Gov. Mark Gordon (R) announced that, last month, the state submitted a SNAP [Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program] Food Restriction Demonstration Waiver to the US Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service, marking a significant step toward strengthening nutrition outcomes for Wyoming families. Approved under Executive Order 2025-07, the waiver proposes a phased approach to limiting the purchase of certain non-nutritive items with SNAP benefits, beginning with sweetened, carbonated beverages in the first year, followed by candy in the second.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.

The state will receive $205 million in federal funding as part of CMS’ Rural Healthcare Transformation Program. The state’s funds will help cover chronic disease prevention and behavioral health; sustain Critical Care Access hospitals; sustain access to labor and delivery services in rural communities; innovative approaches to care delivery and payment models; workforce development and training; technological and consumer health solutions; and IT advances and technical assistance. To address concerns regarding sustainability, the state proposed the establishment of the “Wyoming Health Transformation Perpetuity”, designed to generate long-term revenue and establish auditing and reporting requirements. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.

The state announced the submission of its application to CMS for the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program. The application outlines the state's plan to use the funding to address the biggest health challenges identified by rural Wyoming communities through 11 local town hall meetings and prioritized through an online survey with over 1,300 responses.  

Also in Wyoming, Gov. Mark Gordon (R) recently issued Executive Order (2025-07) directing the Department of Family Services (DFS) to begin the process of submitting a waiver request to restrict the use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for the purchase of certain foods that offer little or no nutritional value, such as sugary beverages and candy. 

Finally in Wyoming, Gov. Mark Gordon (R) recently declared a Public Welfare Emergency and issued an Executive Order (2025-08) authorizing up to $10 million in state emergency funds to ensure Wyoming families continue to have access to food if federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) dollars run out due to the federal government shutdown.  

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.

Gov. Mark Gordon (R) along with Department of Health Director Stefan Johansson continue to seek citizen input regarding the state’s Rural Health Transformation Program through an online survey. The survey runs October 8 through October 15. Results will inform the state’s application and determine which directions the State should pursue in transforming rural health.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.

The Department of Health is conducting a series of public meetings to gather input on rural healthcare challenges, strengths and opportunities.  Please note, later this fall, the Department of Health will release a statewide survey to collect additional input and help refine Wyoming's priorities for the application.  These engagement opportunities will be posted to the Department of Health site for this project. 

Also in Wyoming, the Department of Health announced, effective September 2, Jesse Springer has been appointed the state's Interim State Medicaid Agent and Senior Administrator for the Division of Health Care Financing. This division oversees Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).  

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.

The Department of Health (WDH) confirmed a third case of measles in an unvaccinated adult from Carbon County.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.

The Department of Health confirmed a second, unrelated case of measles in an unvaccinated child from Natrona County.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.

The Department of Health confirmed a case of measles in an unvaccinated child from Natrona County. This case is the first reported in the state since 2010.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.

Gov. Mark Gordon (R) announced the appointment of Ryan Schelhaas as interim Attorney General beginning May 28. Schelhaas’ appointment follows the departure of Attorney General Bridget Hill, who will join the Wyoming Supreme Court as its newest justice. Schelhaas joined the Wyoming Attorney General’s office in 2003, and he has served as Chief Deputy Attorney General since 2019. He previously spent more than a decade in the Civil Division of the Attorney General’s office including as both Deputy and Section Supervisor. Before joining the Attorney General’s Office, Schelhaas worked as a civil litigator at Hirst Applegate in Cheyenne. Schelhaas earned his Bachelors and Juris Doctorate degrees from the University of Wyoming. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.