FEATURED ARTICLE
State Medicaid Quality Measurement Activities for Women’s Health
/in Medicaid Managed Care Maps Cost, Payment, and Delivery Reform, Eligibility and Enrollment, Health Equity, Infant Mortality, Integrated for Pregnant/Parenting Women, Maternal Health and Mortality, Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health, Medicaid Managed Care, Medicaid Managed Care, Population Health, Quality and Measurement, Quality and Measurement, Quality Improvement, Special Populations and Services /by NASHP StaffMinnesota and Indiana Governors Work to Improve Social Equity and Health in Every Zip Code
/in Policy Indiana, Minnesota Blogs CHIP, CHIP, Chronic Disease Prevention and Management, Cost, Payment, and Delivery Reform, Eligibility and Enrollment, Health Coverage and Access, Health Equity, Health System Costs, Healthy Child Development, Housing and Health, Infant Mortality, Maternal Health and Mortality, Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health, Medicaid Managed Care, Population Health, Quality and Measurement, Social Determinants of Health /by Elinor HigginsIn their 2019 state of the state speeches, 13 governors addressed social equity, acknowledging that reducing inequities and improving opportunities for all residents improves lives and health outcomes. Two of them — Indiana and Minnesota – offer examples of how states are orchestrating their legislative and administrative efforts to reduce health disparities and promote social […]
State Officials Fear Final Public Charge Rule Could Deter Health Coverage Enrollment
/in Policy Blogs CHIP, CHIP, Eligibility and Enrollment, Health Coverage and Access, Health Equity, Healthy Child Development, Maternal Health and Mortality, Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health, Population Health, Social Determinants of Health, State Insurance Marketplaces /by Maureen Hensley-Quinn and Anita CardwellThe Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently finalized a rule that significantly changes immigration policies related to “public charge” determinations. Under long-established US immigration policies, individuals who are deemed likely to become a “public charge” and require extensive government support can be denied an adjustment of their immigration status (e.g., issued a green card) or […]
New Eight-State Policy Academy Advances Access to Care for Pregnant/Parenting Women with SUD
/in Policy Alabama, Colorado, Kentucky, Mississippi, New Jersey, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia Blogs Behavioral/Mental Health and SUD, Care Coordination, Chronic and Complex Populations, Chronic Disease Prevention and Management, Cost, Payment, and Delivery Reform, Healthy Child Development, Integrated Care for Children, Integrated for Pregnant/Parenting Women, Maternal Health and Mortality, Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health, Medicaid Managed Care, Medicaid Managed Care, Physical and Behavioral Health Integration, Population Health, Primary Care/Patient-Centered/Health Home /by Erin BonzonSubstance use disorders (SUD) and mental health conditions are prevalent among pregnant and parenting women in the United States, and they have far-reaching consequences for the health and well-being of women and their children. Integrated care models that support pregnant and parenting women’s physical and behavioral health and social service needs can improve outcomes for […]
CMS Releases State Funding to Improve Integrated Care for Children and Pregnant and Postpartum Women Enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP
/in Policy Blogs Behavioral/Mental Health and SUD, Care Coordination, Children/Youth with Special Health Care Needs, CHIP, CHIP, Chronic and Complex Populations, Chronic Disease Prevention and Management, Cost, Payment, and Delivery Reform, Eligibility and Enrollment, Eligibility and Enrollment, EPSDT, Health Coverage and Access, Healthy Child Development, Infant Mortality, Integrated Care for Children, Integrated for Pregnant/Parenting Women, Maternal Health and Mortality, Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health, Medicaid Managed Care, Medicaid Managed Care, Population Health, Primary Care/Patient-Centered/Health Home, Quality and Measurement /by NASHP WritersLast week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released two highly anticipated initiatives — the Maternal Opioid Misuse (MOM) Model and the Integrated Care for Kids (InCK) Model — which will provide multi-year funding to states to improve integrated care for maternal and child health populations enrolled in Medicaid and the Children’s Health […]
Fact Sheet Highlights Medicaid’s Critical Role in Screening for Maternal Depression
/in Policy Reports Behavioral/Mental Health and SUD, Chronic and Complex Populations, Chronic Disease Prevention and Management, Health Coverage and Access, Healthy Child Development, Integrated for Pregnant/Parenting Women, Maternal Health and Mortality, Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health, Medicaid Managed Care, Population Health /by NASHP WritersDespite evidence that maternal depression is common and can impede the development of young children, it is often undiagnosed and untreated. Medicaid can play a leading role in identifying at-risk mothers and connecting them to treatment. NASHP’s new fact sheet provides background on maternal depression while also presenting a summary of state Medicaid policies for […]
New Federal Initiatives Help States Expand Support for Children and Families Affected by Substance Use
