Charlie Thaxton
@cthaxtonchcs.bsky.social
Comms and editorial @chcshealth.bsky.social. Posting about Medicaid, health/well-being/flourishing, (in)equality, and sometimes U.S. history, books, dadhood. Mainer in Philly. Views expressed here are my own.
Interesting model for those in the #SUD/health fields: sobering centers can help mitigate the costs associated with drug use/intoxication, track people into long-term treatment, and conserve resources for ERs and law enforcement. Learn more on this call 12/4.
How can local communities collaborate to support effective sobering centers? This webinar will share insights from a national expert on sobering centers alongside frontline sobering center staff in California. @chcfnews.bsky.social bit.ly/3WMd52S
Developing and Sustaining Sobering Centers: Perspectives from California - Center for Health Care Strategies
Sobering centers are short-term facilities that offer a safe environment for people under the influence of drugs or alcohol to recover. Often operating 24/7, these programs typically provide rest, mea...
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November 14, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Interesting model for those in the #SUD/health fields: sobering centers can help mitigate the costs associated with drug use/intoxication, track people into long-term treatment, and conserve resources for ERs and law enforcement. Learn more on this call 12/4.
In addition to Medicare, state #Medicaid agencies will soon have the ability to offer GLP-1 drugs for obesity at $245 a mo/dose. Will be interesting to see how this lands with the states, given the many tough decisions they're currently navigating. www.axios.com/2025/11/06/m...
Trump says Medicare can now cover weight loss drugs like Ozempic
The pilot program could make it easier for seniors to use drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound.
www.axios.com
November 6, 2025 at 5:56 PM
In addition to Medicare, state #Medicaid agencies will soon have the ability to offer GLP-1 drugs for obesity at $245 a mo/dose. Will be interesting to see how this lands with the states, given the many tough decisions they're currently navigating. www.axios.com/2025/11/06/m...
Reposted by Charlie Thaxton
States are expanding their Beneficiary Advisory Councils (BACs) to elevate Medicaid member voices. Evaluating these efforts helps ensure BACs are effective and responsive to member needs. bit.ly/3Lfhr01
Medicaid Beneficiary Advisory Councils: A Guide to Evaluating Process and Impact - Center for Health Care Strategies
This tool presents strategies and examples to help states effectively integrate evaluation approaches into their BAC programs.
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November 4, 2025 at 5:18 PM
States are expanding their Beneficiary Advisory Councils (BACs) to elevate Medicaid member voices. Evaluating these efforts helps ensure BACs are effective and responsive to member needs. bit.ly/3Lfhr01
"Our findings suggest a protective effect of Medicaid expansion on early-stage cancer diagnoses during the COVID-19 pandemic and public health emergency..." academic.oup.com/jnci/advance...
Medicaid expansion and cancer stage at diagnoses during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
AbstractBackground. Substantial cancer underdiagnosis, especially early-stage cancers, occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Medicaid
academic.oup.com
October 21, 2025 at 1:32 PM
"Our findings suggest a protective effect of Medicaid expansion on early-stage cancer diagnoses during the COVID-19 pandemic and public health emergency..." academic.oup.com/jnci/advance...
Reposted by Charlie Thaxton
Webinar 10/22: Learn from Maine and North Dakota about their approaches to designing and recruiting #Medicaid members for their Beneficiary Advisory Councils. bit.ly/3KeW8Lk
Engaging Medicaid Members and Community-Based Organizations Through Beneficiary Advisory Councils - Center for Health Care Strategies
This webinar will share key lessons from the BAC Learning and Action series, highlighting state experiences in developing BAC structures, recruitment strategies, charters and bylaws, and compensation ...
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October 20, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Webinar 10/22: Learn from Maine and North Dakota about their approaches to designing and recruiting #Medicaid members for their Beneficiary Advisory Councils. bit.ly/3KeW8Lk
The nexus of #Medicaid funded care, #MOUD, and #reentry is a huge opportunity to save lives and improve criminal justice outcomes at the same time. That, and other important strategies highlighted here. www.healthaffairs.org/content/fore...
Going Local: Opportunities To Address The Opioid And Overdose Crisis In Communities | Health Affairs Forefront
By learning the lessons of previous successes, increasing access to treatment, supporting those in recovery, and strengthening local data systems, we can save lives and accelerate the downward traject...
www.healthaffairs.org
October 16, 2025 at 1:15 PM
The nexus of #Medicaid funded care, #MOUD, and #reentry is a huge opportunity to save lives and improve criminal justice outcomes at the same time. That, and other important strategies highlighted here. www.healthaffairs.org/content/fore...
