HMA Weekly Roundup

Alaska

Alaska Releases Behavioral Health Information Management System RFI. The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services released on June 1, 2022, a request for information (RFI) for a comprehensive behavioral health Medicaid billing and clinical documentation information management system. The state Division of Behavioral Health currently uses the Alaska Automated Information Management System as its primary behavioral health information technology and data management system, which was developed in 2004. Responses are due on June 22.

California

California Exchange, Medicaid Members Are Mistakenly Bounced Between Programs. Kaiser Health News reported on June 2, 2022, that California Exchange and Medicaid members have been mistakenly bounced between programs due to computer glitches and human error. In one example, 131,000 enrollees were mistakenly dropped from coverage over several months in 2020; they were eventually reinstated. State officials have been working to eliminate errors that lead to loss of coverage. Read More

Colorado

Colorado Expands Medicaid to Pregnant, Postpartum Undocumented Women, Children. CPR News reported on June 7, 2022, that Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed legislation to expand Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Plan (CHIP) coverage to undocumented pregnant or postpartum women and their children for one year beginning in 2025. Medicaid and CHIP enrollees will have access to lactation supplies and support services. Read More

Delaware

Delaware Releases Proposed 1115 Waiver Amendment. The Delaware Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance (DMMA) released on May 11, 2022, a draft of an 1115 waiver amendment to add five services to the Diamond State Health Plan, the state’s Medicaid managed care program. The amendment would incorporate into managed care home visits for pregnant women and children under the age of two; home-delivered meals; a pediatric respite benefit; a nursing home transition program (formerly Money Follows the Person Demonstration); and a self-directed state plan personal care option. DMMA is accepting public comments through June 10, 2022. Read More

Florida

Florida Can Recoup Past, Future Medicaid Payments in Personal Injury Case, Supreme Court Rules. CQ News reported on June 6, 2022, that the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Florida can recoup $300,000 in past and future Medicaid costs out of an $800,000 settlement in the case of a child injured in an accident. The initial settlement allocated $35,000 for past medical care, but the court ruled 7-2 that the state was entitled to 37.5 percent of the settlement as allowed under state law. Read More

Florida to Begin Medicaid Managed Care Procurement as Early as October 2022. Florida Politics reported on June 4, 2022, that the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) is preparing to rebid the state’s Medicaid managed care contracts, which expire on December 31, 2023. The procurement process could begin at early as October 2022. AHCA received 54 responses to its recent managed care request for information from insurance companies, providers, hospital and health care associations, and advocacy groups. Read More

Florida Delays Award Announcements for Modular MMIS Vendors. Florida Politics reported on June 1, 2022, that Florida has delayed contract award announcements until the end of this month for two modules of the Florida Health Care Connections Medicaid information technology initiative: provider services and unified operations center. The contracts are set to run from September 1, 2022, to August 31, 2029, and are part of the state’s move to a modular Medicaid managed information system (MMIS). Read More

Georgia

Georgia Releases Medicaid Managed Care RFI. The Georgia Department of Community Health released on June 3, 2022, a request for information (RFI) on the reprocurement of the state’s Medicaid managed care program, including Georgia Families, the state’s traditional Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program, and Georgia Families 360, which covers youths in foster care. Responses are due on June 24. Current contract holders are Anthem, CareSource, and Centene, serving more than 1.9 million beneficiaries as of May 2022. Existing contracts run through June 30, 2024. The request for proposals is expected to be released in late 2022 or early 2023. Read More

Georgia Board of Community Health Approves Extending Postpartum Medicaid Coverage to One Year. Capitol Beat News Service reported on June 2, 2022, that the Georgia Board of Community Health voted to seek federal approval to extend postpartum Medicaid coverage to one year effective October 31. Governor Brian Kemp signed the postpartum legislation in May. Read More

Illinois

Illinois Increases Medicaid Funding for Nursing Homes by $700 Million. McKnights Long-Term Care News reported on June 2, 2022, that Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed legislation to increase annual Medicaid funding for nursing homes by $700 million or about 28 percent. Increases will be tied to star ratings and federal staffing guidelines. Read More

