Author: Tom Entrikin | Posted: 2. May 2013 12:55
The Engelberg Center for Health Care Reform at the Brookings Institution has released an April 2013 report entitled, “Person-Centered Health Care Reform: A Framework for Improving Care and Slowing Health Care Cost Growth.” The report notes that a “state-by-state, waiver-by-waiver approach” has become a hallmark of the Medicaid program over the last 20 years. [More]
Author: Tom Entrikin | Posted: 2. May 2013 12:53
On April 23, 2013, Governor Mike Beebe signed into law Senate Bill 1020, which authorizes the Arkansas Department of Human Services to explore design options that would reform the Medicaid program using private plans certified by the Department of Insurance that will offer coverage through the Exchange. Most persons aged 19-65 qualifying as newly eligible Medicaid recipients under the Affordable Care Act would have an opportunity to obtain coverage through such private plans, while persons with exceptional medical needs could still obtain coverage through programs addressing those needs under Arkansas Medicaid. S.B. 1020 authorizes the Department of Human Services to submit state Medicaid plan amendments, to seek federal waivers, and to pay premiums and supplemental cost-sharing directly to qualified health plans (a payment approach allowed under section 1906 of the federal Medicaid law on a case-by-case basis if such payments are cost-effective for each enrollee, and for children obtaining benchmark coverage under section 2103 of the Children’s Health Insurance Program law). [More]
Author: Tom Entrikin | Posted: 2. May 2013 12:52
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released proposed rules on April 26, 2013 that would update Medicare payment methods and rates for federal fiscal year 2014 under the inpatient prospective payment system (PPS) for acute care hospitals and the long-term care hospital PPS. The proposed rules also expand quality of care and patient safety reporting requirements for acute care hospitals, PPS-exempt cancer hospitals, long-term care hospitals, and inpatient psychiatric facilities. [More]
Author: Ryan Paiva | Posted: 24. April 2013 09:15
A recent AP report discussed the current status of state decisions concerning the issue of Medicaid expansion. It was noted that 20 states, mostly democratic-leaning, and the District of Columbia have accepted expansion. Some 13 GOP-oriented states have declined, citing the cost of Medicaid and a lack of trust about federal funding. It is reported that Florida and Missouri appear unlikely to reach a consensus prior to the end of their current legislative sessions. [More]
Author: Ryan Paiva | Posted: 26. March 2013 09:42
Join the National Association of State Human Services Finance Officers (HSFo) and Public Consulting Group, Inc. (PCG) for a two and a half day Intermediate Medicaid course in May in Raleigh, NC. Topics will include Medicaid financing and the impact of health care reform on states and state agencies. Details are located at www.hsfo.com under “dates.” Spots are limited so please sign up soon! The course is open to HSFo member and non-member state agencies. [More]
Author: Sam Fish | Posted: 15. February 2013 11:00
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has posted additional guidance on the types of increased Federal Medicaid percentages (FMAPs) that will be available to states that expand their Medicaid programs pursuant to the ACA. The guidance was issued in the format, “Questions and Answers: Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, February 2013”. [More]
Author: Patsy Crawford | Posted: 15. February 2013 10:55
On February 14, 2013, the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) published in the Federal Register its final rule to amend the frequency requirement for obtaining parental consent to bill Medicaid (FR Vol. 78, No.31, pages 10525-10538). Under the regulations for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), a local education agency (LEA) must, with limited exceptions, obtain parental consent prior to disclosing personally identifiable information maintained in a student’s education records, including information necessary for the LEA to bill Medicaid for services provided to the student. [More]
Author: Sam Fish | Posted: 30. January 2013 10:00
The Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured, an entity within the Kaiser Family Foundation, published on January 23, 2013 (Publication Number 8401) its 12th annual 50-state survey of Medicaid and CHIP eligibility, enrollment, and cost-sharing policies. The study identified many gaps in Medicaid coverage across the U.S. On the positive side, the survey showed that coverage for children and pregnant women was stable. However, it showed that adults with no dependent children qualify for benefits in only nine states, and eligibility for adults with children was often far below the poverty line. [More]
Author: Tom Entrikin | Posted: 16. November 2012 05:00
The National Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems (NAPH) released a study on October 25 showing the potentially severe impact that not implementing Medicaid expansions may have on safety net hospitals over the period 2014-2019. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) originally mandated that states expand Medicaid eligibility in 2014 to legal residents with incomes up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level, but the U.S. Supreme Court struck down that mandate on June 28, 2012. [More]
Author: Tom Entrikin | Posted: 9. November 2012 04:03
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published a final rule in the Federal Register on November 6, 2012 on increases in Medicaid payment rates for primary care in calendar years 2013 and 2014 mandated under section 1202 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The final rule will be effective January 1, 2013. Section 1202 seeks to improve Medicaid recipients’ access to primary care practitioners before and during state Medicaid eligibility expansions in 2014. One hundred percent Medicaid federal financial participation (FFP) will be available in 2013 and 2014 on increases in Medicaid primary care payment rates up to Medicare Part B rates. [More]
