State Health Policy Blog
The Prevention and Public Health Fund — Lessons from States; Questions for Policymakers
The American Health Care Act, which proposes to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA), would dismantle the Prevention and Public Health Fund (PPHF). States received over $625 million from the PPHF in fiscal year 2016,[i] and stand to lose more than $3 billion over five years if it is repealed.[ii] The bill would […]
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NASHP Releases Model Rx Transparency Legislation
Pharmaceutical prices are rising, driving up premiums and out-of-pocket costs. Today, 21 percent of spending in employer-sponsored plans goes to retail prescription drugs.[i] State budgets – that by law, have to be balanced- are reeling from high and unpredictable pharmaceutical increases for corrections, state employees and retirees, K-12 and public university employees, and, of course, […]
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Improving Health through Housing: Three Tips For State Policymakers
State and federal policymakers increasingly acknowledge that health is difficult to achieve and maintain for people without a stable home. Numerous studies show that housing and housing supports can help vulnerable populations improve and maintain health while lowering hospital and other costs for state and local governments. Addressing health and housing can also further state […]
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High Risk Pools Deja Vu – Lessons from States, Questions for Policymakers
Congress has begun its Affordable Care Act (ACA) repeal effort and evolving replacement options are receiving considerable attention. NASHP is tracking issues that appear in multiple proposals and will provide state perspectives, including: How might they impact states? What might they cost? Have they been tried before in states and what did we learn from […]
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Sharing Accountability: State and Local Collaborations to Address the Behavioral Health Needs of Justice-Involved Individuals
Individuals involved in the criminal justice system often have complex health needs—rates of mental illness, substance abuse, and other health conditions are as much as seven times higher for justice-involved individuals than the general population.[1] Behavioral health issues in particular are prevalent among the justice-involved population. Estimates are that approximately 56 percent of individuals in […]
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What can States do during Public Health Crises? Lessons Learned from Environmental Threats in Michigan, Rhode Island, and West Virginia
When it comes to prevention, identification, and mitigation of public health crises states are at the forefront. These crises require a multi-sector state agency approach as often they disproportionally impact disadvantaged communities and are linked with challenging social determinants of health. The conversation regarding preparation and mitigation of these disasters has received increased national attention […]
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Medicaid Funding Opportunities in Support of Perinatal Regionalization Systems
Preterm birth, which accounts for approximately 11.5 percent of all births and 50 percent of pregnancy-related costs, is the largest cause of infant morbidity and mortality. This creates a significant burden on the U.S. healthcare system. A leading strategy for decreasing infant morbidity and mortality related to preterm birth is for states to use perinatal […]
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New Report Shows Increase in ED Utilizations for Behavioral Health – What States Can Do
The Agency for HealthCare Research and Quality (AHRQ) released an eye-opening study this past week, indicating that utilization of emergency department (ED) services due to behavioral health conditions increased sharply from 2006 to 2013. The brief “Trends in Emergency Department Visits Involving Mental and Substance Use Disorders,” highlights a 52 percent increase in ED utilization […]
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Reflections on Repeal and Replace
Amidst discussion of repealing, delaying, and replacing the ACA, what’s ahead for health reform is uncertain, but may be informed by reflection on what’s gone before. In January 2000, the National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) convened a bipartisan group of state health policy leaders to discuss lessons learned from 25 years of state […]
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Addressing Inequities through Innovations in Oral Health Policy
States have made great strides in improving children’s oral health, this includes a greater number accessing the dentist and a decline in untreated caries—tooth decay. Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Programs (CHIP), which insure our nation’s most vulnerable populations, have played an important role by covering dental benefits for children. Some Medicaid agencies opted […]
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