• District of Columbia: HHS on Monday finalized new rules that will prevent health plans and providers from disclosing protected health information regarding a patient's reproductive care to state officials. The rule aims to protect both patients' and doctors' information in abortion-restrictive states, especially regarding out-of-state travel to receive care. "No one should have to live in fear that their conversations with their doctor or that their medical claims data might be used to target or track them for seeking lawful reproductive health care," said Melanie Fontes Rainer, director of HHS' Office for Civil Rights. (Reed, Axios, 4/22; Owermohle, STAT, 4/22; Frieden, MedPage Today, 4/22)
• Maryland: CMS has issued a proposal to collect greenhouse gas emissions data from hospitals as the healthcare industry faces pressure to reduce its carbon footprint. The healthcare system produces 8.5% of all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, a third of which comes from hospitals. As part of the proposal, a select group of hospitals would voluntarily report emissions metrics to CMS. Hospital payment would not be affected by the reports, but hospitals would receive individualized feedback to help reduce emissions, as well as recognition from HHS. Cutting emissions to "make sure that disasters don't get worse and worse and more frequent" is equally as important as making sure hospitals are ready to respond to climate disasters, said John Balbus, director of the HHS Office of Climate Change and Health Equity. (Goldman, Axios, 4/22)
• Maryland: CMS on Monday issued two rules intended to increase transparency and improve patient experience for enrollees of Medicaid managed care plans. The rules will require states and Medicaid insurers to survey managed care beneficiaries about their experience with insurance companies and annually report how carriers spend state-directed payments to providers, as well as how those rates compare to Medicare. The rule also requires states to create "one-stop-shop" websites allowing enrollees to compare the quality ratings of Medicaid managed care plans. CMS also issued the Ensuring Access to Medicaid Services rule, which will require home care providers to direct 80% of Medicaid payments to wages for aides and nurses, and will require states to be more transparent regarding how they pay for home- and community-based services and how rates are set. (Tepper, Modern Healthcare, 4/22; Eastabrook, Modern Healthcare, 4/22)

Maternal and reproductive healthcare is rapidly changing. Health leaders must grapple with worsening maternal health disparities, the nationwide maternal mental health crisis, lasting impacts of the Dobbs v. Jackson  ruling, and the rise of femtech disruptors. Download our report to learn about four key drivers reshaping maternal and reproductive healthcare delivery.