MassHealth, New Mexico federal judge denies preliminary injunction request for 340B contract pharmacy law, Texas hospitals receive $12 billion in restored Medicaid funding, Texas lawsuit claims state abortion ban led to a woman’s death, and Texas Supreme Court rejects surrogate’s request to keep child in Texas.

In this week’s update: CMS clarifies Medicaid medical frailty exclusion, Idaho Supreme Court approves redrafted abortion ballot initiative language, Louisiana presents oral arguments on reinstating in-person mifepristone dispensing to the Fifth Circuit, Michigan awards $25 million for health technology, telehealth, and remote patient monitoring, Texas Health and Human Services Commission requests $6 billion for Medicaid and health services, Texas surrogate requests Supreme Court appeal in ongoing abortion and medical rights case, Vermont state agencies award $11.7 million for the rural healthcare workforce and long-term care, Washington Governor Ferguson issues executive order to respond to H.R. 1 Medicaid changes, and West Virginia Governor Morrisey announces $4.8 million for the rural healthcare workforce and preventative care.

In this week’s update: 22 states sue over block on Medicaid and CHIP reimbursement for gender-affirming care, California legislature enrolls several bills regulating AI in healthcare, California General Assembly enrolls bill increasing Medi-Cal pharmacist reimbursement, Colorado federal judge dismisses challenge to 340B contract pharmacy protection law, Hawaii Governor Green announces $58 million for rural workforce development and EMS, Iowa gubernatorial candidate Sand announces affordability agenda with PDAB and Medicaid changes, Indiana Family and Social Services Administration releases Medicaid managed care RFP, Indiana receives $120 million for maternal health, primary care, and the rural health workforce, Louisiana managed care organization covering 290,000 beneficiaries exits Medicaid, New York Governor Hochul announces $76 million in awards for rural coordinated care, Oklahoma SoonerCare section 1115 waiver receives CMS approval for renewal through 2031, Tennessee Department of Health announces initial recipients of RHTP funding, and Texas federal judge pauses challenge to mifepristone access amid FDA review.

In this week’s update: Arkansas Governor Huckabee Sanders announces $149.3 million in RHTP awards, Alabama Governor Ivey announces $144 million in rural health grant awards, Alaska projects receive $160 million to support technology, coordinated care, and healthcare access, Arizona MCOs did not comply with mental health and substance use disorder parity analysis, California Senate enrolls bill to bring GLP-1s into state drug-purchasing program, Connecticut Attorney General Tong urges insurance department to reject rate increase requests, Georgia rural hospitals receive $93.3 million for telehealth, robotic surgery, and healthcare access, Idaho abortion initiative group sues over misleading ballot language, Idaho U.S. District Judge narrows application of ruling against abortion ban, Maine Department of Health and Human Services proposes Medicaid program integrity rules, Ohio Governor DeWine announces $3.15 million in awards for rural pharmacy initiatives, Virginia Governor Spanberger issues executive order to prevent loss of Medicaid and SNAP coverage, and Virginia rural health providers receive $122 million to expand healthcare access, workforce, and innovation.

In this week’s update: CMS issues final rule banning federal Medicaid and CHIP funding for gender affirming care, Arkansas Secretary of Human Services is confident CMS will grant a two-year extension of ARHOME, Colorado Department of Health releases RFI on Medicaid medical frailty exemptions, Delaware Hospital Cost Review Board Releases draft guidance for 2027 annual reporting requirements, Idaho Attorney General Labrador appeals ruling against abortion ban, Idaho Department of Health and Welfare releases RFI on FWA prevention, Maryland Department of Health releases RFI on expanding Medicaid Food is Medicine initiative, Nebraska SUD section 1115 demonstration receives CMS approval, New Jersey Governor Sherrill enacts shield law for reproductive and transgender healthcare, South Dakota Governor Rhoden awards $90 million for rural health transformation technology and data grants, and New Mexico rural health transformation program stakeholder advisory committee opens applications.

