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October 5, 2022

In Focus: New Mexico Releases Medicaid Managed Care RFPColorado Releases Medicaid, CHIP Enrollment Broker Services RFP Louisiana to Begin Auto Assignment of Medicaid Beneficiaries into Managed Care Plans Maine Looks to Renew NEMT Waiver, Release RFP Minnesota Awards Medicaid Managed Care Contracts Covering Individuals Outside Twin Cities, Elderly, Disabled Nebraska Seeks Funds to Cover Aduhelm, Reduce Waiting List for Individuals With Development Disabilities New York Medicaid Fraud, Waste Reduction Efforts Yield Results North Carolina Delays Implementation of Behavioral Health IDD Tailored Plans to April 2023 North Dakota Leads Country in Rate of Physicians Accepting New Medicaid Patients, Analysis Finds Ohio Governor Looks to Expand Medicaid Eligibility for Pregnant Women to 300 Percent of Poverty Oklahoma Implements 25 Percent Rate Increase for Developmental Disability, HCBS Providers HCSC Names Anne Rote President of Medicaid Division Federal Grants Topping $346 Million Awarded to Address Healthcare Staffing ShortagesEnsign Group May Soon Become Largest Nursing Home Provider in U.S.

March 15, 2023

In Focus: Medicaid Managed Care Enrollment Update – Q4 2022Alaska Submits Section 1115 Waiver Request to Extend Medicaid SUD, Behavioral Health Program Redeterminations News: District of Columbia, Mississippi, Washington, Wyoming Medicaid Expansion News: New Hampshire, North Carolina, South Dakota New York Has Almost $10 Billion in Surplus Federal Funding for Basic Health Option Oregon Medicaid CCO Purchases Hotel to Create Housing for Individuals with Behavioral Health NeedsPennsylvania Governor Proposes $500 Million for Mental Health Services in Schools Washington Pauses Apple Health Reprocurement Efforts to Focus on Medicaid Redeterminations Biden’s Proposed Fiscal 2024 Budget Includes Mandatory Minimum Medicaid MLR Help at Home Acquires Prosper Home Care

November 29, 2023

In Focus: Proposed Changes to Opioid Treatment: What They Will Mean for Providers, Payers, and RegulatorsSave the Date: HMA Spring Workshop on Implementing Value-Based CareAlabama Receives Approval for Community-Based Mobile Crisis Services SPAArizona Requests Section 1115 Waiver Amendment to Raise CHIP Eligibility ThresholdCalifornia Governor Signs Bill to Simplify Billing, Increase Access for Medicaid School-based Health ProgramsFlorida Bills Would Remove Step Therapy Requirement for Medicaid Beneficiaries with Mental IllnessGeorgia Legislators Discuss Coupling Full Medicaid Expansion, Relaxation of Certificate-of-Need RequirementsIdaho Releases MMIS System Integrator Technical Advisory Services RFPNevada Submits Section 1332 State Innovation Waiver Application For Market Stabilization, Public Option Program. New York Essential Plan Expansion Implementation Delayed to April 2024North Carolina Hospitals Will Receive $2.6 Billion As State Prepares to Start Medicaid ExpansionNorth Dakota Seeks Public Comments on Medicaid Quality Strategy PlanTennessee to Renew Existing TennCare Medicaid Managed Care Contracts for NowWisconsin Insurers Fail to Meet Federal Access Standards for Exchange Program, Report FindsAverage Time Spent on Medicaid HCBS Waiting Lists Has Decreased Since 2021ACA Exchange Enrollment Approaches 4.6 Million Through Three Weeks of Open EnrollmentMedicare, Medicaid Improper Payment Rates Driven by Documentation Errors in Fiscal 2023, CMS FindsCMS Launches Medicare GUIDE Model ApplicationCMS Issues Proposed Rule to Ensure Network Adequacy Standards For State-run Exchange PlansHumana, Cigna in Talks to Merge by End of Year

