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.

In this week’s update: California advances prior authorization bills, Connecticut fails to amend hospital provider tax increase prior to end of session, Florida Attorney General issues subpoenas on health price transparency probe, Florida submits new 1115 demonstration application for workforce programs, Illinois budget leaves out coverage for some undocumented immigrants, Massachusetts Senate holds hearing on upper payment limits bill, Minnesota special session on budget to consider eliminating Medicaid coverage for undocumented immigrants, Nebraska enacts prior authorization reform, North Carolina Senate passes healthcare reform measure, Oregon Legislature considers amending Death with Dignity Act, Pennsylvania House passes insurance mandate for contraceptive coverage, and Texas enrolls its budget with significant implications for healthcare.

In this week’s update: CMS to enhance oversight on states providing Medicaid coverage for undocumented immigrants, lawsuits filed in Arkansas on bill restricting PBMs from owning pharmacies, California Senate passes gold carding bill, Illinois General Assembly enrolls PBM reform measure, Kentucky establishes interim legislative healthcare task forces, Louisiana House Committee votes down anti-fluoride bill, Missouri Supreme Court blocks recent abortion circuit court ruling, Nebraska passes bill reforming state’s behavioral health contracts, New Hampshire settles lawsuit on state’s provider tax and a House Committee votes to pass surprise billing protections, North Carolina House adopts two-year budget proposal and Senate amends prior authorization bill, Oklahoma Legislature overrides Governor’s veto on 340B bill, prior authorization bills in Oklahoma become enacted, Texas House opts not to consider distribution of abortion medication measure, Texas Legislature enrolls telehealth and provider payment bills, and West Virginia Governor’s Executive Order authorizing religious exemptions from vaccinations in school settings is challenged in court.

In this week’s update: Colorado opts to cover GLP-1s to a limited extent for state employees, Connecticut reaches agreement on Medicaid spending and Senate passes bill limiting insurers’ rate increases, Delaware legalizes physician-assisted suicide, Maryland enacts PDAB bill and the Department of Health proposes regulations for community-based behavioral health programs, Minnesota Governor and Legislature reach budget agreement which eliminates coverage for undocumented immigrants, Montana Governor vetoes presumptive eligibility and mandatory coverage bills, New York Senate passes healthcare package, New York submits 1115 demonstration amendment for its Medicaid Buy-In for Working People with Disabilities program, Ohio legislative leader introduces 340B bill, Oklahoma Governor vetoes 340B bill, and Texas House passes bill clarifying medical exceptions to abortion.

In this week’s update: U.S. House Energy & Commerce Committee release reconciliation proposal with significant state Medicaid implications, California Governor’s revised budget takes on PBM reform and healthcare for undocumented immigrants, Florida Governor to veto medical malpractice reform, Georgia enacts teledentistry bill into law, Iowa enrolls Medicaid work requirements and PBM reform, Kentucky releases proposal on Medicaid community engagement, Michigan state judge strikes down state’s 24-hour waiting period for abortion care, Missouri sending abortion back to the ballot, Nevada Governor introduces healthcare reform package, Oklahoma enrolls 340B reform, Rhode Island Senate passes cap on prescription drug costs, and a Texas bill codifying transparency requirements on costs for undocumented immigrants stalls out and the Governor submits waiver on SNAP.

In this week’s update: NASHP launches cell and gene therapy state network, Alabama authorizes Farm Bureau health plan, Colorado enrolls 340B bill, Florida enrolls mental health reform bill, Florida Medicaid Expansion campaign files suit against state, Georgia submits 1115 demonstration extension application, Illinois Governor signs EO on data sharing of individuals with autism, Michigan Attorney General files lawsuit against PBMs, Minnesota House passes human services omnibus, North Carolina passes surprise billing protections for ambulance services, New York Governor signs budget with key healthcare provisions, Texas 340B bill waiting for agenda placement in House Calendars Committee, and Virginia Governor vetoes contraception bill.

In this week’s update: U.S. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., announces new programs at NCOIL, Arizona Governor signs provider credentialing bill, Colorado Governor likely to sign non-compete prohibition for physicians, California considers prior authorization reform, Florida bans Fluoride, Iowa Senate passes PBM reform and considers prohibition on Medicaid funding for gender dysphoria treatment, Missouri closer to putting abortion back on the ballot, Nevada Senate passes bill limiting AI in prior authorization, North Carolina House passes significant prior authorization reform, Texas takes action on a number of bills related to abortion and vaccines, and Washington enrolls a measure to standardize mental health coverage.