State News

Infant and maternal mortality rates are rising in Idaho, reports Boise State Public Radio. Infant
mortality rates increased by 18 percent and maternal mortality increased by 121 percent from
2019 to 2021. The report, from advocacy group Idaho Kids Covered, finds 1 in 5 women did not
receive prenatal care in their first trimester. The state’s maternal mortality review committee was
dissolved in July after lawmakers declined to fund it.

The Louisiana Department of Health completed 41 out of 45 goals and 234 out of 253
deliverables, according to the Louisiana Department of Health’s annual Outcomes Report. The
goals were selected from a range of policy priorities and include: addressing chronic disease;
improving maternal health; expanding Medicaid policies that address environmental health risks;
expanding the behavioral health system’s capacity; and improving services for citizens with
developmental disabilities.

OmniSalud, Colorado’s health insurance plan for low-income undocumented and DACA
recipient residents, filled all 11,000 spots for coverage with additional financial assistance in two
days when enrollment began at the beginning of November, reports 9News. Eligible residents
can still enroll in OmniSalud, but will have to pay monthly premium costs. Advocates say this
indicates that many undocumented residents are struggling to access health care and
underscores the necessity of the program.

Starting in 2024, Illinois healthcare providers engaging in mergers and acquisitions are required
to report the transaction to the state, according to the National Law Review. Under Public Act
103-0526, providers must notify the state Attorney General 30 days prior to any merger,
acquisition, or contracting affiliation with certain covered entities. The statute builds on previous
legislation authorizing the Attorney General to bring action on behalf of a private party if a
transaction provides unfair advantages to a large business entity to the detriment of consumers
and now covers contracts with out of state entities generating at least $10 million or more in
revenue from Illinois residents.

A 2023 survey found nearly seventy percent of Utahns experienced at least one health are
affordability burden in the previous year, up from 27 percent in 2020, reports The Salt Lake
Tribune. Utahns’ opinions of health care costs are similarly pessimistic — 86% worry about
affording health care in the future. Utah is working towards some of the recommended policies
in the survey, including working on setting a cost growth target by consensus through the One
Utah Health Collaborative.

Washington State is the first state in the country to open its Affordable Care Act Marketplace to
undocumented residents following approval and implementation of a 1332 Medicaid waiver,
reports KUOW. Federal rules have excluded undocumented immigrants from purchasing
coverage on the Marketplace and while other states have created alternative avenues for
undocumented adults to purchase coverage, Washington State’s Marketplace will now make
plans and subsidies available to this population. Still, premiums are often too expensive for
many, even with subsidies, presenting ongoing affordability challenges.

Ground ambulance operators will not be able to balance bill residents beginning in 2024, reports
KFF Health News. Nearly three-quarters of emergency ground ambulance rides result in a
balance bill—a 2022 report found the average cost of a ground ambulance ride in California was
$1,209. The new law is estimated to impact over 14 million California residents and will limit the
amount an out-of-network ground ambulance operator can charge patients to the amount they
would pay for the same in-network ambulatory service.

By Carolina Cummings | CBS News Minnesota | Nov. 2, 2023
All Minnesota hospitals must now screen patients to determine if they are eligible for financial
assistance before referring medical debt for collections, reports CBS News Minnesota. The new
law took effect on November 1, 2023, and prohibits hospitals from sending any outstanding debt
to collections, making changes to payment plans, or offering patients a loan to pay the debt until
they check eligibility and help those patients apply.

Arkansas has the high rate of food insecurity, with 16.6 percent of residents experiencing food
insecurity between 2020 to 2022, reports KARK. The Arkansas rate marked the biggest jump in
food insecurity for all states against the previous measure, a 2.8 percent increase from the rate
during the period from 2017 to 2019.