March 27, 2024

In Focus: CMS Innovation Center Announces ACO PC Flex Model to Improve Access for Medicare BeneficiariesIntroducing HMA's New Podcast: Vital Viewpoints on HealthcareAlaska Receives Extension for Behavioral Health Reform 1115 DemonstrationCalifornia Approves Proposition 1 to Provide Funding Addressing Homelessness Crisis, Substance MisuseFlorida Governor Signs Legislative Package Aimed at Boosting Healthcare Workforce, AccessGeorgia Submits Section 1115 Waiver Amendment for Personal Care ServicesMaryland Submits Section 1115 Waiver Amendment for Pre-release ServicesMaryland Submits AHEAD Model Application to CMSNebraska Legislature Passes Provider Tax Bill to Increase Medicaid Hospital Payment RatesNew York Announces RFP For Development of 13 Certified Community Behavioral Health ClinicsNew York Governor Allocates $102 Million to Fund New Mental Health Care ProgramsRhode Island Senate Considers Bill to Establish a Prescription Drug Affordability BoardRhode Island Receives CMS Approval for 1115 Waiver Amendment Permitting HCBS in Acute Hospital SettingsVermont Submits AHEAD Model Application to CMSVirginia Rescinds Notice of Intent to Award for Statewide Medicaid Managed Care ProcurementBiden Administration Issues Final Rule to Streamline Medicaid, CHIP EnrollmentHHS Announces Lower Coinsurance Rate for 41 Medicare Part B DrugsCMS Signals New Guidance on Medicare Part D Coverage of Obesity DrugsKaiser, Town Hall Ventures Launch PACE Joint VentureUnited/Optum to Acquire Steward Health Care’s Physician Network

August 17, 2022

In Focus: Biden Approves Major Health Care Proposals but the Work Is Just Beginning for CMS and StakeholdersGain Knowledge and Networking Opportunities at HMA’s Annual Conference; More Than 300 Already Confirmed to AttendArizona Works on New Health Plan Contracts for ALTCS-EPD Program Delaware Judge Denies Motion to Quash Audit of Medicaid Program District of Columbia Accepts Bids from 2 Medicaid Managed Care Plans Florida Medicaid Plan Capitated Rates to Fall, Driven by Lower Utilization Illinois Announces PACE Program Awardees Massachusetts Seeks Input on Improving Medicaid MCO/ACO Risk Adjustment Model Minnesota Releases RFP for School-Linked SUD Services for Students Missouri Medicaid Software Vendor Wins $23 Million in Lawsuit Against State Nebraska Delays Medicaid Managed Care Awards to August 31 North Carolina Legislators Fail to Reach an Agreement on Medicaid Expansion CMS Proposes Rule to Expand Medically Necessary Dental Services Covered by Medicare Medicare Rates Expected to Rise 2.5 Percent for Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities in Fiscal 2023 Humana to Acquire Wisconsin-based MCO InclusaLHC Group Agrees to Acquire Three Rivers Home Health

April 10, 2024

In Focus: CMS Finalizes Significant Changes to Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D Programs for 2025 In Focus: Medicaid Managed Care Final Rule: What to Watch forCalifornia Medicaid FFS Contracts with Heali’s Food as Medicine PlatformColorado Settles Lawsuit Regarding Mental Health Care for Children, Agrees to Outside Examination of ProgramAvesis, Elevance Health Partner with Uber to Improve Maternal Health in GeorgiaMichigan Announces Medicaid Managed Care AwardsNew York Governor Invests $359 Million to Expand Supportive Housing OptionsNorth Dakota Approves Pilot Program for Paid Family CaregiversVermont Receives Approval for Medicaid Mobile Crisis State Plan AmendmentVirginia Governor Vetoes Prescription Drug Affordability Board LegislationCMS Announces Final Rule to Promote Competition, Access to Care in Medicare Advantage, Part D PlansMedicaid Supplemental, Base Payments Vary Among States, MACPAC FindsLawmakers Call on FTC, DOJ to Block Optum-Steward Acquisition

November 9, 2022

In Focus: Highlights from Kaiser/HMA 50-State Medicaid Director SurveyCalifornia Medi-Cal Members Can Now Fill Prescriptions at Costco Florida Healthcare Groups File Challenge to $15 Minimum Wage Budget Provision Hawaii Works With HMA to Develop Medicaid Social Determinants of Health Initiative Massachusetts Home Health Care Workforce Decreases by 13 Percent from 2019 to 2022 Nebraska Says Protest of Medicaid Managed Care Contracts Will Not Delay Implementation New Hampshire Executive Council Approves Medicaid Dental Contract Pennsylvania Receives Federal Approval to Extend Postpartum Medicaid Coverage to 12 Months South Dakota Voters Approve Medicaid Expansion Virginia Projects ‘Tiny’ Increase in Fiscal 2024 State Medicaid Costs Medicaid FFS More Likely to Cover Opioid Use Disorder Treatment than Medicaid Managed CareMedicaid Plans Report Barriers to Telehealth Access 19 States Have Implemented Strategies to Increase Direct Care Worker Wages, Report Finds CNSI, Kepro to Merge; Apax Partners to ExitWalgreens’ VillageMD to Acquire Summit Health Clover Health to Reduce Medicare ACO REACH Population by Two-Thirds in 2023