Reposted by Charlie Thaxton
#Medicaid covers ~15 million people with disabilities, yet many disabled people still face persistent barriers to accessing the health care they need. This blog post highlights 3 opportunities for state action. bit.ly/4mPEL1b
Three Opportunities for States to Improve Health Care for Medicaid Members with Disabilities - CHCS Blog
This blog post highlights three opportunities for state action, drawn from insights shared during the convening.
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October 15, 2025 at 4:11 PM
#Medicaid covers ~15 million people with disabilities, yet many disabled people still face persistent barriers to accessing the health care they need. This blog post highlights 3 opportunities for state action. bit.ly/4mPEL1b
Reposted by Charlie Thaxton
Tomorrow, 2 - 3:15pm ET, CHCS will host three behavioral health care experts to explore state policy solutions — training and education, flexible licensing, reduced admin burden — to grow and retain the #Medicaid behavioral health care workforce. bit.ly/4gd70VY
Innovative Medicaid Strategies to Enhance the Behavioral Health Care Workforce - Center for Health Care Strategies
This virtual panel will highlight state Medicaid policy levers to strengthen the behavioral health workforce.
bit.ly
October 6, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Tomorrow, 2 - 3:15pm ET, CHCS will host three behavioral health care experts to explore state policy solutions — training and education, flexible licensing, reduced admin burden — to grow and retain the #Medicaid behavioral health care workforce. bit.ly/4gd70VY
States are quickly putting together their applications for the Rural Health Transformation Program this month. We're putting together a number of #Medicaid strategies they can use to expand access, build and bolster their workforces, and ensure long-term sustainability. #RuralHealth
For states preparing Rural Health Transformation Program applications, a new CHCS tip sheet series explores how Medicaid innovations could help address rural health care challenges. bit.ly/42oEVW6
Transforming Rural Health Care Through Medicaid Innovation - Center for Health Care Strategies
This tip sheet series explores how states can use Medicaid innovations to improve health care in rural communities.
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October 3, 2025 at 4:12 PM
States are quickly putting together their applications for the Rural Health Transformation Program this month. We're putting together a number of #Medicaid strategies they can use to expand access, build and bolster their workforces, and ensure long-term sustainability. #RuralHealth
Reposted by Charlie Thaxton
New, stricter federal work requirements are coming to #Medicaid and #SNAP. This brief shares strategies for coordinating implementation across the programs to help ensure benefit continuity & reduce administrative burden. bit.ly/4mO73JE
Aligning Work Requirements Across SNAP and Medicaid to Support Public Benefit Continuity - Center for Health Care Strategies
This brief compares key features of the work requirements in SNAP and Medicaid, and outlines strategies for state Medicaid agencies, SNAP-administering organizations, and other stakeholders to coordin...
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October 2, 2025 at 4:03 PM
New, stricter federal work requirements are coming to #Medicaid and #SNAP. This brief shares strategies for coordinating implementation across the programs to help ensure benefit continuity & reduce administrative burden. bit.ly/4mO73JE
Join us next Tuesday for an important conversation on state #Medicaid strategies on growing (and deepening, and retaining!) the behavioral health workforce. #MentalHealth #SUD
📢 Next week Tuesday, 2 - 3:15pm ET, CHCS will host 3 behavioral health care experts to explore state policy solutions — training & education, flexible licensing, reduced admin burden — to grow & retain the #Medicaid behavioral health care workforce. bit.ly/4gd70VY
Innovative Medicaid Strategies to Enhance the Behavioral Health Care Workforce - Center for Health Care Strategies
This virtual panel will highlight state Medicaid policy levers to strengthen the behavioral health workforce.
bit.ly
October 1, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Join us next Tuesday for an important conversation on state #Medicaid strategies on growing (and deepening, and retaining!) the behavioral health workforce. #MentalHealth #SUD
Reposted by Charlie Thaxton
💡Working to improve #Medicaid? Visit CHCS’ new Evidence-to-Action Hub. The evidence, tools, and policy insights to turn evidence into impact. 👉 bit.ly/4ps8z6I
Evidence-to-Action Hub - Center for Health Care Strategies
Explore demonstrated and emerging evidence on priority topics critical to improve care for people served by Medicaid.
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September 23, 2025 at 4:04 PM
💡Working to improve #Medicaid? Visit CHCS’ new Evidence-to-Action Hub. The evidence, tools, and policy insights to turn evidence into impact. 👉 bit.ly/4ps8z6I
Reposted by Charlie Thaxton
Join CHCS 10/22 for a conversation with state #Medicaid staff, Medicaid members + community organizations on the design and potential for new Beneficiary Advisory Councils to incorporate member voice into program and policymaking. bit.ly/3KeW8Lk
Engaging Medicaid Members and Community-Based Organizations Through Beneficiary Advisory Councils - Center for Health Care Strategies
This webinar will share key lessons from the BAC Learning and Action series, highlighting state experiences in developing BAC structures, recruitment strategies, charters and bylaws, and compensation ...
bit.ly
September 22, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Join CHCS 10/22 for a conversation with state #Medicaid staff, Medicaid members + community organizations on the design and potential for new Beneficiary Advisory Councils to incorporate member voice into program and policymaking. bit.ly/3KeW8Lk
New piece outlining key cross-agency connections #Medicaid agencies can make to comply with federal work requirements policy and avoid member coverage loss.
