Boram Kim

Experts on value-based healthcare outlined the federal government’s proposed rule changes to Medicaid managed care and how they signal improved alignment and quality of care for Medicaid-Medicare dual eligible special needs plans (D-SNPs) at the 2023 Illinois State of Reform Health Policy Conference earlier this month. “This proposed rule would advance CMS’s efforts […]

A panel of long-term care experts led a discussion on the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic at the 2023 Illinois State of Reform Health Policy Conference earlier this month. Last year, the Biden administration issued guidance on federal regulatory requirements for nursing homes that addressed resident health and safety. The initiatives establish […]

The American Medical Association adopted new policy language directing a comprehensive advocacy campaign for Medicare payment reform at its Annual Meeting of House Delegates in Chicago on June 14th. The new language was largely informed by a resolution authored by the Texas Medical Association and an advocacy push spearheaded by its new president, […]

United Health Foundation (UHF) recently released its 2023 Senior Report, which ranked Utah as the healthiest state for older adults. The report analyzed a broad range of health measures and the impacts of COVID-19 on the population, and found notable health disparities across race/ethnicity, gender, and socioeconomic classes. Some categories Utah ranked first […]

The University of Texas Austin received a federal grant of $800,000 this month for its Texas LAUNCH (Linking Actions for Unmet Needs in Children’s Health) program. The university was one of 13 organizations to receive the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) grants for its Project LAUNCH. The federal program is […]

The Prescription Drug Affordability Advisory Council (PDAAC) held its most recent meeting on July 13th to develop a recommendation of 20 drugs for consideration of upper payment limits (UPL) by the Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB). The Department of Regulatory Affairs has created an interactive, user-focused dashboard for its list of drugs eligible […]

The Division of Insurance (DOI) announced it had reached agreements with all 12 Colorado Option plans on meeting the insurance commissioner’s rate reduction target for individual and small group markets in plan year 2024. DOI vacated all public hearings concerning 2024 rate reductions that were scheduled last month, citing it had reached terms […]

Last month, Texas was awarded $3.3 billion, the largest of the federal government’s $42.5 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) grants to states, for broadband infrastructure investments. The Texas Broadband Development Office (TBDO) plans to utilize the funds to award financial grants, low-interest loans, and other financial incentives to allow internet service […]

Immigrant health advocates in Illinois have been critical of the state’s recent changes to the Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults (HBIA) and Seniors (HBIS) programs. Illinois became the first state to ensure healthcare access for undocumented immigrants shut out of Medicaid and Medicare programs when the Healthy Illinois Campaign successfully pushed for the […]

The Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) and Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) are jointly developing an implementation plan for the state’s Fostering Success Housing Voucher program. Gov. Jared Polis signed Senate Bill 82 into law in June, which will provide housing vouchers to young adults transitioning out of state foster care. The […]