Examining the Economics of Medicaid Expansion
As evidence of Medicaid expansion’s positive fiscal impact continues to mount across the country, the ability to identify and allocate state general fund dollars “saved” through expansion matters now more than ever. This presentation by Manatt Health reviews the most recent findings on the economic impacts of Medicaid expansion, discusses how state can refine estimates of enrollment, savings, and other expansion impacts, and addresses how states are using information on economic impacts to demonstrate the value of expansion.
Medicaid: States’ Most Powerful Tool to Combat the Opioid Crisis
With the United States in the midst of a worsening opioid epidemic, an examination of the resources and tools available to states in combating this crisis is critical. With Medicaid serving as the largest source of coverage for behavioral health services, including those related to substance use disorders (SUDs), the role that it can occupy in addressing the epidemic is clear. An additional 1.2 million individuals with SUDs have gained access to coverage in states that have expanded Medicaid under the ACA. This issue brief, developed by Manatt Health, reviews Medicaid strategies to combat the opioid epidemic.
Improving Online Health Insurance Marketplaces: The Critical Nature of Direct Observation in Assessing the Consumer User Experience (UX)
As the fourth open enrollment period under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) approaches, online health insurance marketplaces must consider ways in which they can assess the consumer user experience in order to make continued improvements. Direct consumer observation, known as Consumer User Experience (UX) assessment, represents one such tactic that could serve as a very valuable tool for marketplaces as they continue their future strategic planning. This issue brief, prepared by Claudia Page, examines UX assessment channels and provides a closer look at what can be learned by directly observing actual consumers as they apply for coverage.
Webinar Series – Provider Networks and the ACA
With insurers increasingly relying on new network design strategies to compete for Marketplace consumers, and state and federal regulators coming into closer alignment with regard to standards for network adequacy, an understanding of the issues surrounding provider networks and the Affordable Care Act is critical. This three-part webinar series, presented by Manatt Health, addressed a variety of topics related to the regulation of provider networks.
Partnerships Between Brokers and Marketplaces: An Assessment of Minnesota’s Broker-Operated Enrollment Centers
As health insurance marketplaces continue to approach the fourth open enrollment period, the development of innovative models and partnerships for reaching consumers becomes increasingly important. During the third open enrollment period, MNsure, Minnesota’s state-based marketplace, designated and supported twenty broker-operated enrollment centers around the state, which made a series of special commitments to promote enrollment through the marketplace. Determining the efficiency and effectiveness of such efforts is critical for the planning and development of future efforts undertaken by marketplaces.
IHS, Tribal Programs and Medicaid: Overview of New CMS Guidance
Recent guidance issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) expanded the circumstances under which states can receive full federal funding for services received through the Indian Health Service (IHS) and tribal health facilities. This webinar, presented by the State Network team at Manatt Health, provided an overview of the CMS guidance, as well as the financial implications for states and tribes.
Tricky Problems with Small Numbers: Methodological Challenges and Possible Solutions for Measuring PCMH and ACO Performance
With health care providers increasingly being rewarded based on changes in cost of care, it is critical that sufficient statistical safeguards are in place to ensure that payment arrangements fairly reflect provider performance rather than random variation in medical utilization. The underlying changes in cost of care for populations served by patient-centered medical homes (PCMHs) and accountable care organizations (ACOs) are difficult to accurately assess when there are a small number of attributed patients.
1332 State Innovation Waivers: Looking Ahead to Broader 1332 Waivers
The State Network 1332 Waivers Affinity Group continued with a presentation on potentially broader reforms that states may pursue through the Section 1332 State Innovation Waivers process. This discussion followed a prior presentation focused on narrower, more targeted reforms that several states are seeking to implement through the waiver process. This presentation, prepared by the State Network team at Manatt Health, included information on waiver considerations in California and Minnesota.
Medicaid Expansion: Just the Facts
Since the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), thirty-one states plus the District of Columbia have expanded Medicaid, providing a substantial base of evidence for the impact of Medicaid expansion, from a variety of perspectives. Data available from these states and a growing research base provide key information about the benefits and the strategic value of expansion.
Integrating Public Health and Health Care: Getting Beyond the Theory
Changes in population-based payment models in health care delivery have spurred enhanced efforts toward closer integration between state purchasers of health care and state, county, and local public health officials. This issue brief, developed by Bailit Health Purchasing LLC and Dr. Karen Hacker, investigates approaches that state agencies might employ in order to better integrate public health and health care delivery as a means of improving health and the value of health care, and it is organized according to seven features of integration. The issue brief is accompanied by three case studies providing additional detail to some of the examples cited in the brief.