Missouri

Missouri Is Still Processing Medicaid Expansion Applications Slower than Federal Law Allows. The Missouri Independent reported on June 3, 2022, that the Missouri Department of Social Services took an average of 101 days to process a Medicaid expansion application in April, compared to the 45-day maximum allowed by federal law. According to Kim Evans, director of the Missouri Family Support Division, the state will be processing applications in under 45 days by the end of July and in 30 days by the end of August. There are currently 58,000 pending applications. Read More

North Carolina

Senate Gives Initial Approval to Medicaid Expansion Bill. The Associated Press reported on June 1, 2022, that the North Carolina Senate gave initial approval to a bill (HB 149) to expand Medicaid to approximately 600,000 adults. The bill includes a provision for work requirements, which has been struck down in other states. A number of other health care provisions are included in the bill, such as increased telehealth options, allowing advanced practice nurses to practice without physician supervision, and changes to certificate of need statutes. The Senate is expected to take a final vote soon before the bill moves to the House. House leaders have indicated they will not take up the bill during the current session. Read More

Ohio

House Passes Medicaid Coverage of Doula Services Legislation. The Statehouse News Bureau reported on June 6, 2022, that the Ohio House passed legislation to allow Medicaid to cover doula services. The bill now moves to the Senate. Ohio joins 17 other states that have implemented or are considering Medicaid coverage for doulas, according to an analysis by the Georgetown Center for Children and Families. Read More

Oregon

Oregon Medicaid CCO Completes Corrective Action Plan. The Oregon Health Authority announced on June 2, 2022, that Centene/Trillium Community Health Plan has completed a corrective action plan (CAP) concerning its expansion into the Tri-County, OR, service area. The CAP focused on network development, health equity, language access, community engagement, and intensive care coordination. Trillium is an Oregon Coordinated Care Organization (CCO), serving more than 50,000 members. Read More

Pennsylvania

House to Consider Legislation to Increase Medicaid EMS Reimbursement Rates. Fox 43 reported on June 2, 2022, that Pennsylvania Representative Martin Causer (R-Bradford) introduced legislation to increase Medicaid reimbursements for emergency medical services (EMS). Additionally, the bill proposes a 10 percent premium for “super rural” areas, as designated by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and increased reimbursements based on mileage. The bill was passed by the Committee of Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness and will be considered by the House. Read More

South Dakota

South Dakota Voters Deal Blow to Opponents of Medicaid Expansion. Forbes reported on June 8, 2022, that South Dakota voters rejected a proposed state constitutional amendment, which would have required a 60 percent supermajority to pass ballot measures, including Medicaid expansion. South Dakotans will vote on Medicaid expansion in November. Read More

Tennessee

Tennessee Issues RFI for Roadmap to Improve Oversight, Planning of D-SNPs. Open Minds reported on June 1, 2022, that Tennessee released a request for information (RFI) to help create an oversight and planning roadmap to improve programs for dual eligibles in the state’s Dual Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs). The state has contracts with three Medicaid managed care plans to operate aligned D-SNPs. Read More

Texas

Texas Announces Draft Policies for Telehealth Open for Public Comment. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) announced on June 6, 2022, draft policy changes concerning covered services using telemedicine, telehealth, and audio-only delivery if clinically appropriate and cost effective. HHSC has also drafted behavioral health service policy changes to allow non-local mental health authorities to deliver mental health targeted case management and mental health rehabilitation services to persons in fee-for-service Medicaid. The policy changes, which are in line with newly passed state laws, are open for public comment.

National

CMS Looks to Streamline Process for Individuals Moving Between Different Types of Coverage. CNBC reported on June 8, 2022, that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) wants to streamline the process for individuals moving between different types of coverage based on eligibility, according to administrator Chiquita Brooks-Lasure. With the public health emergency ending soon, there will be an estimated five million to 14 million individuals disenrolled who will need assistance transitioning to Exchange plans or Medicare or re-enrolling in Medicaid. Read More

FTC to Begin Inquiry Into PBM Practices. Modern Healthcare reported on June 7, 2022, that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will begin an inquiry into how vertical integration in the pharmacy benefit management (PBM) sector affects prescription drug access and pricing. The FTC will require the six largest PBMs, which control about 80 percent of the market, to provide information on their practices. The inquiry will look into clawbacks, efforts to direct patients to PBM-owned pharmacies, prior authorization policies, and the impact of manufacturer rebates. Read More

