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What if your health plan offered free surgery, but only by surgeons on its approved list? That’s the incentive behind a new program the North Carolina State Health Plan is rolling out for more than 700,000 teachers, state workers and their families. (Crouch, 3/9)

A bill that would have codified the right to reproductive health care services in New Hampshire — including contraception, abortion and assisted reproduction — was voted down 16-8 by the state Senate on Thursday. (Richardson, 3/6)

A plan to prohibit Coloradans from using food-assistance benefits to buy soda and sugary fruit juices was stalled Friday by a state board after opponents argued it was an overreach that could harm the dignity and autonomy of low-income families. (Brown, 3/6)

But many towns cannot afford the millions of dollars needed to upgrade their water systems with equipment to remove PFAS, and grants are limited. That means ratepayers could end up footing the bill. (Freitag, 3/8)

Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½Ò•îl Health News: Florida Hasn’t Expanded Medicaid. Lawmakers Want To Add Work Requirements Anyway

In states that have long refused to expand Medicaid to more low-income adults, people in the program aren’t subject to new rules under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act requiring them to prove they’re working in order to get and keep coverage. That’s not stopping Florida lawmakers from trying to adopt Medicaid work requirements anyway. It’s the only legislative body in a nonexpansion state to even consider it so far. (Chang, 3/9)

Advocates know Maryland lawmakers are working with a tight budget this year, but worry that another year without rate increases for behavioral health professionals will worsen a 34,000-person workforce shortage and threaten the services that struggling Marylanders need. (Brown, 3/6)

Gov. Mark Gordon recently announced a handful of free trainings this month to help Wyomingites learn how to support people who are struggling with suicidal thoughts. (Habermann, 3/6)