Top Headlines 

State Strategies to Lower Drug Prices: New Legislative and Medicaid Models

The context: After years of action on prescription drug prices, states are advancing some of the boldest efforts to date.

Check out our new resources: 

• Our brief gives state policymakers strategies to address the problem of prescription drug prices — including new legislative and Medicaid models — and guidance on how states can combine strategies to meet their specific needs.
• Our toolkit provides an overview of model legislation and resources developed by NASHP with guidance from state officials and legal experts.

Updated Map: State Community Health Worker Models

The context: Community health workers (CHWs) are frontline public health workers who are trusted members of the community they serve.

During the pandemic, many states have increased their reliance on CHWs to advance equity and connect communities with vaccines and other services, and focused on strategies to bolster the workforce.

Challenges for states: Many states are looking to build their community-based workforce and find sustainable financing and career development strategies for CHWs.

Our updated map shows how states are supporting their CHW workforce, including state approaches for Medicaid reimbursement and other funding mechanisms.

Proposed Changes to Medicaid’s Continuous Coverage Requirement

The Build Back Better Act includes proposed changes that would unwind Medicaid’s continuous coverage requirement — giving states the option to begin redeterminations of Medicaid eligibility as early as April 1, 2022.

What it means for states: This change would eliminate uncertainty for states — but resuming Medicaid redeterminations will require careful planning to ensure eligible individuals stay enrolled in Medicaid or marketplace coverage.

Learn more: Read about the impact this will have on states and expected challenges in our blog.

Strategies to Increase Diversity in the Behavioral Health Workforce

States are taking action to address behavioral health workforce shortages, which have been exacerbated by the pandemic.

The situation: With rates of substance use, stress, and suicidal ideation on the rise — particularly in Black and Latinx populations — policymakers are exploring ways to increase capacity and diversity in the behavioral health workforce.

Our new brief highlights programs and policies to address disparities in the behavioral health workforce, including using data to understand workforce needs and leveraging new and emerging funding opportunities.

State Actions to Prevent and Mitigate Adverse Childhood Experiences

The context: Experiencing adversity in early life can affect a person's health, well-being, and success into adulthood.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought additional attention to the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and trauma across the lifespan, as families experience increased stress, disruption, and isolation.

Our new brief, created with the National Governors Association and Duke-Margolis, highlights what nine states are doing to prevent and mitigate ACEs and implement trauma-informed practices.

New Guidance on Maternal Health

Day of action: Last week, the Biden Administration, led by Vice President Kamala Harris, hosted the first ever White House Maternal Health Day of Action.

New guidance: As part of this day of action, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), announced guidance on two maternal health initiatives:  

• Guidance for state health officials on extending postpartum coverage to 12 months under the new state plan option from the American Rescue Plan. Learn more about state efforts to extend postpartum coverage. 
• Guidance on the maternal morbidity structural measure for hospital reporting 

Check out NASHP’s resources on state approaches to Medicaid coverage of doula services and state maternal mortality review committees.

Addressing Bias and Advancing Equity in State Policy

This month, we’re featuring Addressing Bias and Advancing Equity in State Policy, a resource from Zero to Three.

This resource offers:

• Strategies and best practices for engaging families and communities in policymaking 
• Examples of strategies to promote equity and ensure all babies get a strong start in life

Explore other state resources and information in NASHP’s Healthy Child Development State Resource Center. Have a resource you’d like us to highlight? Email Elinor Higgins.