In This Week’s Update:

• Fighting Hunger in America & the Future of SNAP
• Innovating State and Local Governments Through Digital Service Teams
• Increasing Medicaid Reimbursement: State Approaches to Improve Mental Health
• States Making a Difference on Coverage & Affordability
• State updates: AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, HI, IL, KS, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, ND, NE, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OR, PA, RI, SD, TX, VA, VT & WA 

Fighting Hunger in America & the Future of SNAP
Princeton Pulse released a podcast episode that explores how major policy reforms, budget cuts, and the Make America Healthy Again Movement will transform Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and who is eligible to receive them.

Innovating State and Local Governments Through Digital Service Teams
The Beeck Center at Georgetown University published a guide that helps state and local leaders understand Digital Service Teams (DSTs), why they exist, and how they are structured, staffed, funded, and more. DSTs are in-house, multidisciplinary teams focused on improving government services through agile, user-centered, digital practices.

Increasing Medicaid Reimbursement: State Approaches to Improve Mental Health
Medicaid reimbursement for mental health services remains substantially below Medicare and commercial rates, with wide variation across states. A Health Affairs Forefront article examines the state variation and the diverse approaches to improve Medicaid reimbursement for mental health services.

States Making a Difference on Coverage & Affordability
State Health and Value Strategies published a blog in its States of Innovation series, highlighting how states are advancing affordability, coverage, and rural health transformation initiatives.

State updates: AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, HI, IL, KS, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, ND, NE, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OR, PA, RI, SD, TX, VA, VT & WA

• Arkansas’ initial application process is underway for $209 million in funding through the Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program, which will focus on expanding telehealth access, strengthening emergency medical response systems, and deploying remote patient monitoring technologies.
• California and Baby2Baby launched a first-in-the-nation program to provide 400 free diapers to all new babies born in the state.
• Colorado state leaders and national health policy experts held a virtual press conference to discuss how changes to Medicaid from H.R.1 are increasing pressure on state budgets and making it harder for residents to access care. The governor also signed a bill to provide scholarships and training for nursing home healthcare workers, ensuring families receive quality care while helping fill in-demand jobs.
• Kansas‘ Department of Health & Environment published frequently asked questions related to the Evidence-Based Practice Program, which helps rural hospitals and clinics implement and sustain evidence-based practices.
• Maryland’s Department of Health launched a Weather-Related Illnes​s Data Dashboard to provide a weekly snapshot of health data on emergency department visits, emergency medical services calls, and weather-related deaths. 
• Minnesota’s governor is restructuring leadership at the state’s Department of Human Services to ensure stability, strengthen oversight, and improve program delivery.
• Missouri’s Department of Social Services launched the Inside the Missouri RHT Program Newsletter, which will provide updates on program pillars and key milestones, summaries of decisions shaping the program, and ways to stay involved.
• Montana‘s Department of Public Health and Human Services is seeking qualified individuals to serve on the RHT Program Center of Excellence Advisory Council to develop recommendations for aligning care delivery services with rural health needs at the county, tribal, and facility level.
• Nebraska‘s Department of Health and Human Services is encouraging residents to participate in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey to gather insights into the health and wellbeing of residents. 
• New Jersey’s Department of Human Services (DHS) published an analysis of key impacts of H.R.1 in the state including Medicaid and SNAP enrollment reductions, healthcare provider outcomes, and governmental cost shifts. The governor and DHS commissioner are calling for the federal government to eliminate or delay harmful SNAP cost shift provisions that could jeopardize the state’s progress in combating food insecurity and create barriers to food assistance.
• New Mexico’s Health Care Authority released a request for proposals to find a vendor for the Center for Rural Health Sustainability & Innovation that will provide technical assistance, shared services, and partnership support to rural, frontier, and tribal health providers.
• North Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) published 2024 death data showing an all-time low infant mortality rate and a sharp decrease in overdose-related deaths following Medicaid expansion, historic behavioral health funding, and national opioid settlement funding. The NCDHHS Division of Aging, state area agencies on aging, and local service providers are also distributing fans to eligible residents through Operation Fan Heat Relief.
• North Dakota Health and Human Services hired a RHT Program strategist to bring clarity, alignment, and a systems-level perspective to ensure the state maximizes its funding. 
• Oregon’s governor signed bills to strengthen the behavioral health workforce and expand access to mental health and substance-use disorder services, including:
  • Bill 4083, which streamlines Medicaid credentialing and reduces administrative burdens;
  • Bill 4069, which requires employers to develop and implement written safety policies and plans for the physical safety of behavioral health workers;
  • Bill 1546, which requires AI chatbot operators to disclose artificial interactions and implement safeguards to protect users, especially minors, from self-harm or suicidal ideation.
• South Dakota’s RHT Program initiative released the next round of request for proposals focused on strengthening rural, tribal, and frontier healthcare systems through digital health modernization, coordinated delivery of care methods, and project management.
• Texas’ Health and Human Services Commission is making $56 million in federal funding available to help rural healthcare providers update critical equipment and infrastructure.
• Washington’s Health Benefit Exchange 2026 spring enrollment report shows that the expiration of enhanced premium tax credits resulted in nearly a 13% decrease in qualified enrollees compared to last year, and nearly 40,000 fewer people signed up with an additional 14% dropping their health insurance.
• AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, HI, IL, MA, MD, MI, MN, NC, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OR, PA, RI, VA, VT & WA filed an amicus brief urging reversal of a recent federal appeals court decision that restricts access to medication abortion by blocking the mailing of mifepristone prescriptions.