Weekly StateVitals Update: Volume 77 (July 20, 2026)
Idaho
Abortion Ballot Initiative Qualifies for November General Election Ballot. Last Monday, the Idaho Secretary of State confirmed that a proposed reproductive rights and privacy initiative qualified for the general election ballot on November 3. Idaho currently has a near-total abortion ban with exceptions for the life of the pregnant person and for rape and incest survivors during the first trimester, if the patient reports the incident to law enforcement. Voters need a simple majority vote to approve the constitutional amendment, which would enumerate rights for reproductive rights and privacy in medical decision-making and legalize abortion until fetal viability or in cases of medical emergency. Zooming out, Idaho is now the fourth state with an abortion-related measure on the November 3 ballot. Both Virginia and Nevada voters will consider constitutional amendments to guarantee the right to abortion. Contrastingly, the Missouri ballot measure asks voters whether to both overturn a 2024 constitutional amendment that reversed the state’s previous abortion ban and limit gender-affirming care for minors.
Michigan
MDHHS Announces $34 million in RHTP Funding Opportunities. Recently, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced $34 million in grant funding opportunities under their Rural Health Transformation Program’s (RHTP) Workforce for Wellness Initiative. There are five funding opportunities available under the initiative, each supporting either training, recruitment, or education for maternal health providers, rural health providers, or social work students. Project director requests for applications are due by 5 p.m. EDT on July 30, and grant applications are due via the EGrAMS system by 3 p.m. EDT on August 4. The award period lasts from October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2027.
Mississippi
Department of Health Approves Revisions to State Health Plan and CON Review Manual. During a recent Board of Health meeting, the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) approved changes to the State Health Plan and the Certificate of Need Review Manual. The revisions to the state health plan raised certificate of need (CON) capital expenditure thresholds to $10 million for clinical projects, $20 million for nonclinical projects, and $3 million for major medical equipment. Additionally, the new state health plan updated language on the nursing home and home health moratoria, CT and other imaging services, proton therapy, home dialysis equipment, ESRD facilities, and the Small Community Hospital Pilot Program (established in March by HB 1622). The MSDH made significant changes to the CON Review Manual, revising key definitions, specifying project-completion extensions and appeals, and expanding rules addressing the scope of CON coverage, applications, and hearings. Notably, last Monday, Mississippi also granted the first CON exemption under the Small Community Hospital Pilot Program. Looking ahead, hospitals have until June 30, 2027, to request an exemption, which applies within 5 miles of their main campus.
Missouri
Governor Kehoe Enacts Comprehensive Healthcare Reform Bill. This past Monday, Governor Mike Kehoe (R) signed HB 2372, which encapsulates over four years of negotiations and several reforms to maternal health and healthcare affordability in the state. The bill’s key elements include:
Requiring insurers to provide authorization for an annual supply of contraceptives for women rather than requiring more frequent prior authorization approval.
Requiring insurers to cover blood pressure monitoring equipment for pregnant and postpartum mothers and contrast-enhanced mammographies.
Prohibiting health carriers from imposing anesthesia time pay limits to services delivered by anesthesiologist assistants or certified registered nurse anesthetists.
Prohibiting health carriers and pharmacy benefit managers from discriminating against 340B program participants, including by reimbursing for drugs at a lower rate.
Prohibiting hospitals from collecting debt from patients for drugs or services provided when the hospital was noncompliant with federal price transparency rules.
Requiring managed care organizations and health carrier compliance with new prior authorization transparency requirements.
In his press release covering the enactment of HB 2372 and other healthcare legislation, Governor Kehoe noted the bills played a critical role in Missouri’s Rural Health Transformation Program and would “protect our most vulnerable, hold insurance companies accountable, and change the landscape of healthcare access and outcomes in communities across the state."
New York
State Department of Health Seeks 5 Year Extension of Medicaid Redesign Team Demonstration. Recently, the New York State Department of Health (SDOH) announced that it was requesting a five-year extension of its Section 115 Medicaid Redesign Team (MRT) demonstration. The demonstration is set to expire on March 31, 2027. The extension would continue key initiatives, including Mainstream Medicaid Managed Care (MMMC), Managed Long-Term Care (MLTC), facilitated enrollment services, behavioral health services, residential and inpatient substance use disorder treatment, and Designated State Health Programs (DSHP) funding. With the extension, SDOH is also requesting to update Health-Related Social Needs (HRSN) Services by maintaining delivery through Social Care Networks (SCNs), updating eligible child populations, and delaying the transition to risk-based funding to April 2028. Additionally, SDOH is seeking to discontinue several initiatives, including HRSN infrastructure, the Self-Direction Pilots, behavioral health home and community-based services, demonstration eligibility for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) adults, and expanded continuous eligibility for adults and children up to age 6. Public comments may be submitted until August 21.
South Dakota
U.S. District Court Judge Temporarily Blocks Abortion Pill Advertising Ban. Last Friday, a federal judge ruled that HB 1274, a recently passed law prohibiting the advertising of abortion pills, cannot be enforced amid an ongoing lawsuit. The suit was filed by former state senator Nancy Turbak Berry (D) and New York-based nonprofit Mayday Health against Governor Larry Rhoden (R) and Attorney General Marty Jackley (R). While South Dakota already has a near-total abortion ban, HB 1274 establishes criminal penalties for dispensing, distributing, and advertising abortion pills and other related items. Ms. Turbak Berry and Mayday argue that the law illegally restricts Turbak Berry’s free speech, while Attorney General Jackley contends that Mayday uses its website to connect South Dakotans with abortion-pill providers, which is illegal given the state’s ban. Judge Camela Theeler found that the state did not show that Mayday advertises with the intent for another person to engage in criminal conduct, and thus has not shown that their advertising is integral to criminal conduct. Moving forward, Mayday and Ms. Turbak Berry will seek a permanent injunction on HB 1274’s enforcement.
West Virginia
Governor Morrisey Releases RHTP Funding for Preventive Health Programs. This past Thursday, Governor Patrick Morrisey (R) released $25.6 million in Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) funding for programs supporting preventative healthcare. The funding comes as two opportunities: the Improving Health Outcomes Through Nutrition and Lifestyle AFA (worth $24.1 million) and the Integrated Wellness Data & Closed-Loop Referral Program Operator AFA (worth $1.5 million). The first opportunity focuses on supporting clinically integrated nutrition and lifestyle interventions, while the second seeks a statewide program operator to design, implement, and manage an integrated wellness referral platform. Applications for the nutrition and lifestyle program support are due July 20, and applications for the wellness referral platform are due July 21. Eligible applicants may apply and find more information through the state’s procurement and grants management system.