State Health Policy Blog
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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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Eliminating Hepatitis C: New State Payment Models for Treatment and Emerging Evidence
With hepatitis C infections on the rise and curative, but expensive, prescription drugs now available, state leaders across the country are compelled to address this public health crisis, and Louisiana and Washington are developing innovative drug-purchasing strategies within their efforts. At the same time, the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) is investing in patient-focused studies […]
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NASHP Awarded New Grant on Family Caregiving from The John A Hartford Foundation
NASHP has been awarded a three-year grant from The John A. Hartford Foundation to develop a comprehensive resource and dissemination center on family caregiving. The grant will fund NASHP’s RAISE Act Family Caregiver Resource and Dissemination Center, a national focal point for resources, technical assistance, and policy analysis for states and the broader community of […]
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State Surprise Medical Billing Laws Can Inform the Congressional Debate
As Congress and the Trump Administration propose strategies to address surprise balance billing – charges for unexpected, out-of-network medical care – states have significant experience in implementing surprise billing laws that can inform the discussion. Importantly, state authority cannot protect individuals covered by self-insured plans, which are pre-empted by Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA,) […]
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