Healthcare

Governor Dunleavy announced Alaska will receive up to $272 million per year for five years to 'completely transform our health care system' through the federal Rural Health Transformation Program. He also highlighted the expansion of the Alaska Psychiatric Institute from 20 to 80 beds and the reopening of the Chilkat adolescent unit, noting API was previously in danger of losing federal certification.

Governor Ivey announced Alabama will receive more than $203 million in first-year funding from the Rural Health Transformation Program, listing 11 initiatives to boost rural healthcare delivery. She urged legislators and healthcare leaders to 'think outside-the-box' in implementing this program and challenged them to develop needed policy.

Governor Hobbs highlighted her initiative to cancel medical debt, erasing $642 million for nearly half a million people 'without costing the state government a dime.' She criticized the federal government's healthcare cuts, noting the partisan Washington budget 'slashed Medicaid, endangering the future of Arizona's rural hospitals in order to pay for tax breaks for billionaires.' She also announced she would eliminate prior authorization requirements from insurance companies and proposed banning medical debt from credit reports.

Governor Newsom touted California's 6.4% uninsured rate as one of the lowest in the nation and the state's CalRX program launching insulin at $11 a pen. He warned that the federal 'Big Beautiful Bill' puts 1.8 million Californians at risk of losing health insurance and 2 million facing premium increases. He also cited the largest health care expansion in America and subsidies for 370,000 people through Covered California.

Governor Polis extensively discussed healthcare affordability, noting his administration has tallied nearly $3 billion in savings for Coloradans through hospital price transparency laws, the Colorado Option, reinsurance, surprise billing bans, and insulin price caps. He warned that Medicaid costs are 'rising far faster than the rest of our budget' and called for systemic reform, saying 'we need Washington to step up and take real action on a real solution' for universal healthcare.

Governor Lamont highlighted that Connecticut backstopped federal ACA subsidy cuts and maintained more insured citizens than the rest of the country. He proposed the 'Connecticut Option' to encourage state employees and small businesses to use high-value hospitals, offering healthcare with no co-pays or deductibles. He also emphasized accelerating healthcare cost control, noting savings of $15 million in year one just by switching one brand-name drug to its generic version.

Governor Meyer announced Delaware received preliminary notice of the largest competitive healthcare grant in state history through the federal rural health transformation program, enabling pursuit of the state's first medical school. He proposed expanding scope of practice, reforming Certificate of Need, expanding mobile health units, and eliminating the gross receipts tax on medical services. He also highlighted aggressive efforts to address lead exposure.

Governor Kemp detailed investments of $40.7 million for healthcare education facilities and medical workforce training, plus $2.1 million more for medical residency slots, bringing total residency positions to 2,523. He highlighted the state's investments in combating human trafficking and gang activity as public health and safety measures.

Governor Green, himself an ER doctor, announced nearly $190 million in federal funds for the Rural Health Transformation Program and committed $16.5 million in state funds to cover enhanced ACA tax credits. He highlighted the Healthcare Education Loan Repayment Program (HELP) covering over 900 providers, raised Medicaid rates for nearly 400,000 people, and described the state's approach of treating 'housing as healthcare' for the homeless, noting a 76% reduction in healthcare costs when unhoused individuals receive permanent housing.

Governor Reynolds announced Iowa's 'Healthy Hometowns' plan was awarded $209 million for year one of the federal Rural Health Transformation Program, with over $50 million specifically for cancer prevention, screening, and treatment. She described an ambitious hub-and-spoke cancer care model, expanded telehealth, and new community care teams. She also announced reforms to SNAP and Summer EBT to focus on nutritious foods and proposed removing artificial food dyes from school lunch programs.

Governor Little noted that over the next five years, Idaho will invest nearly $1 billion in federal funds to improve rural healthcare accessibility and affordability, including more than $150 million to strengthen the healthcare workforce pipeline. He committed an additional $1 million for graduate medical education and emphasized the need for affordable healthcare as a top concern for Idahoans.

