State News

Dental care is now a reality for more Missourians, reports KSHB 41. As of July 1, Missouri's
Medicaid program now includes coverage for routine dental exams for adults, marking a
significant expansion in dental care access. Nearly 40 percent of adults on Medicaid previously
lacked access to dental services due to cost. This coverage is pending final approval by CMS,
but once approved, it will align adult dental benefits with those available to children and other
specific groups under Medicaid.

Florida adults can’t afford to see a doctor when need to, reports Florida Phoenix. Florida has
some of the highest rates of people skipped medical visits due to cost; Florida also has one of
the highest rates of uninsured persons.

By Dominic Anthony Walsh | Houston Public Media | July 15, 2024
A study found that Black women in Texas experience severe birth complications from
pregnancy nearly twice as often as white women, reports Houston Public Media. The study from
researchers at University of Houston found that for every 10,000 hospitalizations in 2022, about
60 white women experienced complications compared to about 125 Black women. The disparity
stems mostly from preexisting health conditions, although difference in treatment due to bias or
access to care may also play a role. The overall rate of severe pregnancy complications, like
hemorrhaging, eclampsia, sepsis and organ failure, increased by 18 percent from 2016 through
2022.

Illinois has banned short-term, limited-duration (STLD) health insurance plans, effective January
1, 2025 reports WGEM News. STLD plans, also referred to as “junk insurance,” are exempted
from and often don’t meet the minimum standards in the Affordable Care Act, and some don’t
cover preexisting conditions.

Connecticut is one of three states selected to receive CMS funding to enhance health care
affordability under the All-Payer Health Equity Approaches and Development (AHEAD) Model,
reports NBC Connecticut. Under the grant, Connecticut will explore global budgeting, a method
of providing Medicaid and Medicare payments in block grants to encourage cost control among
health care providers. The program offers a 5 percent Medicare payment increase for
participating providers, with Medicaid rates under review by the Office of Health Strategy.

The Colorado Behavioral Health Administration launched an online portal aiming to increase
transparency and accountability and help the administration offer better care to Coloradans who
need it, reports The Colorado Sun. The Performance Hub includes data showing who is
accessing services—Southern and Eastern Coloradans accessed behavioral health care
services more often than people in other regions of the state—and additional information about
providers licensed by the agency. State leaders say additional data will be added over time to
help identify gaps in care, make systemic improvements and address health care inequities.

New Jersey has passed legislation to protect residents from the financial impact of medical
debt, reports New Jersey Spotlight News. State lawmakers adopted legislation removing most
medical debt from credit reports and capping interest rates at 3 percent. While the law excludes
debts tied to medical credit cards, which some see as a loophole, it prohibits wage garnishment
for individuals earning less than 600 percent of the federal poverty level, providing significant
relief for low-income residents.

New Jersey has passed legislation to protect residents from the financial impact of medical
debt, reports New Jersey Spotlight News. State lawmakers adopted legislation removing most
medical debt from credit reports and capping interest rates at 3 percent. While the law excludes
debts tied to medical credit cards, which some see as a loophole, it prohibits wage garnishment
for individuals earning less than 600 percent of the federal poverty level, providing significant
relief for low-income residents.

The Oregon Health Authority announced on Monday the launch of its OHP Bridge Plan to those
who earn more than the income limits for Medicaid, reports the Oregon Capital Chronicle. The
OHP Bridge extends benefits for those earning between 138 – 200 percent of the federal
poverty level and is expected to cover 100,000 Oregonians by 2027. Oregon is the third state to
offer a Basic Health Program, after Minnesota and New York, but is the first to offer coverage
with no cost-sharing requirements. The Bridge Plan will provide most Medicaid benefits except
for long-term care and certain social services.