/in Policy Blogs Behavioral/Mental Health and SUD, Care Coordination, CHIP, Chronic and Complex Populations, Chronic Disease Prevention and Management, Eligibility and Enrollment, Healthy Child Development, Integrated Care for Children, Integrated for Pregnant/Parenting Women, Maternal Health and Mortality, Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health, Medicaid Managed Care, Population Health /by Hannah EichnerIn the recent election, Republican and Democratic gubernatorial candidates offered strategies to address the opioid epidemic and meet the needs of children and families affected by substance use disorder (SUD). Incoming and incumbent executives will have new federal resources – including the new Maternal Opioid Misuse (MOM) and Integrated Care for Kids (InCK) models and […]
How States Promote Recovery for Pregnant and Parenting Women with Substance Use Disorder
/in Policy Colorado, Pennsylvania, Texas Blogs Behavioral/Mental Health and SUD, Care Coordination, Chronic and Complex Populations, Chronic Disease Prevention and Management, Essential Health Benefits, Health Coverage and Access, Healthy Child Development, Infant Mortality, Integrated Care for Children, Integrated for Pregnant/Parenting Women, Maternal Health and Mortality, Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health, Medicaid Expansion, Medicaid Managed Care, Medicaid Managed Care, Physical and Behavioral Health Integration, Population Health /by Hannah Eichner, Becky Normile and Carrie HanlonSubstance use disorder (SUD), including opioid use disorder (OUD), is prevalent among pregnant and parenting women, and these women have unique and often un-met treatment needs. Despite significant efforts, states report that access to treatment continues to lag for this population. In 2014, half of pregnant women with OUD who were enrolled in publicly-funded treatment […]
State Options for Promoting Recovery among Pregnant and Parenting Women with Opioid or Substance Use Disorder
/in Policy Colorado, Pennsylvania, Texas Reports Behavioral/Mental Health and SUD, Care Coordination, CHIP, CHIP, Chronic and Complex Populations, Chronic Disease Prevention and Management, Cost, Payment, and Delivery Reform, Eligibility and Enrollment, EPSDT, Health Coverage and Access, Healthy Child Development, Infant Mortality, Integrated Care for Children, Integrated for Pregnant/Parenting Women, Maternal Health and Mortality, Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health, Medicaid Managed Care, Physical and Behavioral Health Integration, Population Health, Primary Care/Patient-Centered/Health Home /by Hannah Eichner, Becky Normile and Carrie HanlonThe opioid epidemic has heightened states’ efforts to prevent and treat of substance use disorder (SUD) in pregnant and parenting women. The National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP), with support from the Health Resources and Services Administration, interviewed Colorado, Pennsylvania, and Texas officials about the unique interagency approaches they are using to promote recovery […]
SUPPORT for Families and Communities Act: New Funding and Flexibility for States to Address Substance Use Disorder
/in Policy Blogs Behavioral/Mental Health and SUD, Care Coordination, Chronic and Complex Populations, Chronic Disease Prevention and Management, Essential Health Benefits, Health Coverage and Access, Healthy Child Development, Infant Mortality, Integrated Care for Children, Integrated for Pregnant/Parenting Women, Maternal Health and Mortality, Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health, Medicaid Managed Care, Medicaid Managed Care, Physical and Behavioral Health Integration, Population Health /by Kitty PuringtonLast week, Congress sent the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act, a wide-ranging bill that seeks to address the country’s opioid crisis across a number of policy areas, to the President for his signature. The act contains numerous provisions that affect how state Medicaid agencies structure and administer services and supports for individuals with opioid […]

For individuals living with complex, often chronic conditions, and their families, palliative care can provide relief from symptoms, improve satisfaction and outcomes, and help address critical mental and spiritual needs during difficult times. Now more than ever, there is growing recognition of the importance of palliative care services for individuals with serious illness, such as advance care planning, pain and symptom management, care coordination, and team-based, multi-disciplinary support. These services can help patients and families cope with the symptoms and stressors of disease, better anticipate and avoid crises, and reduce unnecessary and/or unwanted care. While this model is grounded in evidence that demonstrates improved quality of life, better outcomes, and reduced cost for patients, only a fraction of individuals who could benefit from palliative care receive it. 
























































































































































Medicaid Reimbursement of Midwifery Services in Minnesota and Washington State Supports Diverse Pathways to Care
/in Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health, Policy Minnesota, Washington Blogs, Featured News Home Maternal Health and Mortality, Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health /by Anoosha Hasan and Emily Creveling