May 15, 2024

HMA Opens Registration for Fall Conference: Unlocking Solutions in Medicaid, Medicare, and MarketplaceIn Focus: Takeaways from the Ensuring Access to Medicaid Services Final Rule California Governor Retracts on Budget Deal to Use MCO Tax Revenue for Medicaid, Hospital InvestmentsColorado Releases Accountable Care Collaborative Phase III RFPColorado Releases Behavioral Health ASO RFPFlorida Governor Signs Bill Allowing Medicaid Home Health Services Ordered by Nurses, Physician AssistantsKansas Announces Intent to Award KanCare, CHIP Medicaid Managed Care ContractsMichigan Invests $1.3 Million to Expand Hospital Rooming-in for Substance-exposed BabiesMissouri House Committee Advances Medicaid Hospital Tax RenewalNew York Releases RFA for Medicaid Housing Subsidies, Services through $87 Million Grant FundingOklahoma Hospitals See Higher Payments Under Managed CareTexas Releases STAR Kids RFPCMS Extends Medicaid Unwinding-related Waiver Demonstrations to June 2025DOJ Creates Antitrust Task Force to Combat Healthcare Consolidations, Acquisitions Violating LawsEventus WholeHealth Acquires Premier Geriatric SolutionsMore News Here

July 20, 2022

In Focus: CMS Picks Up the Pace on Transforming the Medicare LandscapeCalifornia Governor Signs Bill to Establish No-Bid Contract with Medicaid Plan Colorado Policy Restricts Use of Behavioral Health Interns, Unlicensed TherapistsFlorida Considers Denying Medicaid Coverage for Gender-Affirming Care for Transgender Youth Georgia Receives Federal Renewal of 1915 HCBS Waiver for Five Years Idaho Releases Medicaid Dual Programs RFI Illinois Accepting Medicaid Applications for Individuals 42 and Up, Regardless of Immigration Status Massachusetts Releases Request for Responses for Behavioral Health, LTSS Community Partners New York HCBS Children’s Waiver Providers to Receive Temporary 25 Percent Rate Increase Oregon Medicaid CCO Program ‘Helped Slow Cost Growth,’ State Says Pennsylvania Physical HealthChoices Beneficiaries Must Choose New Plan Before August 16 Tennessee Drafts Amendment to TennCare Block Grant Waiver Washington Seeks 5-Year Renewal of Medicaid Transformation 1115 Waiver COVID-19 Is Associated with Increased Incidence of Future Medicaid Conditions, Costs, Wakely Study Finds CMS Awards $49 Million in Grants to Boost Medicaid, CHIP Enrollment of Children CMS Proposes 2.7 Percent Increase in Medicare Reimbursement Rate for Outpatient, Ambulatory Surgical Center ServicesPediatric Home Service Acquires Craig HomeCare, Cherub Medical Supply Health Plan Joins Hospital Systems as Co-Owner of Delaware Regional Medicare ACO

April 17, 2024

HMA News: Health Management Associates’ CEO Douglas Elwell Retiring; COO Charles (Chuck) Milligan to Lead FirmIn Focus: Medicaid Managed Care Enrollment Update—Q4 2023 In Focus: Policy and Operational Implications of the Change Healthcare Cyberattack Arkansas Awards CSG Government Solution IV&V ContractConnecticut Submits Section 1115 Substance Use Disorder Demonstration AmendmentKansas Delays KanCare, CHIP Medicaid Managed Care RFP AwardsFlorida Announces Awards for Statewide Medicaid Managed Care ProcurementMississippi Study to Test Food is Medicine Pilot ProgramNevada Proposes New Behavioral HCBS Program for ChildrenNew York Governor Announces Fiscal 2025 State Budget Agreement with LegislatureOhio MCOs Fund Community-based Programs Under NextGen ModelCMS Proposes Transforming Episode Accountability Model to Improve Care During Surgery, Recovery for Medicare BeneficiariesMedicare Telehealth Utilization Decreased in 2022; Does Not Limit Access to In-person Care, MedPAC FindsAccenture Federal Services to Acquire CognosanteElevance, Clayton, Dubilier & Rice Invest in Primary Care Access Partnership