In this week’s update: President Trump issues executive order on childhood vaccine recommendations, Delaware legislators voice concerns over creation of new surgeon general position, Florida Governor DeSantis announces $188 million in RHTP awards, Illinois’ 340B law challenged by drug manufacturers, Illinois Governor Pritzker enacts private equity oversight and drug distribution laws, Indiana FSSA prepares HIP 3.0 section 1115 demonstration application, Indiana Medicaid fraud control unit named MFCU of the year by HHS, Maryland advocates push state candidates to support upcoming UPL bill, Massachusetts Governor Healey enacts statewide licensing system for home care agencies, Massachusetts Governor Healey signs law expanding abortion protections, South Dakota federal judge dismisses trio of lawsuits challenging 340B law, and Wyoming’s rural health panel approves $205 million in RHTP awards.

In this week’s update: CMS releases ABA therapy oversight toolkit, CMS issues update on Medicaid Fraud War Room, HRSA releases revised 340B Rebate Model Pilot Program, Arizona HCCCS issues long-term care RFP, Arkansas Department of Human Services asks to continue ARHOME through 2028, Idaho legislators form the Idaho Health Insurers Working Group, Illinois Governor Pritzker enacts 340B legislation, Indiana FSSA expands Medicaid coverage of GLP-1 treatments under BALANCE model, Massachusetts Governor Healey announces health care affordability recommendations, Maine DHHS releases $30 million in RHTP funding for rural hospital resiliency, Maine federal judge dismisses challenge to 340B law, New Mexico Governor Lujan Grisham announces $50 million in rural health care rewards, Texas Attorney General Paxton investigates AAP over alleged vaccine promotion for financial gain, and Virginia’s SUD and foster youth Medicaid eligibility section 1115 demonstration renewed.

In this week’s update: Federal judge temporarily blocks school mental health funding cuts, Arizona releases draft five-year section 1115 waiver renewal, Arkansas Board of Pharmacy votes to support settlements in PBM regulation lawsuits, CMS rejects Arkansas’ request to renew Medicaid expansion section 1115 waiver, Colorado PDAB votes to permit state to appeal injunction against UPL for Enbrel, Georgia Department of Community Health defines medical frailty exemptions and excludes HIV diagnoses, Idaho opts for three-month lookback period for Medicaid work requirements, Indiana Health Coverage Programs to implement HCBS waiver provider moratorium, New York federal judge exempts catholic ministries from medical aid in dying law, North Dakota Health and Human Services releases $50.5 million in RHTP funding, North Dakota federal judge denies request to block enforcement of ruling against 340B law, and Virginia federal judge finds 2023 FDA review of abortion restrictions unlawful.

In this week’s update: CMS issues proposed rules on Medicaid provider tax limits and enhanced reporting requirements, HHS defers over $1 billion in Medicaid payments to California and Minnesota, Arkansas Attorney General sues drug manufacturers alleging 340B contract pharmacy law violations, Georgia Department of Community Health releases claims processing and financial management RFP, Massachusetts Division of Insurance approves double-digit health insurance premium increases, Michigan Governor signs several healthcare bills into law.

In this week’s update: Idaho’s abortion ballot initiative qualifies for November general election ballot, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announces $34 million in RHTP funding opportunities, Mississippi Department of Health approves revisions to State Health Plan and CON Review Manual, Missouri Governor enacts comprehensive healthcare reform bill, New York State Department of Health seeks five year extension of Medicaid redesign team demonstration, South Dakota U.S. District Judge temporarily blocks abortion pill advertising ban, West Virginia Governor releases $25 million in RHTP funding for preventative health programs.

In this week’s update: 15 states sue Department of Education to block school mental health funding cuts, California Governor Newsom enacts Medi-Cal fair share bill, federal judge issues preliminary injunction on Colorado PDAB’s UPL for Enbrel, Idaho abortion ballot initiative receives 108,000 signatures, Massachusetts Governor Healy signs $63.4 billion budget with HIV PrEP coverage and dental service benefit cap, Missouri releases RFP to provide statewide Medicaid managed care services, North Carolina Governor Stein signs $34 billion budget fully funding Medicaid and repealing CON laws, Ohio Governor DeWine enacts Medicaid fraud prevention bill, Oregon Health Authority awards $97.1 million in RHTP funding, Vermont Governor Scott issues executive order on healthcare affordability, and Wyoming Health Department releases RFP for $205 Million in RHTP funding.