Health and Human Services
The bipartisan, interstate and binational Midwestern Legislative Conference Health and Human Services Committee provides a forum for state and provincial legislators to exchange information and ideas on a wide range of policy issues, particularly those identified by the committee’s legislative officers and members. Activities include ongoing policy research, committee-sponsored webinars for legislators and legislative staff, and in-person meetings.
The committee will next meet on Aug. 30 in Saint Paul, Minn., as part of the 2026 MLC Annual Meeting.
About the committee and its work
The committee is made up of legislators from the states and provinces that are part of CSG’s Midwestern Legislative Conference. The committee’s composition changes every biennium, with appointments made by legislative appointing authorities and leaders of the MLC. In 2025 and 2026, Illinois Rep. Anna Moeller and South Dakota Rep. Taylor Rehfeldt are serving as co-chairs; Iowa Rep. Brett Barker is the vice chair. The CSG Midwest staff liaison for the committee is Tim Anderson.
Here is an overview of the work being done through the MLC Health & Human Services Committee:
- Hosting a fall 2026 policy workshop for Midwestern legislators on ideas for reimagining and improving state child welfare systems
- Meeting and leading policy sessions at the MLC Annual Meeting in 2025 in Saskatchewan and in 2026 in Saint Paul, Minn.
- Convening legislators and other state leaders for a series of web-based learning opportunities on youth mental health, health services for the victims of crime, and the use of Medicaid dollars to reduce recidivism
- Providing a state-by-state regional analysis on the fiscal impacts of HR 1 on administration of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
- Providing a analysis on the impacts of HR 1 on Medicaid and new state laws being adopted in 2026.
Details on 2026 meeting in Saint Paul
The next in-person meeting of the Health & Human Services Committee will take place on Aug. 30, 2026, on the first day of The Council of State Governments’ Midwestern Legislative Conference Annual Meeting in Saint Paul, Minn. The committee meeting runs from 9:30-11 a.m. Participating legislators will explore the future of state Medicaid finance and policy during this crucial period for the public health insurance program. They will discuss other notable developments and ideas on health policy as well.
Dr. Robert Wachter
This year’s MLC Annual Meeting, which runs over four days starting Aug. 30, also will feature sessions on health care cost containment, rural health care in the Midwest, mental health, child welfare policy, and options for states to protect the data and privacy of health consumers.
And in a keynote address, leading physician and author Dr. Robert Wachter will share groundbreaking findings and lessons for legislators from his new book “A Giant Leap: How AI is Transforming Healthcare and What That Means for Our Future.”
November 2026 workshop on child welfare policy
In partnership with Casey Family Programs, the Midwestern Legislative Conference Health & Human Services Committee will hold a workshop for legislators that focuses on improving child welfare systems as well as outcomes for children and families. This event will be held in the Chicago area and is designed for Midwest legislators looking to help lead their states, in 2027 and beyond, on finding pathways to child welfare reform. A limited number of travel scholarships will be available.
Interested in attending? Please contact CSG Midwest’s Tim Anderson.
Webinar series on youth mental health
Early in 2026, the MLC Health & Human Services held a series of webinars for legislators and other state leaders on state laws, programs and investments that can improve youth mental health and strengthen suicide-prevention efforts. These events were held in collaboration with the American Association for the Advancement of Science Center for Scientific Evidence in Public Issues
Recordings of the webinars are available via the CSG Midwest Events page.
2025 meeting in Saskatchewan: Summary and resources
The HHS Committee met and led sessions in conjunction with the 2025 MLC Annual Meeting in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
Session on Future of Health Care Delivery
- “The Promise, Potential and Reality of Telehealth,” Dr. Jonathan Neufeld, Great Plains Telehealth Resource & Assistance Center
- Note: The presentation by Dr. Ivar Mendez of Saskatchewan’s Virtual Health Hub is not available. Learn more about the hub here.
Session on Family-Centered, Community-Based Approaches to Child Welfare
Reentry 2030 is a bold, state-led initiative to dramatically improve outcomes for people returning from incarceration and those under supervision. Launched by the CSG Justice Center, it provides a comprehensive framework to help states develop solutions for their unique needs. During this webinar, led by The Council of State Governments' Corrections & Public Safety Forum and CSG Justice Center, you learn more about Reentry 2030 and how your state can participate. This learning opportunity is designed for state legislators, legislative staff and other policy leaders; it is open to all.
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Legislators will have the opportunity to explore the future of state Medicaid finance and policy during this crucial period for the public health insurance program. Time also will be reserved for discussions on other notable developments and ideas on health policy.
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The accelerated rollout of the Rural Health Transformation Program has created both opportunities and challenges for state policymakers. This webinar provided an overview of how states are approaching implementation, oversight, and emerging strategies such as alternative payment models and value-based payment.
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This webinar explored the potential of state policies and investments that provide for an "upstream" approach to youth mental health and suicide prevention. This approach focuses on community-based interventions before the point of crisis, with the goals of creating safe environments and a sense of belonging for young people and preventing youth suicide.
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The result of a partnership between The Council of State Governments' Midwestern Legislative Conference and the AAAS Center for Scientific Evidence in Public Issues, this webinar featured insights from leading researchers on a critical issue for state policymakers — the impacts of technologies such as smart phones and generative AI on the well-being of young people.
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A partnership of The Council of State Governments, the CSG Midwestern Legislative Conference Health & Human Services Committee, and the AAAS Center for Scientific Evidence in Public Issues, this webinar gave state legislators and other policymakers the opportunity to hear from leading experts on youth mental health and suicide prevention. This learning opportunity gave participants information on how to translate evidence-based research into tangible strategies.
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This webinar helped state leaders understand how they can prepare for uncertainty and maintain crime-victim services even if federal funding, via the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), drops.
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As states face rising health care costs and evolving federal requirements, Medicaid is emerging as a key tool to support successful reentry for people after incarceration. This Aug. 20 webinar detailed new opportunities and policy options, and explored why now is a critical moment for state action.
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