#Medicaid agencies can collaborate with other state agencies not only to comply with new federal work requirements but also to connect members with important opportunities, while aligning systems to support efficiency and accuracy. Learn more: bit.ly/41TCZVl
Strengthening Cross-Agency Collaboration Across Medicaid and Other State Partners to Support Work Requirements Implementation - Center for Health Care Strategies
This brief outlines opportunities for Medicaid agencies to collaborate with partners in labor, education, corrections, SNAP, TANF, and other agencies to successfully address implementation challenges ...
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September 18, 2025 at 4:56 PM
New piece outlining key cross-agency connections #Medicaid agencies can make to comply with federal work requirements policy and avoid member coverage loss.
Important conversation coming up next month on #Medicaid and the behavioral health care #workforce. Join us!
In an upcoming panel, 10/7, 2 – 3:15 pm ET, leading behavioral health care experts from California, Oregon, and Massachusetts will explore state #Medicaid policy levers to expand, extend, and retain the behavioral health care workforce. bit.ly/4gd70VY
Innovative Medicaid Strategies to Enhance the Behavioral Health Care Workforce - Center for Health Care Strategies
This virtual panel will highlight state Medicaid policy levers to strengthen the behavioral health workforce.
bit.ly
September 10, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Important conversation coming up next month on #Medicaid and the behavioral health care #workforce. Join us!
School-based health centers offer a valuable opportunity to meet kids where they are. Most offer both primary and behavioral health care, and state #Medicaid agencies can play a big role in helping connect and coordinate school systems, providers, and community orgs.
One effective way to ensure children receive health services is by bringing care to where they spend much of their time: schools. This blog post explores Medicaid opportunities to support school-based health services for #Medicaid eligible children. bit.ly/45Fuo9T @rwjf.org
Improving Access to Children’s Preventive Care: Medicaid Opportunities in School Settings - CHCS Blog
Ensuring that children and adolescents have the necessary support for their growth and development is crucial for their long-term health and well-being. One effective way to ensure children and adoles...
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September 2, 2025 at 7:44 PM
School-based health centers offer a valuable opportunity to meet kids where they are. Most offer both primary and behavioral health care, and state #Medicaid agencies can play a big role in helping connect and coordinate school systems, providers, and community orgs.
Super interesting. Much critical ink has been spilled about inflation in mental health diagnosis, the risk of patients overidentifying with diagnosis, etc. This is an interesting, countervailing take: simply equipping someone with the lang. to describe their experience has a therapeutic effect.
For a condensed version and accessible summary of the article, see our blogpost:
www.psychiatrymargins.com/p/the-rumpel...
www.psychiatrymargins.com/p/the-rumpel...
The Rumpelstiltskin Effect: Meet the Name for the Relief a Diagnosis Brings
The healing power of diagnosis gets a befitting name.
www.psychiatrymargins.com
August 22, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Super interesting. Much critical ink has been spilled about inflation in mental health diagnosis, the risk of patients overidentifying with diagnosis, etc. This is an interesting, countervailing take: simply equipping someone with the lang. to describe their experience has a therapeutic effect.
Congrats to our latest Medicaid Leadership Institute class. These #Medicaid leaders will work together, trade strategies, build knowledge, and strengthen their skills to serve their communities in the years ahead.
Welcome #MedicaidLeadershipInstitute Class of 2026! Congratulations to #Medicaid directors from AS, DE, KS, NE, NV, and OR. bit.ly/4g1kjJf @rwjf.org
Medicaid Leadership Institute Welcomes Six New Directors to Its 15th Cohort - Center for Health Care Strategies
This national initiative strengthens the leadership capacity of Medicaid directors and their teams to advance policy that positively impacts the health of their states’ residents.
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August 19, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Congrats to our latest Medicaid Leadership Institute class. These #Medicaid leaders will work together, trade strategies, build knowledge, and strengthen their skills to serve their communities in the years ahead.
CMS' newly required BACs have their work cut out for them! With so many changes coming to #Medicaid in the coming months and years, it's crucial to listen to (and implement) the experience and advice of the people receiving care.
