May 13 Update

In This Week’s Update:

  • New Guidance on Streamlining Enrollment 
  • SHVS Webinar: CMS Final Rules Part 2 
  • New SHVS Blog Series: States of Innovation
  • New Leadership Programs to Advance Health Equity 
  • Leveraging WIC and Medicaid to Improve Health
  • ACA Marketplaces Open to DACA Recipients
  • State updates: AZ, CO, CT, IA, KS, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, NC & OR

 

New Guidance on Streamlining Enrollment
Last week, CMS released new guidance, including:

  • An Informational Bulletin announcing an extension of section 1902(e)(14) strategies and other unwinding-related flexibilities through June 30, 2025, while CMS continues to assess which section 1902(e)(14) waivers it can authorize permanently.
  • To remind states of their obligation to process Medicaid and CHIP applications in compliance with federal requirements and help states improve timely processing, CMS released an Informational Bulletin and an accompanying slide deck highlighting effective policies and practices that states may consider taking up during and after unwinding. 

SHVS Webinar: CMS Final Rules Part 2
CMS Final Rules Part 2: Managed Care Payments, Quality, and Oversight
Monday, May 20, 2024, 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. ET
State Health & Value Strategies (SHVS) will host the second webinar in a three-part webinar series on CMS’ recently finalized rules on Medicaid access and managed care. Part 2 will focus exclusively on key provisions in the Managed Care Rule related to provider payment, financing, quality, and in lieu of services. SHVS is also hosting Part 3 on Thursday, June 6 which will provide a detailed overview of provisions in the Access Rule that aim to enhance access to home and community-based services (HCBS), standardize quality measures and reporting requirements, and help address long-standing shortages in the direct care workforce. The webinar slides and a recording of Part 1, which provided an overview of the provisions in both rules regarding access monitoring, enrollee engagement provider payment transparency, and HCBS, are now available.

Please be sure to register (which is required) for Part 2 and Part 3, and feel free to share the registration information with other interested state colleagues. 

 

New SHVS Series: States of Innovation
SHVS is launching a new series on the latest health news at the state level. States of Innovation will spotlight what states are working on to achieve better, more affordable, and more equitable health for all. As laboratories for innovation in healthcare, states are driving efforts to reduce costs, address inequities, and expand access to coverage and care. States of Innovation will profile the latest state efforts across a range of topics as well as a selection of recent waiver requests and approvals. The inaugural States of Innovation post highlights state activity from March and April, 2024. 

 

New Leadership Programs to Advance Health Equity
The Milbank Memorial Fund launched recruitment for the 2024-2025 cohorts of two leadership programs for legislative and executive branch state, large-county, and large-city government officials who are committed to improving population health and health equity. These programs provide an opportunity for participants to engage with colleagues from across the country, as well as with Milbank’s broader state leadership network; enhance their leadership skills; learn from experts about pressing health policy topics; and improve their capacity to advance population health reforms in their communities. The Milbank Fellows Program is an opportunity for senior executive branch and legislative state leaders, and interested applicants should complete this online form. The Emerging Leaders Program is tailored to early and mid-career officials, and interested candidates may apply using this online form. Applications will be open until June 15.

 

Leveraging WIC and Medicaid to Improve Health
Both Medicaid and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)—programs with shared goals and shared participants—can improve health during pregnancy, the postpartum period, and the early years of a child’s life. While Medicaid has historically reached most eligible children and parents, WIC reaches less than half of eligible pregnant people and young children and only 37% of WIC-eligible Medicaid enrollees. A webinar from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and Georgetown Center for Children and Families will discuss the transformative potential of cross-agency partnerships to address food insecurity and promote healthier communities. 

 

ACA Marketplaces Open to DACA Recipients
Also last week, SHVS published a new expert perspective on the recently released final regulation that allows people who receive Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) to sign up for subsidized Marketplace or Basic Health Program coverage. The expert perspective summarizes the provisions of the regulation and discusses their implications for states. Updates follow.

 

State updates: AZ, CO, CT, IA, KS, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, NC & OR

  • Arizona – The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) announced that since implementation of continuous coverage for children eligible for Medicaid and CHIP, AHCCCS has continued coverage for more than 155,000 children under the age of 19.
  • Colorado – Governor Jared Polis signed legislation aimed at addressing the state’s healthcare workforce shortage. The bill provides additional funding to support the establishment of a third medical school in the state and to help expand programs at other institutions.
  • Connecticut – Governor Ned Lamont announced that he has signed legislation prohibiting healthcare providers and hospitals in Connecticut from reporting a person’s medical debt to credit rating agencies for use in credit reports. It also voids any medical debt that is reported to credit rating agencies.
  • Iowa 
    • Governor Kim Reynolds signed two health insurance bills, including one requiring insurers to cover supplemental and diagnostic testing for breast examinations and legislation requiring coverage of biomarker testing to guide treatments.
    • The Department of Health and Human Services launched a community survey seeking feedback concerning challenges in accessing services to age well or provide care to others within the community. Feedback will help create a long-term plan for how the state and community partners will work together to provide access to services through the lifespan.
  • Kansas – Governor Laura Kelly signed legislation that provides legal protections for those that seek to provide medical assistance to a person suffering a medical emergency related to substance-use. Known as the Good Samaritan Law, this legislation will prevent those suffering an overdose and bystanders who seek emergency services from being prosecuted for drug possession or use.
  • Maine – Governor Janet Mills announced that Jeanne Lambrew will step down from her position as Commissioner of the Department of Health and Human Services, effective May 31, to accept a position leading national health policy development at The Century Foundation and to teach at Harvard University. 
  • Massachusetts – Massachusetts submitted a request to amend its section 1115 demonstration entitled, “MassHealth Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Plan (CHIP) Section 1115 Demonstration.” This demonstration amendment aims to provide the Commonwealth with Designated State Health Programs authority to support new demonstration initiatives and provide new federal support for existing state operated programs that serve low-income populations. 
  • Maryland – Governor Wes Moore signed into law the Maryland Kids Code, which seeks to limit data that could be collected from children online and authorizes certain monitoring practices to allow a child’s parent or guardian to monitor the child’s online activity or location without alerting the child.
  • Michigan – Michigan requested to extend the Michigan 1115 Behavioral Health Demonstration for five years. Additionally, Michigan is seeking new authority to provide contingency management as part of a comprehensive treatment model. 
  • Minnesota – The Department of Human Services published a bulletin announcing the end of Minnesota’s unwinding period effective June 1, 2024. The bulletin also provides information about temporary eligibility and enrollment strategies that will continue through December 2024.
  • North Carolina – Governor Roy Cooper announced that more than 450,000 North Carolinians signed up for Medicaid under expansion in five months, with more than one million prescriptions covered. The milestone means three-fourths of those eligible for expansion have now gained coverage.
  • Oregon – The Oregon Health Authority launched a social media campaign spotlighting the public health harms caused by fentanyl, and how people can prevent deadly overdoses in the state. The campaign, “Fentanyl Aware” will focus on teaching people about risks, harm reduction strategies, recognizing and responding to an overdose and Oregon’s Good Samaritan Law.