In this week’s update:

• Advancing Rural Healthcare
• Federal Executive Orders’ Impact on Public Health
• Examining CMS Guidance on Medicaid Renewal
• Improving Maternal Health in Rural Communities
• State updates: CA, CO, CT, ME, MN, MT, NC, NE, NM, NY, OK, RI, WA & WV

Advancing Rural Healthcare
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation hosted a virtual briefing examining the state of rural health and exploring opportunities to improve health for people living in rural communities. Speakers from the State Health Access Data Assistance Center and State Health & Value Strategies (SHVS) discussed challenges facing rural providers and patients, the role of the Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program, and considerations to strengthen rural healthcare.

Federal Executive Orders’ Impact on Public Health 
The Network for Public Health Law launched an Executive Order Watch to track the effects of the 230 executive orders signed in 2025 on a broad range of public health issues. Each order in the tracker is categorized by topic with a corresponding summary of health impacts, and links directly to primary sources in the Federal Register.

Examining CMS Guidance on Medicaid Renewal 
SHVS summarized CMS Medicaid renewal guidance stating individuals eligible for Medicaid expansion coverage must renew their eligibility every six months, twice as frequently as under current law, beginning January 1, 2027.

Improving Maternal Health in Rural Communities 
SHVS highlighted how states can leverage the RHT Program to support investments that improve maternal health outcomes and reduce disparities.

State updates: CA, CO, CT, ME, MN, MT, NC, NE, NM, NY, OK, RI, WA & WV

• California‘s governor released the next round of Bond Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program awards, with a $1.18 billion investment to fund an additional 66 projects across 130 behavioral health facilities, including in rural and tribal communities, and create more residential and crisis treatment centers statewide.
• Colorado’s health insurance Marketplace is accepting applications for enrollment and referral partners, advancing its mission to provide customers with expert assistance.
• Connecticut‘s health insurance Marketplace opened applications for the 2026 Broker Academy Program, a free program that recruits and trains individuals from hard-to-reach communities to become licensed health insurance brokers.
• Maine‘s governor responded to CMS’ request for information about the management of the state’s Medicaid program, highlighting its steps to fight fraud. The state’s health insurance Marketplace also published its 2026 Open Enrollment Overview report, reaching the lowest overall enrollment since transitioning to a State-Based Marketplace in 2021.
• Minnesota‘s governor submitted a proposal to transform the state’s human services system by streamlining the delivery model to a single, centralized entity. The state’s Department of Health also released data showing a steep rise in the number of uninsured residents, equating to approximately 116,000 more residents without health insurance, the highest uninsured rate for the state since 2017.
• Montana‘s Department of Public Health and Human Services and the Department of Administration hosted a webinar for vendors interested in upcoming requests for proposals for the RHT Program. The slide deck is available.
• Nebraska’s Department of Health and Human Services posted requests for applications for three grant opportunities under the RHT Program.
• New Mexico’s Medicaid now covers traditional healing practices provided by certified healers for Native American enrollees in participating tribes, nations, or pueblos.
• New York‘s health insurance Marketplace published a statement clarifying when and how citizenship and immigration information are used when someone is applying for health coverage. The state’s Office of Rural Health also announced that CMS approved the state’s revised RHT Program budget and four initiatives.
• North Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) updated the statewide online mental health bed registry. NCDHHS, the Department of Public Safety, Alliance Health, and New Hope Treatment Centers are partnering on a pilot program to improve mental healthcare for young people involved in the justice system.
• Oklahoma released a quick-reference guide on the RHT Program, including frequently asked questions on funding distribution, oversight measures, and fund uses.
• Rhode Island’s official health insurance Marketplace concluded its open enrollment period with a 10% decline from the record-high close of last year’s open enrollment, attributed to increased costs from the expiration of the enhanced premium tax credits. 
• Washington‘s governor signed legislation preserving no-cost preventive services for residents. The state’s Health Benefit Exchange CEO also released a statement on the final state legislative budget impacts for Exchange enrollees.
• West Virginia‘s governor called on the state legislature to move quickly to authorize the deployment of federal funding to launch the state’s RHT Program, warning that delays could jeopardize critical healthcare improvements.