Top Headlines 

COVID-19 Vaccines and Children: State Strategies to Vaccinate Kids Ages 5–11

This week: States are preparing to rollout the COVID-19 vaccine for younger kids — and they're facing challenges both old and new:

• While the initial COVID-19 vaccine rollout largely prioritized mass vaccination sites, hospitals, health departments, and chain pharmacies, reaching children will require a more local response.
• Pediatric providers are a key part of this effort, but issues like staffing shortages, reimbursement challenges, and administrative issues may get in the way.

Our new brief highlights state strategies to increase vaccinations, as well as actions the Biden administration can take to address challenges at the state and local level.

Nevada Increases Access to Preventive Oral Care for Kids

Nevada's innovative pilot program allows parents and caregivers to apply fluoride varnish to their children’s teeth under virtual supervision from a licensed dental provider.

For context: The COVID-19 pandemic has magnified existing restrictions in access to dental care, with 50 percent fewer dental services provided for children covered by Medicaid and CHIP in early 2020 compared to the previous year.

Looking ahead: Innovative approaches like this could help states increase access to preventive dental care among underserved children.

States Continue to Refine Contact Tracing Programs, Offer New Guidance for Schools

States continue to adjust their contact tracing programs to manage changing COVID-19 case numbers.

The latest: Many states have updated guidance for school districts — and some states are offering new resources to schools for additional staff.

Highlight on Washington state: Washington released metrics for case investigation and contact tracing to show how quickly the Department of Health’s centralized investigations team reaches cases and contacts.

How North Dakota Is Using 1915(i) to Support People with Behavioral Health Conditions in Rural Areas

New brief: North Dakota is working to meet the social needs of people with behavioral health conditions through its 1915(i) program — a Medicaid state plan option that allows states to design home and community-based services to meet the needs of specific populations.

North Dakota's 1915(i) program fills gaps in community services, includes helping members obtain and sustain housing. Program policies were also designed to address the challenges of delivering services in rural areas.

Zooming out: To improve health outcomes, State Medicaid agencies must meet beneficiaries’ health-related social needs — especially for people with chronic health or behavioral health problems. 1915(i) gives states an additional avenue to do this.

State-Only Webinar: State Strategies for Insulin Affordability & Access

Thursday, December 2, 2–3 pm ET

While states and the federal government seek sustainable solutions to high drug prices, the more than 7 million Americans who rely on insulin can’t wait. To help meet their needs, states have implemented a range of strategies to make insulin more affordable and accessible for consumers at the point of sale.  

Attendees at this “safe harbor,” state-only webinar will learn from leading states about their work to expand access to affordable insulin, including: 

• Colorado’s first-in-the-nation insulin copay cap
• Minnesota’s Insulin Safety Net Program that allows uninsured people to access both an emergency and continuing supply of insulin
• Utah’s Insulin Savings Program that allows all Utahns to access discounted insulin prices through the state Public Employee Health Program 

A Case Study of California's ACEs Aware Initiative

This month, we’re featuring A Case Study of California’s ACEs Aware Initiative.

The ACEs Aware initiative:

• Provides education, training, and clinical protocols for providers in the state’s Medicaid program (Medi-Cal) on screenings for adverse childhood events, or ACEs
• Covers the cost of screenings and related services under Medi-Cal

You can explore other state resources and learn more about California’s initiative in NASHP’s Healthy Child Development State Resource Center. Have a resource you’d like us to highlight? Email Elinor Higgins.