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February 7, 2024

In Focus: CMS Releases Advance Notice of Methodological Changes for MA Capitation Rates and Medicare Part C and Part D Payment PoliciesColorado Hospital Transparency Reports Reveal Increased Operating Expenses, ReimbursementsFlorida House, Senate Consider Bills to Establish Rural Emergency HospitalsGeorgia Releases PBM RFP in Partnership with Alaska, Montana, and VermontHawaii Requests Five-year Extension of Hawaii QUEST Integration WaiverIowa Lawmakers Advance Bill to Extend Postpartum Medicaid Coverage to 12 MonthsMinnesota Seeks Section 1115 Medicaid Waiver Amendments to Expand Eligibility for ChildrenMississippi Senate Passes Bill to Streamline Prior Authorization RequestsMontana Releases Medicaid NEMT Program RFINevada Medicaid Managed Care RFP Release Expected by January 2025New Mexico Receives Federal Approval for Use of Mobile Crisis Intervention TeamsCityblock, Fidelis Care Form Partnership to Increase Health Services For New York Medicaid Members North Carolina Releases Foster Care Specialty Plan RFP North Carolina Medicaid to Launch Behavioral Health IDD Tailored Plans on July 1Several States Direct Medicaid Funding to Provide Housing Aid Amidst DisenrollmentsHHS Issues Final Rule Permitting Use of Telehealth for Opioid Treatment ProgramsCMS Outlines Guidelines for Use of Artificial Intelligence in Medicare AdvantageCigna Indicates Plans to Grow its Evernorth Health Services Unit

November 2, 2022

In Focus: Leavitt Center for Alliances, an HMA Initiative, Drives Collaboration and SolutionsIn Focus: CMS Finalizes 2023 Landscape for Medicare Payment and Policy Alabama Releases Medicaid Modernization Program System Integration Services RFP Arkansas Receives Approval to Expand Community-Based Care for Certain High-Risk Individuals District of Columbia Mayor Calls for Investigation Into Awarded Medicaid Managed Contracts Michigan Medicaid Plan Meridian Appoints Patricia Graham as CEO Mississippi Submits 1115 Waiver Extension Application for Aged, Blind, Disabled Individuals New Hampshire to Award Adult Medicaid Dental Contract to Delta Dental South Dakota Seeks Five-Year Extension of Former Foster Care Youth Medicaid 1115 Waiver Tennessee Seeks to Extend Enhanced HCBS Supports Vermont Releases Medicaid IV&V RFPWisconsin Receives Federal Approval to Use CHIP Funds For Housing SupportHHS Bolsters Medicare Behavioral, Dental, Cancer Care in Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule HHS Focuses on Rural Health Equity in Hospital, Surgical Center Payment System Final Rule Walgreens’ VillageMD Reportedly Explores Merger With Summit Health

May 3, 2023

In Focus: What You Need to Know about CMS’s Proposed Changes to Medicaid Managed Care RulesAlabama Releases Integrated Care Network Program RFPArkansas Proposes Medicaid Work Requirements for Expansion ProgramFlorida Legislature Passes Bill to Regulate PBMsFlorida House Passes Bill to Create Pilot Program Providing Medicaid Managed Care Coverage to Individuals with IDDGeorgia Enacts Law to Create State-based Insurance ExchangeLouisiana Candidates for Governor Promise to Keep Medicaid ExpansionMississippi Medicaid Beneficiaries Are No Longer Responsible for CopaysNevada Expands Dental Services for Medicaid Beneficiaries with IDDNevada Releases Baseline Medicaid Enrollment Report Ahead of RedeterminationsNew York to Gradually Redirect Medicaid Funding from CountiesTennessee Medicaid to Cover Cost of Diapers for First Two YearsWashington Publishes Plan to Remove Barriers to Access for Health, Human Services BenefitsMedicare Advantage Enrollment Surpasses Traditional Medicare in January Centene to Sell Apixio to New Mountain Capital BCBS-MI, BCBS-VT to Pursue Affiliation

