MA’s New Maternal Health Care Access Law, NJ’s Elimination of $100M in Medical Debt & More

MA Expands Access to Maternal Health Care

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healy (D) signed legislation (HB 4999) expanding access to maternal health services in the state. Among other things, the measure provides for the licensing of midwives—reducing the number of states without licensed midwives to 11—as well as mandates coverage of midwives and doulas under Medicaid. (MASSLIVE)

NJ Erasing $100M of Residents’ Medical Debt

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) said the state, in partnership with the charitable organization Undue Medical Debt, was using leftover federal pandemic relief money to eliminate $100 million in medical debt for an estimated 50,000 residents. Those residents included 17,905 individuals who owed $61.6 million to Prime Healthcare hospitals and 31,748 individuals who owed over $38.4 million to other providers and debt collectors. (NJ ADVANCE MEDIA)

MS Weighing Future PBM Legislation

The Mississippi House Prescription Drug Policy Taskforce held its second hearing on pharmacy benefit managers. The committee plans to hold several more hearings later this year before recommending a course of action for the legislature. A bill aimed at regulating PBMs died this year over concerns from the banking industry that it would raise business costs. (CLARION-LEDGER)

—Compiled by SNCJ Managing Editor KOREY CLARK

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