Medicaid financing and eligibility operations

North Carolina to relaunch Healthy Opportunities with $9 million in state funds

North Carolina’s health department announced that the Healthy Opportunities Pilot is expected to relaunch in early 2027 with weekly food boxes only. A $9 million state investment plus federal matching funds totals about $25 million.

North Carolina will restart Healthy Opportunities Pilot with grocery boxes only

North Carolina Health News reported that the Healthy Opportunities Pilot will restart in early 2027 with one service, grocery boxes.

Corrected Nov 10, 2026: The $25 million budget figure is now given as North Carolina Health News reported it.

NC Medicaid moves high-risk pregnancy care management to health plans

NC Medicaid published draft guidance for moving care management for high-risk pregnancies and at-risk children into managed care on January 1, 2027. Local health departments have delivered most of those services. No health center is named.

Georgetown counts 2.56 million fewer children in Medicaid and CHIP

Georgetown’s Center for Children and Families reported that 2.56 million fewer children were enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP through August 2026 than in January 2025.

South Dakota voters reject Amendment I and keep Medicaid expansion

STAT reported that South Dakota voters rejected Amendment I, which would have ended the voter-approved Medicaid expansion if the federal share fell below 90%. NBC News' tracker showed 44.2% yes and 55.8% no with 99% of expected votes in.

Kansas children’s uninsured rate rises to 8.5%, above the national 6.2%

Kansas Reflector reported that 8.5% of Kansas children were uninsured in 2025, up from 7% in 2024, against 6.2% nationally. A Georgetown researcher said Medicaid and CHIP enrollment fell nationally in 2025. No health center is named.

Texas lawmakers file House and Senate bills to expand Medicaid

State Rep. John Bucy filed a bill that would direct the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to expand Medicaid. A Senate companion was also filed.

Texas Medicaid expansion by executive order faces a legal question

The Texas Tribune reported that Texas law bars the state from changing Medicaid eligibility without legislative approval. It is unclear whether that blocks the governor-elect from directing officials to file an expansion plan.

Arkansas governor’s budget proposal adds $150 million for Medicaid

Arkansas’s governor presented a $6.97 billion budget proposal that includes a $150 million investment in Medicaid.

Salud Para La Gente extends hours for Medi-Cal renewals

The Pajaronian reported that Salud Para La Gente, a federally qualified health center in Watsonville, added extended hours for insurance renewals. They include some Tuesday and Thursday evenings and a weekend clinic on November 7 and 8.

Federal appeals court upholds order on Florida Medicaid termination notices

The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed an order requiring Florida to explain clearly why it ends Medicaid over income. It upheld a finding that the notices did not unambiguously state the decision, the reason, or whom it applied to.

New Mexico begins in-person sessions on federal Medicaid changes

The New Mexico Health Care Authority announced free in-person Keep Your Benefits NM sessions across the state, starting November 5 in Albuquerque. The sessions are open to residents, providers and community organizations.

Colorado budget request proposes over $600 million in Medicaid cuts

Colorado’s governor presented a budget request that proposes cutting more than $600 million in projected Medicaid spending, the Colorado Sun reported.

South Carolina Medicaid raises personal care and nursing rates from December 1

South Carolina’s Medicaid agency announced higher rates for personal care, nursing and residential habilitation services for dates of service from December 1, 2026. Children’s personal care rises from $25 to $26 an hour.

HHSC sets November 20 hearing on proposed Texas Medicaid rate updates

The Texas Register published an HHSC notice of a public hearing on November 20, 2026, at 9:00 a.m., in Austin and online. It covers proposed Medicaid rate updates for anesthesia, clinical labs and physician-administered drugs.

Federal officials announce arrests of four Minnesota Medicaid providers

Federal officials announced arrests of four Minnesota Medicaid providers accused of intending to defraud Medicaid of $41 million.

CMS defers another $1.2 billion in California Medicaid payments

The Los Angeles Times reported that federal officials are deferring another $1.2 billion in California Medicaid payments over the state’s personal care services program. The CMS administrator said the program grew 24% in three years.

Court extends stay in Minnesota’s Medicaid deferral suit to January 4

Minnesota and CMS told a federal court that CMS has not released or disallowed funds deferred for 14 high-risk Medicaid service areas. CMS also deferred part of the state’s claims for two quarters of fiscal 2026.

Minnesota Hospital Association report warns of Medicaid provider tax losses

The Minnesota Reformer reported that the Minnesota Hospital Association released a report called “A Statewide Crisis of Care.”

Study projects 36 states must cut Medicaid directed payments by $50 billion

Stateline reported on a Health Affairs analysis of new federal limits on state-directed payments.

Comment period on CMS's provider-tax rule closes with no extension

Public comments on CMS's proposed provider-tax rule, CMS-2452-P, closed on September 21, 2026, with no extension. Regulations.gov showed 245 posted comments, and no final rule had appeared as of September 24.

Mississippi Medicaid has not said whether it will pay for doulas

Mississippi Today reported that Mississippi Medicaid has not confirmed whether it will begin reimbursing doula services.

State Auditor flags DHCS oversight of Medi-Cal provider payments

The State Auditor found the Department of Health Care Services at substantial risk of inappropriate Medi-Cal provider payments. The department had not investigated 26,000 providers ranked in the top 10 percent for risk.

Florida Medicaid lifts early refill limits for 25 Isaias counties

Florida Medicaid lifted early refill limits on maintenance medicines for recipients in the 25 counties affected by Tropical Storm Isaias. Controlled substances are excluded.