State Health Policy Blog
Across the Nation, State Leaders Are Tackling the Global Issue of Environmental Protection
The profound connection between the environment and human health makes headlines primarily when things go wrong: when air pollution triggers asthma attacks, water is tainted by toxins, and tick- and mosquito-borne diseases spread, propelled by a changing climate. But some state leaders see the health of the environment as a critical and continuous state policy […]
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Six Slides to Help State Legislators Improve Health
State legislators across the country have an important role to play in improving health by facilitating cross-sector collaboration in their states and aligning government policies to support health. To help with this work, the National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) has developed six slides that state legislators can use and adapt to make the […]
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“So You Want to Build a State-based Marketplace? Here’s How!” — Advice from Marketplace Leaders
States that control their own insurance marketplaces – called state-based marketplaces (SBMs) – are leaders in providing affordability and choice, outperforming the federal marketplace on notable markers including higher enrollment, lower premium rate hikes, more participating issuers, and successfully attracting a young consumer base. These accomplishments are especially notable given recent federal policy actions that […]
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Delaware Takes on High Prescription Drug Costs by Leveraging Public Purchasers
Delaware’s state Legislature has established the Interagency Pharmaceuticals Purchasing Study Group to recommend steps to leverage bulk purchasing of drugs to effectively negotiate lower prices by using interagency and multistate purchasing contracts, and other approaches. The measure easily passed the House on a voice vote and unanimously passed the Senate. The study group has an […]
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New Eight-State Policy Academy Advances Access to Care for Pregnant/Parenting Women with SUD
Substance use disorders (SUD) and mental health conditions are prevalent among pregnant and parenting women in the United States, and they have far-reaching consequences for the health and well-being of women and their children. Integrated care models that support pregnant and parenting women’s physical and behavioral health and social service needs can improve outcomes for […]
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NASHP Updates Model Drug Price Transparency Legislation, Featuring a Common Data Set for Cross-State Comparisons and Stronger Enforcement
As drug price transparency measures proliferate across states, the National Academy of State Health Policy (NASHP) has released revised model transparency legislation featuring a common data set to reduce reporter burden and yield standardized, actionable data that will be comparable across states. The data — to be reported by manufacturers, pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), wholesalers, and insurers — will […]
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New Law Enables New Mexico to Leverage State Purchasing Power to Lower Rx Spending
New Mexico Gov. Lujan Grisham recently signed into law SB 131, establishing a state Interagency Pharmacy Purchasing Council to leverage public purchasing power by reviewing and coordinating cost-containment strategies through procurement of pharmaceuticals, pharmaceutical benefits, and pooling of risk among state agencies. Cosponsored by state Sen. Jeff Steinborn* and Rep. Joanne Farrary, the law also […]
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Maryland Passes Nation’s First Prescription Drug Affordability Board Legislation
On April 8, 2019, the Maryland General Assembly passed legislation that which would create the first state Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) to address the costs of certain high-priced drugs in Maryland. Gov. Larry Hogan has until May 31, 2019, to sign or veto the bill. If he signs the bill or does nothing, the […]
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New Medicaid Funding Could Help States Better Integrate Care for Children with Medical Complexity
Earlier this month, the Senate passed the Medicaid Services Investment and Accountability Act of 2019 (H.R. 1839), which contains funding mechanisms and reforms that allow states to improve care coordination for children enrolled in Medicaid. As of early this week, the bill was on the President’s desk awaiting his signature. This legislation significantly gives states […]
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How States Keep Community at the Center of Hospitals’ Community Health Needs Assessments
Tax-exempt hospitals receive billions of dollars in tax exemptions each year. In exchange, they are required to invest in the health of their communities. But to do that, hospitals must first identify the health needs of the communities they serve. States can work to make sure hospitals truly seek out and act on meaningful input […]
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