On June 24, 2015, the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee is holding a hearing to examine the Obama Administration’s approval of Medicaid demonstration projects. According to a background memo, the panel will focus on the following questions:
- To what degree does CMS consistently apply its criteria for assessing Medicaid demonstration proposals? How were these criteria developed?
- What are the types of State programs being funded with Federal Medicaid dollars under demonstrations? How do they advance Medicaid objectives?
- What is the overall net effect of Medicaid demonstrations on Federal expenditures?
- How does the uncertainty a State experiences with the waiver application and approval process hamper State innovations in benefit and plan designs?
- How the demonstration process can be improved and reformed to be more transparent, predictable, and accountable to Medicaid patients, taxpayers, States, and other stakeholders?