New CMS Proposed Rule: ACA Marketplace Integrity
On Tuesday, April 1, State Health and Value Strategies will host a webinar on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) recently proposed regulation that would require several policy and operational changes for the Affordable Care Act Marketplaces and insurance rules. Many of the provisions would extend to State-Based Marketplaces and mandate adjustments to state insurance standards. During the webinar, experts from the Urban Institute and Georgetown University’s Center on Health Insurance Reforms (CHIR) will provide a detailed overview of CMS’ proposed rule and discuss key operational and policy considerations for states.
Potential Impact of Federal Changes on State Healthcare Programs
On Wednesday, February 26, State Health and Value Strategies hosted a webinar discussing the Medicaid and Marketplace reforms under consideration by the new administration and the 119th Congress, including adjustments to program financing, eligibility, and other policy requirements, with potential broad implications for state Medicaid and Marketplace programs. During the webinar, experts from Manatt Health provided an overview of potential federal policy changes to Medicaid and Marketplace coverage programs, vehicles for advancing and anticipated timing of such changes, and implications for states.
Leveraging Medicaid Managed Care to Address Health-Related Social Needs
On Thursday, November 7, State Health and Value Strategies hosted a webinar highlighting the ways states are addressing enrollees’ health-related social needs (HRSNs) through their Medicaid managed care programs and contracts. During the webinar, experts from Bailit Health showcased recent updates to the SHVS Addressing Health-Related Social Needs Through Medicaid Managed Care toolkit, highlighted state approaches to require and/or incentivize Medicaid plans to address HRSNs, and facilitated a discussion with state Medicaid officials.
The Expiration of the PTC Enhancements: State-Specific Impacts
On Tuesday, October 29, State Health and Value Strategies hosted a webinar discussing the expiration of the enhanced premium tax credits (PTCs) under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, extended by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 and currently set to expire at the end of 2025. During the webinar, experts from the Urban Institute presented recent research to estimate the impact of the enhancements and examined key timing considerations for states related to the expiration or possible extension of the enhanced PTCs.
Leveraging the Buying Value Resources to Advance Health Equity Measurement
On Tuesday, September 24, State Health and Value Strategies hosted a webinar showcasing how the Buying Value suite of resources can help states, employers, consumer organizations and providers implement quality measures to incentivize high-quality, high-value, equitable healthcare. The webinar highlighted two free, Excel-based tools, the Buying Value Measure Selection Tool and the Buying Value Benchmark Repository.
New CMS Guidance: CAA Requirements for the Provision of Medicaid and CHIP Services to Incarcerated Youth
On Monday, August 19, State Health and Value Strategies hosted a webinar on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) recently released State Health Official (SHO) letter providing implementation guidance on the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (CAA) requirements that states provide specific services for children and youth eligible for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program and involved in the juvenile justice system. During the webinar, experts from Manatt Health provided a detailed overview of CMS’ guidance in the SHO letter and discussed key operational and policy considerations for states.
Revisions to the Federal Standards for Race and Ethnicity Data Collection
On Monday, July 15, State Health and Value Strategies hosted a webinar on the revisions to the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) Statistical Policy Directive No. 15: Standards for Maintaining, Collecting, and Presenting Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity. During the webinar, experts from the State Health Access Data Assistance Center (SHADAC) and Health Equity Solutions reviewed the new OMB standards for race and ethnicity data collection, described the history of federally-defined race and ethnicity data collection standards, and highlighted the motivations for the revisions. The webinar also featured a discussion of the implications for health equity and provided guidance for implementing the standards in partnership with key stakeholders.
CMS Final Rules Part 3: Home and Community-Based Services
On Thursday, June 6, State Health and Value Strategies hosted the final webinar in a three-part webinar series on CMS’ highly anticipated final rules: (1) Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program Managed Care Access, Finance, and Quality (the “Managed Care Rule”), which focuses on managed care delivery systems; and (2) Ensuring Access to Medicaid Services (the “Access Rule”), which focuses on fee-for-service delivery systems and program improvements for home and community-based services (HCBS) across delivery systems. Building on Parts 1 and 2 of the webinar series, Part 3 provided a detailed overview of provisions in the Access Rule that aim to enhance access to HCBS, standardize quality measures and reporting requirements, and help address long-standing shortages in the direct care workforce.
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CMS Final Rules Part 2: Managed Care Payments, Quality, and Oversight
On Monday, May 20, State Health and Value Strategies hosted the second in a three-part webinar series on CMS’ highly anticipated final rules: (1) Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program Managed Care Access, Finance, and Quality (the “Managed Care Rule”), which focuses on managed care delivery systems; and (2) Ensuring Access to Medicaid Services (the “Access Rule”), which focuses on fee-for-service delivery systems and program improvements for home and community-based services (HCBS) across delivery systems. Part 2 focused exclusively on key provisions in the Managed Care Rule related to provider payment, financing, quality, and in lieu of services.
CMS Final Rules Part 1: Access, Enrollee Engagement, and Provider Payment Transparency
On Thursday, May 9, State Health and Value Strategies hosted the first in a three-part webinar series on CMS’ highly anticipated final rules: (1) Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program Managed Care Access, Finance, and Quality (the “Managed Care Rule”), which focuses on managed care delivery systems; and (2) Ensuring Access to Medicaid Services (the “Access Rule”), which focuses on fee-for-service delivery systems and program improvements for home and community-based services (HCBS) across delivery systems. During Part 1 of the webinar series, experts from Manatt Health provided an overview of the provisions in both rules regarding access monitoring, enrollee engagement, provider payment transparency, and HCBS.