MACPAC Issues Brief on LGBT Medicaid Beneficiaries Accessing Care. The Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) issued a brief in June 2022, which found that the majority of lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adults on Medicaid had a usual source of care and similar rates of physical health care service use as heterosexual adults on Medicaid. However, LGB adults were significantly more likely to report not having received necessary behavioral health or alcohol and drug treatment in the past 12 months. Medicaid-covered transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) adults reported similar rates of access to providers for both routine and most gender-affirming health care as those covered by private insurance, but those covered by Medicaid were more likely to report not being able to find in-network providers for gender affirming surgery. There are about 1.2 million lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) adults on Medicaid. Read More

CMS Launches National Quality Strategy Initiative. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced on June 6, 2022, the launch of a long-term national quality strategy aimed at improving outcomes through person-centric care in Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and Exchange plans. Goals include advancing health equity, promoting safety, embracing the digital age, fostering engagement, and increasing alignment across programs, performance metrics, and policies. CMS will begin stakeholder collaboration sessions on the strategy in summer 2022. Read More

FTC Moves to Block Hospital System Mergers in New Jersey, Utah, Citing Antitrust Concerns. Fierce Healthcare reported on June 3, 2022, that the Federal Trade Commission took action to block the merger of Utah healthcare systems HCA Healthcare and Steward Health Care as well as the acquisition of Saint Peter’s Healthcare System by New Jersey-based RWJBarnabas Health, citing antitrust concerns. Administrative trials are set to begin in late 2022. Read More

Community Health Centers Are Poised to Help Patients With Medicaid Redeterminations. Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) reported on June 3, 2022, that most community health centers are poised to help patients maintain their Medicaid coverage after the public health emergency ends, according to a KFF survey. Nearly half of community health center patients are covered by Medicaid. Read More

HHS Announces One-Year Extension to Medicaid HCBS ARPA Spending Deadline. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced on June 3, 2022, that it has extended the deadline to spend funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) by one year to March 31, 2025. The funding is to be used for activities to enhance, expand, or strengthen home and community-based services (HCBS) for Medicaid beneficiaries who need long-term services and supports. Read More

CMS Outlines 10 Fundamental Actions For States When Unwinding PHE. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released on June 2, 2022, a tool for state Medicaid agencies to utilize in preparing for the end of the public health emergency (PHE) continuous enrollment period. The tool outlines 10 fundamental actions and resources for states, including creating an operational plan, coordinating with government partners, and strengthening automated processes. Read More

CMS Begins Implementation of Rule Establishing Standards for What Counts as HCBS Programs. Disability Scoop reported on June 1, 2022, that federal regulators have begun implementing a 2014 rule outlining the criteria home and community-based services (HCBS) programs must meet to obtain funding under Medicaid HCBS waivers. States have until March 17, 2023, to ensure the HCBS settings are places individuals choose to live, are integrated in the community, and allow individuals with disabilities to make independent choices about their daily activities and environment. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) expects the rule to impact over one million individuals. Read More

Health Plans to Issue $1 Billion in MLR Rebates in 2022, KFF Projects. Fierce Healthcare reported on June 1, 2022, that health plans are projected to issue $1 billion in rebates to enrollees this year, down from $2.1 billion in 2021, according to an analysis from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF). The majority of rebates, which are tied to minimum medical loss ratio (MLR) requirements, will go to enrollees in individual plans. Read More

Inpatient Rehab Providers Oppose Proposed Cuts to Medicare Reimbursement Rates for Early Transfers to Home Care. Modern Healthcare reported on June 1, 2022, that inpatient rehabilitation providers oppose an effort by federal regulators to reduce Medicare reimbursement rates for early transfers to home care. The policy could save nearly $1 billion, according to the U.S. Inspector General. Read More

Medicare Spending on Skilled Nursing Facilities Increased in 2020 Despite Utilization Decline, Report Finds. Skilled Nursing News reported on June 2, 2022, that Medicare skilled nursing facility (SNF) spending increased by $1.1 billion, or 4.4 percent, in 2020, according to a report from the Kaiser Family Foundation. However, the number of beneficiaries utilizing SNFs decreased by almost 200,000 users, contributing to a 16.3 percent increase in spending per user. Read More