State Health Policy Blog
NASHP Explores the Behavioral Health Workforce Shortage at #NASHPCONF and in a 50-State Scan
A growing shortage of behavioral health workers persists across the country, posing a significant obstacle for states working to address the opioid crisis and other substance use disorders (SUDs). The National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) has recently completed a 50-state scan to identify the full range of strategies states are using to expand […]
Read More
Minnesota and Indiana Governors Work to Improve Social Equity and Health in Every Zip Code
In their 2019 state of the state speeches, 13 governors addressed social equity, acknowledging that reducing inequities and improving opportunities for all residents improves lives and health outcomes. Two of them — Indiana and Minnesota – offer examples of how states are orchestrating their legislative and administrative efforts to reduce health disparities and promote social […]
Read More
States May Soon Have to Provide Medication-Assisted Treatment to Inmates, Here’s How to Fund It
State policymakers on the frontlines of the opioid epidemic understand that treating justice-involved individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) offers a critical opportunity to expand access to treatment. While there is strong evidence that medication-assisted treatment (MAT) promotes recovery, saves lives, and reduces re-incarceration, states must surmount significant policy and financial challenges to provide MAT […]
Read More
In 2019, State Legislatures Took Targeted, Aggressive Steps to Curb Drug Spending
Most state legislatures have adjourned after busy sessions that again focused on reining in prescription drug prices. By the end of June, 29 states had enacted 46 new drug pricing laws that build on earlier work and took more comprehensive and far-reaching approaches to curb rising drug prices. As in years past, states targeted pharmacy […]
Read More
New Jersey and Pennsylvania Approve Legislation to Launch State-Based Insurance Marketplaces
State-based marketplaces (SBMs) give states more control over their local health insurance markets and consistently outperform states that use the federal marketplace with higher enrollment, more insurance plan choices for consumers, lower premium rate hikes, and a younger consumer base. These accomplishments are especially notable given recent federal policy actions that have unsettled insurance markets […]
Read More
Maine Forges New Ground and Enacts Comprehensive Drug Package
Last week, Maine Gov. Janet Mills signed into law a comprehensive package of prescription drug cost control legislation that addresses pharmaceutical prices throughout the supply chain. The four new laws include: Stricter requirements on pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs); Updates to its drug transparency program to require more prescriptive data collection and enforcement mechanisms; Establishment of […]
Read More
States Take Action to Improve and Expand Early Childhood Education
Participation in early childhood education programs has been linked to better health, higher educational achievement, and higher socioeconomic status in adulthood. Given that programs have been shown to yield a $2 to $4 return for every $1 invested, many states are looking upstream and investing in the education of their youngest residents. What governors are […]
Read More
Ten States Selected to Attend Palliative Care Summit in Chicago
NASHP is pleased to announce the 10 states selected to attend the State Policymakers Palliative Care Summit, supported by a grant from The John A. Hartford Foundation. Policymakers, including legislators as well as Medicaid and public health officials from Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Texas, will participate in the day-long […]
Read More
Changes to Poverty Measure Could Disqualify Thousands from State and Federal Programs
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is seeking public comment on possible changes to how the federal poverty measure is annually adjusted for inflation. The changes would impact individuals’ eligibility for multiple programs because the US Department of Health and Human Services uses the poverty measure to establish poverty level guidelines. A wide range […]
Read More
States Continue to Implement Surprise Medical Billing Protections
By Christina Cousart Updated June 24, 2019 During the 2019 legislative session, states have continued to advance protections for consumers against surprise medical balance bills – charges for unexpected, out-of-network medical care. To date, four new states have enacted multi-pronged policies that prohibit balance bills, institute a process for providers and carriers to resolve billing […]
Read More