Company Blog

At this week’s Illinois Association of Medicaid Health Plans conference, Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) Director Lizzy Whitehorn described HR 1’s legislation as “the biggest rollback to Medicaid since it began.” The federal changes facing Medicaid will reshape access, funding, and the future of care for millions - with Illinois particularly exposed to major fiscal and operational shifts.

With the federal government shutdown, many states are unable to offer partial or full SNAP/EBT benefits next month, leaving families without support for essentials like baby formula. At Fortuna Health, our focus has always been doing what’s right for the Medicaid beneficiary and their family. That’s why we’re providing a free week of baby formula to households we serve with a child aged one year or younger.

As states prepare for the 2027 rollout of Medicaid work requirements under OBBBA, collaboration between state agencies and managed care plans will be critical to prevent coverage loss. Drawing lessons from the Public Health Emergency unwinding, this brief explores how data sharing, outreach, and technology can make compliance more accessible, along with how partners like Fortuna Health can help streamline the process for both members and policymakers.

Melissa Sherry, PhD, MPH, Staff VP, Social and Community Health, Elevance Health discusses her strategy experience addressing whole health and interventions to improve population health. With a background across healthcare sectors, she discusses activating a whole health approach.

Nissa Shaffi, Associate Director of Policy at ACHP, brings a wealth of experience addressing healthcare disparities and shaping Medicaid and ACA policies. In this Q&A, we walk through her journey from patient advocacy to national policy leadership, discuss ACHP’s efforts to support community health plans, and highlight ACHP initiatives like coordination for dual-eligible populations and financial stability for rural health plans.

Jolene, Assistant Commissioner at the Minnesota Department of Corrections, shares insights from her 15-year career addressing disparities for justice-involved individuals. This Q&A focuses on programming from peer recovery support to partnerships with other agencies to improve reentry success.

Effective October 2024, NY implemented financial assistance laws aimed at healthcare providers. These rules mandate clear, accessible Medicaid and financial assistance policies for uninsured and underinsured individuals.

Nick, VP of Partnerships at Sprinter, discusses how their unique in-home care model engages underserved members and closes care gaps. With a focus on preventive care, Sprinter leverages its matching technology to connect patients to community-based clinicians based on licensure, skills/expertise, availability, and geography.

Kate, CFO at Benevis, shares her passion for expanding access to quality dental care for underserved communities, particularly those covered by Medicaid. With a background across healthcare sectors, she sees dental care as a vital piece of preventive health, helping reduce emergency visits for treatable dental issues.

While U.S. citizens and certain eligible immigrants can qualify for Medicaid, most undocumented immigrants are not eligible for standard Medicaid coverage. On the other hand, undocumented seniors and children may be covered in special instances.