White Papers

01.31.19

Ready for Reform: Behavioral Healthcare in Massachusetts

Massachusetts has long been a national leader in state-level healthcare reform.




01.16.19

Spotlight on Colorado: Ending the Opioid Epidemic

Colorado has addressed the opioid epidemic with an array of public and private initiatives. Yet Colorado’s death rate has stayed consistent with national trends, despite a statewide comprehensive opioid strategy and successful efforts to reduce opioid prescriptions.




01.11.19

Establishing Connections to Healthcare for Justice-Involved Populations

With many states expanding Medicaid eligibility, individuals leaving jail or prison are now often able to enroll in health coverage upon release.




12.19.18

Strategies for an Affordable Medicaid Buy-In Option in Colorado

In order to address rising costs and continued uncertainty in the individual insurance market, states are beginning to explore offering alternative coverage options to residents in need of premium and cost-sharing relief. One option under consideration is a state-initiated “Medicaid ...




12.13.18

Spotlight on Pennsylvania: Ending the Opioid Epidemic

Pennsylvania has been hit hard by the opioid epidemic, with prescription opioid-related overdoses growing in the early 2000s and, more recently, high volumes of heroin and fentanyl coursing through the commonwealth due to its strategic location as a major transportation hub. The challenges faced ...




12.07.18

Evaluating Medicaid Buy-in Options for New Mexico

Against the backdrop of rising costs for health coverage, uncertainty regarding stability of the individual market and the state’s persistently high uninsurance rate of more than 9%, New Mexico is considering a Medicaid buy-in strategy. Medicaid is New Mexico’s largest payer, covering ...




11.16.18

Medicaid Payments at Risk for Hospitals Under Public Charge

Under long-standing immigration law and guidance, individuals who are likely to become a “public charge”—or likely to rely on the government for financial support—can be denied admission to the U.S. or, if they are already in the country legally, may be denied the ability ...




11.14.18

Addressing Major Drivers of MassHealth Per-Enrollee Spending Growth

The Massachusetts Medicaid program, MassHealth, plays a critical role as a source of health insurance coverage in Massachusetts.




11.01.18

How APCDs Can Support Insurance Regulation

From Utah and Oregon to Maine and Massachusetts, state insurance departments across the country are exploring how All Payer Claims Databases (APCDs) can be used to support and enhance insurance regulation.  APCDs are large and developing data assets that promise states new capacity for ...




08.17.18

Work and Community Engagement Requirements in Medicaid

In January 2018, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued guidance to states as to the circumstances under which CMS would approve Section 1115 demonstration waivers making work/community engagement (CE) requirements a condition of Medicaid eligibility. Since then, CMS has ...