Governor Braun emphasized healthcare affordability, noting his personal experience building a company health plan with no premium increases in 18 years. He highlighted legislation to keep Hoosiers out of 'crushing medical debt' and announced $465 million in savings found through cracking down on Medicaid waste, fraud, and abuse, along with plans to codify Medicaid work requirements.

Governor Kelly highlighted significant progress in mental health services, including implementing the 988 Crisis Hotline, expanding Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, increasing school-based mental health services, and a new state psychiatric hospital in South Central Kansas. She also noted a renovated facility at Lansing Correctional for substance abuse treatment.

Governor Beshear reported three straight years of declining overdose deaths, expanded Medicaid dental/vision/hearing coverage for 284,556 Kentuckians, and doubled mental health professionals. He warned about federal Medicaid cuts, proposing $100 million to lower exchange costs on kynect, a $125 million rural hospital fund, and $25 million for nursing student loan forgiveness. He also highlighted new hospital construction including the first hospital in West Louisville in 150 years.

Governor Healey announced she would eliminate prior authorization requirements for insurance, ban medical debt from credit reports, and create a Health Care Affordability Working Group. She committed to protecting 270,000 families and small business owners from premium spikes caused by federal subsidy cuts, calling it 'the biggest commitment in the country.' She also capped insurance deductibles and copays for the first time.

Governor Moore warned that the Trump administration's domestic policy could kick up to 180,000 Marylanders off healthcare. His budget fully funds the $14 billion Medicaid program and proposes legislation to decouple the state's vaccine authority from the federal government, pledging that 'our vaccine policy will be led by science, not internet conspiracy theories.'

Governor Mills warned that federal healthcare cuts would cause upwards of 33,000 Mainers to lose access to healthcare, with 8,500 already abandoning insurance due to lost ACA subsidies. She proposed $2.25 million to replace federal cuts to Planned Parenthood and Maine Family Planning, and called for universal healthcare as 'an idea whose time has definitely come.' She also highlighted Medicaid expansion providing access to nearly 230,000 people.

Governor Kehoe signed an executive order establishing the Advanced Nuclear Energy Task Force but his healthcare focus centered on announcing support for the Rural Health Transformation Program and government efficiency measures including Medicaid reform.

Governor Armstrong dedicated his entire special session address to the $199 million first-year award from the Rural Health Transformation Program, noting nearly 75% of North Dakota's rural counties face primary care shortages. The plan focuses on four pillars: wellness promotion, workforce retention, expanding local access through telehealth and mobile clinics, and connecting technology and data. He emphasized the state would not build unsustainable programs, saying 'we are not constructing new buildings.'

Governor Pillen highlighted $141 million in savings at the Department of Health and Human Services and $30 million returned to taxpayers by cutting off ineligible Medicaid recipients collecting benefits from other states. He emphasized Medicaid work requirements and positioned the state as a leader in the 'Make America Healthy Again' movement.

Governor Ayotte highlighted New Hampshire ranking #1 for healthcare and #1 for Medicaid mental health services nationally. She described the GO-NORTH initiative for rural healthcare, emphasizing telehealth expansion, prevention-first models, community access points through schools and libraries, and rural health workforce investments. She also noted the state fully funded the developmental disability waitlist and maintained strong Medicaid eligibility levels.

Governor Lujan Grisham proposed comprehensive healthcare reforms including medical malpractice reform, healthcare licensing compacts, eliminating gross receipts tax on medical services, and building UNM's medical school to double enrollment. She highlighted the $130 million Rural Health Care Delivery Fund and noted the state covered additional New Mexicans through ACA plans after federal subsidy elimination. She also called for modernized civil commitment laws for those with mental illness and addiction.

Governor Hochul announced plans to protect healthcare for 1.3 million New Yorkers from federal cuts, including vaccine access. She proposed a first-in-the-nation law requiring 3D printers to include software blocking gun manufacturing. She also expanded mental health units on subways and announced new protections including the nation's strongest gun laws and social media safety measures for children.