January 17, 2024

In Focus: CMS Approves Next Phase of New York’s Medicaid 1115 Waiver JourneyDriving Change in Healthcare Delivery: HMA Spring Workshop Provides Deep Dive into Metrics, Coordination, and Partnerships for Value-based CareHealth Management Associates Successfully Completes SOC 2 Type 2 ExaminationMedicaid Redetermination Updates: Arizona, Minnesota, MissouriCalifornia Proposes CalAIM Amendment to Provide Continuous Medicaid, CHIP Coverage for ChildrenFlorida Proposed Bills Would Boost Physician Workforce, Develop Advanced Birth CentersIowa Legislature Considers Bill to Create Tiered Medicaid Reimbursement System for Children’s Mental HealthKentucky Submits Medicaid Section 1115 Amendment to Improve Care for Individuals Leaving Public InstitutionsKentucky State Bill Would Reduce Maximum Number of Medicaid Managed Care ContractsMississippi Hospital Directed Payments Bring in Additional $658.2 Million Under New ProgramNew Mexico Governor’s Fiscal 2025 Budget Proposes Additional Medicaid Funding For Rural Hospitals, Provider ReimbursementNew York Grants More Than $950 Million to Fund Healthcare Facility Upgrades, Technological ModernizationWest Virginia Selects Highmark as Fourth Medicaid Managed Care OrganizationWisconsin Releases Medicaid Managed LTC RFPCMS Releases Final Rule Aimed At Improving Electronic Exchange of Health Information, Prior Authorization ProcessesMedPAC Meeting Highlights Overpayments in Medicare AdvantageHealth Plans Seek Increased Medicaid Rates Amid Rising CostsElevance Launches Program to Provide Smartphones to Medicaid Beneficiaries in 21 States

April 24, 2024

In Focus: Five Takeaways from the CMS Medicaid Managed Care Final RuleIn Focus: Analysis of Five Key Proposals in CMS’s FY2025 Medicare Hospital IPPS RuleConnecticut Lawmakers Plan to Revisit Medicaid Managed Care for EnrolleesFlorida Receives Eight Intents to Protest Against SMMC AwardsGeorgia Governor Signs Bill to Relax Certificate-of-need Regulations, Form Health CommissionMaryland Total Cost of Care Model Improved Medicare Spending, Decreased Health Disparities in First Four YearsMassachusetts Receives Federal Approval to Provide Medicaid-funded Temporary Housing for Emergency Shelter ProgramMichigan Medicaid to Offer Maternal Health Quality PaymentsNew York Enacted Fiscal 2025 Budget Invests in Health Equity, New Policies Promoting Access to CareNew Mexico Extends Medicaid Coverage for Seniors Receiving Long-term Care, Individuals with DisabilitiesTexas Lawmakers Urge Governor to Cancel, Delay STAR, CHIP AwardsHHS Launches Investigation Examining PBMsChange Healthcare’s Patient Personal Data Still in Jeopardy

January 25, 2023

In Focus: Lee Fleisher of CMS to Deliver Keynote Address at HMA National Quality ConferenceArkansas Legislature Faces Potential Hurdles for Funding Medicaid Expansion Arizona Governor Proposes $2.7 Million to Modernize Medicaid Enterprise System Georgia House Speaker Does Not Plan to Take Up Medicaid Expansion Massachusetts Governor Appoints Kate Walsh as Secretary of Health, Human Services Michigan Provides Pregnancy App for Eligible Medicaid Beneficiaries New Mexico Medicaid Director to Step Down New Mexico Has Yet to Announce Medicaid Managed Care Awards Oklahoma Awards Medicaid Dental Contracts to 2 Plans Rhode Island Legislators Introduce Medicaid Housing Supports Pilot Proposal Wisconsin Adds Medicaid Work Requirement Advisory Referendum to April Ballot Wyoming Appoints Lee Grossman as State Medicaid Agent, Senior Administrator Exchange Plan Enrollment Rises Nearly 13 Percent to 16.3 Million in 2023 FCC Clears Medicaid Plans to Text, Robocall Beneficiaries for Eligibility Redeterminations Elevance Health to Acquire BCBS of LA

