All articles tagged with #state policy
Several blue states are reviving proposals to tax the wealthiest residents to raise revenue for essential services, driven by rising wage and wealth gaps since the pandemic and a desire to address inequality.
Following a unilateral narrowing of the pediatric vaccine schedule by the Trump-era health department, many major health systems say they will ignore the federal guidance and instead follow the American Academy of Pediatrics’ guidance, mirroring the previous policy. The move could polarize U.S. vaccine policy, with hospitals nationwide reaffirming trust in pediatric groups rather than federal direction and states potentially diverging on school-entry vaccine rules. HHS defends the change as aligning with international norms, even as critics warn it undermines public trust and risks inconsistent protection for children.
California is diverging from federal COVID vaccine guidance by offering updated vaccines to all residents 6 months and older, in response to federal restrictions and a new state law linking immunization policies to science-based recommendations, with local health officials emphasizing the importance of vaccination amid ongoing respiratory virus season.
New Mexico will become the first U.S. state to offer universal, no-cost child care to all families starting Nov. 1, removing income restrictions and investing in child care infrastructure and workforce to support families, children, and the economy.
The Biden-Harris administration has released new data showing the impact of state policy choices on children's enrollment in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). States that have implemented federal strategies and prioritized auto-renewals have been more successful in renewing eligible children's coverage. The data also highlights that failure to expand Medicaid has led to higher disenrollment rates in certain states. The administration has extended federal flexibilities to states until the end of 2024 and called on nine states with the highest child disenrollment rates to adopt additional strategies to protect children's coverage. Secretary Becerra urged these states to remove barriers, reduce call center wait times, and expand Medicaid programs.