On September 15, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued guidance to state Medicaid directors on how to advance value-based care (VBC) across their health care systems, with an emphasis on Medicaid populations, and how to share pathways for adoption of such approaches. Within the 33-page letter, CMS highlights the merits of … Continue Reading
On June 9, 2020, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced additional distributions from the CARES Act Provider Relief Fund to several groups of providers, totaling approximately $25 billion. $15 billion of these funds is targeted towards eligible Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) providers participating in state Medicaid and CHIP … Continue Reading
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced a controversial plan to allow states to apply to participate in a new Medicaid “Healthy Adult Opportunity” (HAO) Demonstration. In short, the HAO Demonstration will give participating states greater flexibility in the scope and administration of Medicaid benefits for certain beneficiary populations (i.e., the Affordable … Continue Reading
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released a Request for Information (RFI) on how the Medicaid program can incorporate out-of-state providers in coordinating care for children with certain medically complex conditions under Medicaid. The RFI is intended to help CMS implement a provision of the Medicaid Services Investment and Accountability Act of … Continue Reading
President Trump has signed into law a short-term continuing resolution that funds the federal government and extends certain expiring health care programs through December 20, 2019. With regard to health care programs, the measure (HR 3055) delays a scheduled $4 billion reduction in Medicaid disproportionate share hospital allotments until December 21, 2019 and extends the … Continue Reading
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed rescinding current procedural standards that must be met for states to demonstrate that Medicaid fee-for-service (FFS) payments are sufficient to assure beneficiary access to covered services. As we previously reported, regulations adopted in 2015 require states to establish and periodically update access monitoring review plans … Continue Reading
The House of Representatives has overwhelmingly approved H.R. 3253, the Empowering Beneficiaries, Ensuring Access, and Strengthening Accountability Act, which would finance extension of various Medicaid-related health programs by increasing manufacturer Medicaid drug rebate obligations. In terms of health programs, the legislation also would, among other things: Extend the “Money Follows The Person Rebalancing Demonstration” and … Continue Reading
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a draft guidance for state survey agencies on May 3, 2019, impacting hospitals that share space, staff, and/or services with another co-located hospital or health care entity. The draft builds on informally followed principles by CMS employees which emphasized that certain payment rules, like those for … Continue Reading
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is revoking the authority of states to “divert” certain Medicaid provider payments to a third party (rather than make the payment directly to the provider) to fund other costs on behalf of the provider “for benefits such as health insurance, skills training, and other benefits customary for … Continue Reading
The House and Senate have both approved H.R. 1839, the Medicaid Services Investment and Accountability Act of 2019, clearing it for President Trump’s signature. Notably, the legislation would: subject drug manufacturers to a new civil monetary penalty (CMP) for knowingly misclassifying or misreporting covered outpatient drugs under a Medicaid drug rebate agreement (such as by … Continue Reading
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is proposing to rescind the authority of states to make Medicaid payments to a third party on behalf of an individual provider, rather than directly to the provider, “for benefits such as health insurance, skills training, and other benefits customary for employees,” under certain circumstances. This authority, … Continue Reading
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is proposing to exempt states with high rates of Medicaid managed care enrollment from current requirements to analyze and monitor access in fee-for-service (FFS) delivery systems. The proposed rule also would loosen current state access analysis requirements when states make what CMS contends are “nominal” reductions in … Continue Reading
The Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission’s (MACPAC) March 2018 Report to Congress examines three aspects of Medicaid policy: managed care, telehealth, and disproportionate share hospital (DSH) payments. First, MACPAC proposes statutory changes to allow states to require all beneficiaries to enroll in Medicaid managed care programs, along with changes to Section 1915(b) waiver … Continue Reading
CMS has announced a new initiative allowing states to propose demonstrations to “improve Medicaid enrollee health and well-being through incentivizing work and community engagement.” Specifically, states may propose Section 1115 waivers to make participation in work or other community engagement a requirement for continued Medicaid eligibility or coverage for non-elderly, non-pregnant adult Medicaid beneficiaries who … Continue Reading
CMS is hosting a call on January 23, 2018 to brief state Medicaid agencies, Medicaid providers, managed care organizations, and other Medicaid stakeholders about the new Medicare card project. Under this initiative, CMS is moving away from Social Security Number-based Health Insurance Claim Numbers to new Medicare Beneficiary Identifiers (MBIs). 1/22 update: this call has … Continue Reading
The GAO has had ongoing concerns about the integrity of the Medicaid program due to its size, diversity, and recent rapid growth as a result of the Affordable Care Act. It is the second largest health insurance program in the U.S. based on expenditures ($576 billion combined federal and state spending projected for 2016). At the … Continue Reading
CMS has published a final rule intended to codify its existing interpretation of how third-party payments are considered in the calculation of Medicaid uncompensated care costs for the purpose of making Medicaid disproportionate share hospital (DSH) payments. Under the final rule, CMS specifies that uncompensated care costs for purposes of calculating hospital-specific DSH limits are … Continue Reading
The House of Representatives is moving ahead on the Republican plan -– the American Health Care Act (AHCA) – that would repeal and replace major provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). On March 16, 2017, the House Budget Committee approved sending the bill to the full House as part of fiscal year 2017 budget … Continue Reading
In her first act as CMS Administrator, Seema Verma joined HHS Secretary Tom Price in writing to the nation’s Governors to urge collaboration on improving the Medicaid program, with an emphasis on services for “truly vulnerable” populations. Price and Verma contend that the “expansion of Medicaid through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to non-disabled, working-age … Continue Reading
CMS is seeking public input on ways to improve the quality and reduce the cost of care for children and youth enrolled in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). In particular, CMS is interested in comments on topics such as: The potential to include the pediatric population in integrated service model concepts like … Continue Reading
The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health has approved two bills that would modify Medicaid eligibility rules to consider additional sources of income. First, HR 829 would establish standards for states to consider lottery winnings and other lump sum payments for purposes of determining Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) for Medicaid and CHIP eligibility. … Continue Reading
The House Energy & Commerce Committee has scheduled two hearings this week on Medicaid policy: a January 31 hearing on “Medicaid Oversight: Existing Problems and Ways to Strengthen the Program,” and a February 1 hearing on “Strengthening Medicaid and Prioritizing the Most Vulnerable.” … Continue Reading
CMS has finalized without change its proposed rule to block states from adopting or increasing Medicaid managed care “pass-through” payments to hospitals, nursing facilities, and physicians beyond those in place when pass-through payment transition periods were established in a May 6, 2016 final Medicaid managed care rule. As we previously reported, CMS considers pass-through payments … Continue Reading
Included in the 21st Century Cures Act are numerous changes to Medicare and Medicaid policies, including provisions with significant reimbursement impacts for certain types of Medicare providers and suppliers, along with changes intended to reduce the regulatory and administrative burdens associated with the use of electronic health records. Furthermore, the law once again expands the … Continue Reading