August 7, 2024

In Focus: FY 2025 Medicare Hospital Inpatient Final Rule Will Alter Hospital Margins and Change Administrative ProceduresCalifornia Submits Section 1115 BH-CONNECT Demonstration Addendum to Expand Behavioral Health Community ServicesImagineCare Drops Florida Medicaid Managed Care Contract Award ProtestLouisiana to Submit Application for New Section 1115 Re-entry Demonstration Michigan Seeks Resident Participation in Racial Health Equity Think Tank to Improve SDOHNew York Section 1115 Medicaid Redesign Team Pilot Program to Take Effect in August Nevada Releases Section 1332 Public Option Program RFPOregon Lowers Insurer-proposed Rate Increases For Five Individual Marketplace PlansVirginia Submits Extension Request for 1115 BTCSSHV Waiver Demonstration Wisconsin Directs $258 Million in Funding Toward HCBS Minimum Fee Schedule NCQA Updates HEDIS Quality Measures SAMHSA Announces CCBHC Planning Grant Opportunity Medicaid, CHIP Enrollment Drops by Nearly 1.1 Million in April 2024Centene to Exit Medicare Advantage Market in Six States For 2025Tenet Healthcare Sells Majority Stake in Brookwood Baptist Health to Orlando HealthMore News Here

July 27, 2022

In Focus: Medicare Hospital Outpatient Rule Proposes Details for New Rural Emergency Hospitals, Creates New Questions for Other Payment PoliciesCenter for Medicare Director Meena Seshamani to Deliver Virtual Keynote Address on The Future of Medicare Value-Based Payments at HMA Conference in Chicago, October 10-11California Medicaid Plans Eye State Exchange in 2024 Delaware Submits 1115 Waiver Amendment for Federal ApprovalMichigan Releases RFP for EVV System for Medicaid Personal Care, Home Care Montana Medicaid to Cover Applied Behavioral Therapy for Children With Autism New York Proposes Rule For Medicaid Plans to Bolster Special Investigations Units North Carolina Medicaid Expansion Negotiations Slow CMS Releases Voluntary HCBS Quality Measure Set Amazon to Buy 1LifeHealthcare in $3.9 Billion Deal Vistria Group Is Investing Upwards of $200 Million in Sandstone Care

April 12, 2023

Florida Releases Medicaid Managed Care ITNAlabama House Committee Holds Meeting on Medicaid Expansion California to Seek Approval for Voluntary Medicaid Capitated Payment Model for FQHCs California Medi-Cal To Comply With Federal Law, Continue Business with Walgreens Delaware Struggles to Investigate Complaints Against Assisted Living, Nursing Facilities Georgia Proposes Using Directed Payments to Make Up for Financial Losses at Rural Hospitals Michigan to Release Medicaid Managed Care RFP in Fall 2023 New Jersey Receives Approval for Medicaid Waiver on Coordinating Behavioral Health, Covering Social Needs New York Medicaid Audit Finds $184 Million in Uncollected Drug Rebates Oregon Medicaid Beneficiaries Struggle to Access Mental Health Care Despite Relatively High Medicaid Rates, Study Finds Pennsylvania Lawmakers Debate Medicaid Dental Benefits During Budget Hearing Texas Files Federal Lawsuit Over Medicaid Provider Tax Policy Change CMS Proposes 2.8 Percent Medicare Rate Increase for Hospitals that Meet Quality Reporting, Meaningful Use Standards Medicaid Enrollment to Settle At Higher Than Pre-Pandemic Levels in Many States, Analysis Finds Froedtert Health, ThedaCare to Merge

May 29, 2024

In Focus: Federal Healthcare Quality Initiatives: Recent Developments Reshaping the LandscapeArkansas DHS Collaborates with State University to Strengthen Medicaid HCBS ProgramsDelaware Senate Passes Provider Tax to Support MedicaidKansas to Face Protest from Aetna Over KanCare AwardsOregon Names Emma Sandoe as Medicaid DirectorMinnesota Medicaid Managed Care Program Will Stop Contracting with For-profit Insurers in 2025New Hampshire Senate Committee Advances Legislation to Alter Medicaid Enhancement TaxNew York to Invest $30 Million at Increasing Inpatient Psychiatric CapacitySouth Carolina Lawmakers Propose Study Committee to Examine Medicaid ExpansionExpress Scripts to Collaborate with CPESN USA to Improve Healthcare Access at Independent PharmaciesElevance Health Foundation to Provide $10 Million in Funding to Address Health-related Social NeedsMore News Here