Issue Briefs , Reports | Mar 29, 2016

Medicaid and the Indian Health Service: New Guidance Explains How States May Secure Additional Federal Funds

Deborah Bachrach, Patricia Boozang, and Julian Polaris, Manatt Health

Recent guidance released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in February 2016 increases the range of Medicaid services and providers for which states may claim full federal funding.  States with significant American Indian and/or Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations stand to benefit from this increased federal Medicaid funding.  This issue brief, developed by Manatt Health, summarizes the new policy expanding federal funding for state Medicaid services provided to AI/AN populations, and explains the ways in which these additional funds reduce the cost of Medicaid expansion for states.  This issue brief is part of a continuing series investigating the fiscal implications of Medicaid expansion.


Expert Perspectives

May 17, 2024

State Implications of the Section 1557 Nondiscrimination Rule 

On April 26, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights released a final rule interpreting section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act , which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. This expert perspective reviews the implications of the rule for state policymakers.

May 16, 2024

Optimizing SMS Strategies for Outreach to Medicaid and Marketplace Enrollees

As states continue to explore new ways to reach Medicaid and Marketplace members with targeted messages and updates about their coverage, many have incorporated SMS text messaging into their communications plans. This expert perspective highlights strategies and recommendations for states that are considering or currently implementing text messaging in their outreach plans to support states as they look to optimize text messaging in their Medicaid and Marketplace communications and outreach efforts.

Mapping State Efforts to Address Medical Debt

The healthcare affordability crisis has resulted in an estimated 100 million Americans, or 41% of adults, holding some form of medical debt. The consequences of medical debt are profound, from financial strain to worsened health outcomes, and there are significant health equity implications. States are moving to eradicate medical debt for low income residents and protect residents from the financial consequences. This expert perspective highlights state action to cancel medical debt and/or prohibit medical debt reporting.