In This Week’s Update:
- Reducing Terminations While Implementing Medicaid Work Requirements
- Drivers of the Increase in ACA Premiums
- RHT Program Awards & the Path to Success
- State updates: AK, AL, CO, MD, MI, MN, NC, NE, NJ & OR
Reducing Terminations While Implementing Medicaid Work Requirements
A guide co-authored by the National Health Law Program offers states ways to minimize procedural terminations as they make changes to their Medicaid administration systems to implement work reporting requirements.
Drivers of the Increase in ACA Premiums
Marketplace benchmark premiums, the second-lowest-cost silver plans, have increased 21.7% in 2026. An Urban Institute issue brief examines the drivers behind this increase, which is substantially larger than the projected 6-7% increase in the employer-sponsored insurance market.
RHT Program Awards & the Path to Success
As states transition from planning to implementation of the Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program, success will depend on efficient and effective collaboration across state agencies and with a broad range of stakeholders.
Related resource: SHVS published a blog on states’ initial steps to implement RHT Program activities, including an interactive map examining which state agencies are leading implementation and whether states have established public-facing websites to promote transparency and accountability.
State updates: AK, AL, CO, MD, MI, MN, NC, NE, NJ & OR
- Alabama‘s Department of Public Health announced a request for proposals for funding the Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative, a national strategy to reduce new HIV infections by 90% by 2030.
- Alaska‘s Department of Health will host a three-day RHT Program convening to help healthcare providers, Tribal partners, community organizations, and others prepare for implementation of the state’s RHT Program.
- Colorado‘s Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (HCPF) will host a webinar to provide an update on the RHT Program, discuss the impact of H.R.1 on hospitals and other changing federal policies, and discuss HCPF’s budget reductions.
- Maryland‘s state agency projects have been awarded two grants—totaling more than $2.6 million over two years—that will fund artificial intelligence projects to improve access to public services and streamline work verification for SNAP and Medicaid.
- Michigan‘s Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is seeking members to serve on the Rural Health Transformation Advisory Council. MDHHS is also assisting with the development of a dental therapy training program to increase residents’ access to dental care.
- Minnesota‘s Department of Human Services is appealing a federal decision to withhold over $2 billion in annual Medicaid funding for the state due to a claim that the state has failed to take actions to fight Medicaid fraud.
- Nebraska‘s Department of Health and Human Services is funding domestic violence support services through the Medicaid Managed Care Excess Profit Fund.
- New Jersey‘s Departments of Health, Human Services, and Children and Families and the Office of the Attorney General issued a statement that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ actions are further limiting access to gender-affirming care for children and youth. The human services commissioner also published a report highlighting eight years of accomplishments across the state’s human services ecosystem.
- North Carolina‘s governor and Department of Health and Human Services will host a virtual town hall to discuss the state’s RHT Program.
- Oregon‘s Health Authority (OHA) shared an update on the federal use of health data following a federal court ruling which allows CMS to start sharing limited information with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. In the update, OHA explains it is following CMS requirements while also limiting the transfer of sensitive information as much as possible.