Currently, at least 24 bills in nine states focus on transgender patients, and four states in 2023 have legalized restrictions on gender-affirming care.

In response to rising COVID-19 cases, California, Connecticut, and New Mexico will require health care workers to receive a vaccine booster shot.

For the second time during the COVID-19 public health emergency, New Mexico enacted crisis standards of care to address critical workforce shortages. The state is experiencing a drastic shortage of health care workers as it battles provider burnout and higher wages offered in other states.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is supporting vaccination sites in 19 states and U.S. territories. States vary in their approaches to distribute COVID-19 vaccines to children; some are prioritizing subpopulations of children while others are involving child health stakeholders in planning.

Many states — including Iowa, New Mexico, North Dakota, and Oregon — implement new restrictions as hospitalizations for COVID-19 reach a record high.

States are expanding requirements for hospitals to report their bed capacity and supply inventory, and readying facilities to expand capacity to treat patients with COVID-19. CMS has approved Section 1135 waivers for 38 states.

Leaders in Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, and Wisconsin have expressed interest in allowing individuals who cannot afford private health insurance to buy into the Medicaid program if they are otherwise ineligible.