• The Promise of Medicaid Section 1115 Waivers 
• Federal Court Halts Vaccine Policy Changes
• Adapting to a Marketplace Without ePTCs
• State updates: MD, ME, MO, ND, NH, NY, OK, WI & WV

The Promise of Medicaid Section 1115 Waivers 
A Health Affairs brief analyzes the history of utilizing Section 1115 waivers to address nonmedical, health-related social needs of Medicaid enrollees. The authors discuss key challenges and potential responses regarding the requirements of evaluation and budget neutrality and the promise of 1115 waivers in addressing social needs.

Federal Court Halts Vaccine Policy Changes 
Last week, a federal court issued stays affecting several actions related to federal vaccine policy and advisory processes. The court’s order pauses implementation of revisions to the childhood immunization schedule, appointments to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, and all votes taken by the reconstituted committee.

Related resource: State Health & Value Strategies published a toolkit to help states support continued vaccine access and maximize flexibility on the ground.

Adapting to a Marketplace Without ePTCs
The Kaiser Family Foundation released follow-up findings from its survey of adults with Affordable Care Act Marketplace coverage. The initial survey explored concerns about potential cost increases ahead of the expiration of enhanced premium tax credits (ePTCs), while the follow-up examines how enrollees are navigating coverage without them. 

State updates: MD, ME, MO, ND, NH, NY, OK, WI & WV

• Maine’s Department of Health and Human Services is hosting informational webinars for clinician and community partners about the Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program.
• Maryland’s Department of Health is seeking a RHT Program Administrator to oversee implementation. 
• Missouri’s extension of the “Missouri Former Foster Care Youth” waiver was approved. The waiver provides Medicaid coverage to residents who were former foster care youth under age 26, in foster care for at least six months when they turned 18, and enrolled in Medicaid while in foster care. 
• New Hampshire’s governor and executive council approved four contracts to implement the state’s RHT plan. The contracts establish hubs to support stronger access, improved service delivery, workforce growth, and long-term rural health system sustainability.
• New York’s Department of Health, state Marketplace, and the United Hospital Fund hosted the first roundtable dedicated to addressing the implementation challenges presented by H.R.1. The governor made $20 million in state grants available to eligible providers to fund medication abortion healthcare services under the state’s Supplemental Abortion Provider Support Fund. 
• North Dakota’s first RHT Program funding opportunity is available to support the retention of healthcare professionals in 37 critical access hospitals and their clinics.
• Oklahoma’s RHT Program released its first public grant application for the Community-Led Wellness Hubs: Microgrants program to support one-time purchases of equipment and other assets that can help improve healthcare access, health outcomes, and overall community wellness in rural communities.
• West Virginia’s governor issued a statement about the passage of the RHT Program supplemental. 
• Wisconsin’s governor signed legislation to extend postpartum Medicaid coverage from 60 days to one year. The governor also signed “Gail’s Law” to expand access to breast cancer screenings by requiring health insurers, including Medicaid, to fully cover medically necessary supplemental breast screenings or diagnostic examinations.