Governor Stitt called for sending the marijuana issue back to voters to 'shut it down,' characterizing the medical marijuana industry as plagued by 'cartel activity, human trafficking, and foreign influence.' He also emphasized reducing Medicaid spending, noting it is projected to consume 37% of the annual budget ($6 billion) within 10 years, and called for work requirements and voter approval to adjust Medicaid expansion.

Governor Shapiro noted his administration fought back against federal attempts to withhold healthcare funding for rural communities and won in court. He mentioned continued investment in violence prevention and community safety as connected to public health outcomes.

Governor McKee announced $156 million in federal funding to transform healthcare in 18 communities, significantly expanding primary care, behavioral health, and opioid overdose prevention. He proposed $9.5 million for a new Marketplace Affordability program to protect 20,000 Rhode Islanders at risk of losing HealthSource RI coverage, $10 million to boost hospital support, and nearly $20 million for Medicaid compliance. He also doubled the state grant to the Community Food Bank and added funding for Planned Parenthood.

Governor McMaster described the most significant government restructuring in over 30 years, dissolving the commission-run departments of Health, Mental Health, and Disabilities and reconstituting them as gubernatorial cabinet agencies. He highlighted the creation of the new Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities and reported these new agencies are now 'collaborating, communicating and cooperating' to modernize healthcare access.

Governor Rhoden announced South Dakota received $189 million in federal Rural Health Transformation funding — higher than the $100 million per year expected. The plan focuses on workforce development, Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, regional EMS hubs, and integrating behavioral health into primary care. He emphasized the state would not create unsustainable programs, urging quick legislative authorization to potentially be 'the first state in the nation to authorize this funding.'

Governor Lee announced Tennessee will receive more than $1 billion over five years through the Rural Health Transformation Fund. He made an aggressive case for scope-of-practice reform, asking why pharmacists can't treat strep throat and why nurse practitioners must close when a supervising physician leaves. He called for finishing Certificate of Need reform, noting these laws have 'turned away nearly $1.5 billion in healthcare investment.' He also proposed $25 million more for the state's Nuclear Fund to support energy independence.

Governor-elect (now Governor) highlighted plans to 'contend with an impending healthcare crisis by protecting healthcare access, cracking down on the middlemen who are driving up drug prices, and making sure Virginians aren't going into spiraling medical debt because of a single emergency.' She also pledged to address the mental health crisis and addiction.

Governor Scott's address focused primarily on education reform but noted the importance of addressing healthcare accessibility and affordability challenges in the context of overall state budget pressures.

Governor Ferguson announced Washington would join the West Coast Health Alliance with other governors to ensure continued science-based health recommendations after CDC policy shifts. He proposed legislation to shift vaccine recommendations from federal committees to the Washington State Department of Health. He also noted partnerships with Senator Krishnadasan and bipartisan legislators on this effort.

Governor Evers warned that over 270,000 Wisconsinites will lose healthcare due to the federal 'Big Beautiful Bill' and the failure to extend ACA tax credits. He shared the story of Kim, a Green Bay small business owner whose coverage increased 500%, and criticized the approach of making Americans 'healthy again' while making healthcare unaffordable. He also announced Wisconsin would join the WHO's Global Response Network via executive order.

Governor Morrisey announced West Virginia received $199 million from the Rural Health Transformation Program, with nearly $1 billion expected over five years — the highest per-capita award among surrounding states. He called for prevention-focused legislation including physician nutrition education, new dietary guidelines, and reinstating the Presidential Fitness test. He also reported a nearly 40% decline in drug overdose deaths and proposed the 'Bring Them Home Fund' with $6 million to return foster children from out-of-state care facilities.

Governor Gordon highlighted that expectant Wyoming mothers are finding 'fewer and fewer places that offer experienced obstetrics care,' calling it unacceptable for a pro-life state. He recommended increasing ongoing Medicaid funding for OB services, behavioral health, and in-home health providers. He noted Wyoming was among the first accepted into the Rural Health Transformation Program, with a focus on obstetric services, workforce development, and Emergency Management Services.