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Health costs account for about one-third of state budgets, ranging from financing Medicaid, to paying for state employees and other populations, such as prisoners. State legislatures make thousands of health policy decisions each year, including improving access to appropriate care, determining who should be immunized, licensing health professionals and facilities, and supporting or rejecting initiatives to keep people healthy. NCSL provides health reports and updates covering 40-plus topics.

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Introduction to Medicaid

An introduction to the Medicaid program and what makes it different from the Children’s Health Insurance Program and Medicare.
Health
Table

State Vaccine Requirements for College Entry

State systems of higher education can require proof of immunization against other diseases covered by routine childhood vaccinations like measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis.
Health
Table

State Contraception Policies

States expand upon federal requirements to address access to contraception through various policy levers, including insurance requirements, scope of practice modifications for advanced practice clinicians and pharmacists and other provider requirements.
Health
Table

5 Prescription Drug Policy Trends to Watch in 2025

Among the tens of thousands of bills that will be filed in the coming weeks as legislatures return to work, close to a thousand are likely to address the cost and availability of prescription drugs. Here are five prescription drug policy trends to watch in 2025.

Health
State Legislatures News

NCSL Prescription Drug Policy Resource Center

The NCSL Prescription Drug Policy Resource Center is a collection of information—including articles, webpages, podcasts, briefs, and a bill-tracking database—developed specifically for legislators and staff.
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