State #Medicaid agencies can use this new framework to help meet CMS requirements for Beneficiary Advisory Councils and cultivate a forum for collaborative, transparent, and effective member engagement. bit.ly/4fGqBxI
Beneficiary Advisory Council Engagement Framework: A Guide to Strengthening Medicaid Member Collaboration - Center for Health Care Strategies
This practical resource details guiding principles, real-world examples, and actionable steps to promote meaningful Medicaid member engagement.
bit.ly
August 14, 2025 at 4:21 PM
CMS' newly required BACs have their work cut out for them! With so many changes coming to #Medicaid in the coming months and years, it's crucial to listen to (and implement) the experience and advice of the people receiving care.
As the school year approaches, it's even more important for #Medicaid and school systems to collaborate to deliver effective preventative care to kids. The EPSDT benefit is among Medicaid's most comprehensive. We gathered five strategies to maximize Medicaid-school collaboration for child health.
#Medicaid agencies and their partners can leverage school settings to prevent disease and identify conditions at an early stage. This blog post explores five key strategies for states to strengthen pediatric screenings in schools. bit.ly/4ez5o85
Five Ways Medicaid Can Strengthen Pediatric Screenings Through School-Based Health Care - CHCS Blog
For children who face challenges accessing health care, school may be the most consistent — or only — place where they can receive essential health services. School-based health care, whether delivere...
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August 7, 2025 at 2:22 PM
As the school year approaches, it's even more important for #Medicaid and school systems to collaborate to deliver effective preventative care to kids. The EPSDT benefit is among Medicaid's most comprehensive. We gathered five strategies to maximize Medicaid-school collaboration for child health.
States face a complex task ahead in implementing new federal #Medicaid work requirements. This new CHCS Policy Cheat Sheet offers a big picture summary of timelines, impacted populations, exemption categories, and more. www.chcs.org/resource/a-s...
A Summary of National Medicaid Work Requirements - Center for Health Care Strategies
This policy cheat sheet synthesizes key details of the new federal Medicaid work requirements, including timeline, populations impacted, exemption categories, and more.
www.chcs.org
August 5, 2025 at 1:51 PM
States face a complex task ahead in implementing new federal #Medicaid work requirements. This new CHCS Policy Cheat Sheet offers a big picture summary of timelines, impacted populations, exemption categories, and more. www.chcs.org/resource/a-s...
For the "good-things-can-still-happen" file: new bipartisan housing bill features home repair provision with Philly origins. 👍🏠
Whole-Home Repairs is a step closer to becoming a national model. With @ace-innamorato.bsky.social, my team and I designed the program to keep families in their homes, to lower utility costs in the face of extreme weather, and to drive public dollars toward our most acute needs.
A bipartisan Senate housing bill includes a national version of a Pa. home repair program
Sen. John Fetterman has sought to replicate state Sen. Nikil Saval’s Whole Home Repairs policy, which created a grant program for homeowners and small landlords to fix their properties.
www.inquirer.com
August 4, 2025 at 8:32 PM
For the "good-things-can-still-happen" file: new bipartisan housing bill features home repair provision with Philly origins. 👍🏠
New twist in the ongoing will they/won't they saga for Medicaid/Medicare and GLP-1s. www.reuters.com/business/hea...
US plans to test Medicare, Medicaid coverage for weight-loss drugs, Washington Post reports
The Trump administration is considering a five-year pilot program to cover weight-loss drugs under Medicare and Medicaid, the Washington Post reported on Friday, citing documents from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
www.reuters.com
August 1, 2025 at 3:31 PM
New twist in the ongoing will they/won't they saga for Medicaid/Medicare and GLP-1s. www.reuters.com/business/hea...
Tomorrow! 2-3 PM ET: Join three CHCSers for an important conversation hosted by @annieecaseyfdn.bsky.social on #Medicaid's growing role in the juvenile justice system. www.aecf.org/blog/what-yo...
Webinar: What Youth Justice Leaders Should Know About Medicaid
A webinar explores how to leverage Medicaid to support young people with justice system involvement. Register today.
www.aecf.org
July 28, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Tomorrow! 2-3 PM ET: Join three CHCSers for an important conversation hosted by @annieecaseyfdn.bsky.social on #Medicaid's growing role in the juvenile justice system. www.aecf.org/blog/what-yo...
Reposted by Charlie Thaxton
As the ADA marks its 35th anniversary this Saturday, explore how disability-competent primary care and #Medicaid payment levers can help reduce disparities and improve primary care for people with disabilities. #ADA35
Medicaid Payment Approaches to Strengthen Disability-Competent Primary Care - CHCS Blog
Having a specialist as your primary care physician (PCP) may seem unconventional, but for many individuals with disabilities, it is a practical and often necessary choice. In fact, some state Medicaid agencies and health plans have long-standing policies allowing specialists to serve as PCPs. The reason is straightforward: people with disabilities face significant barriers to... Read more »
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July 24, 2025 at 4:15 PM