Leveraging CHIP HSIs to Respond to COVID-19
As the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis continues, state Medicaid and Children Health Insurance Program (CHIP) agencies are rapidly pursuing multiple financing strategies to support their responses. CHIP Health Services Initiatives (HSIs) can provide additional financial support to states and local communities serving low-income children. This issue brief provides an overview of CHIP HSIs and identifies ways that states can leverage them as part of their targeted response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Medicaid Enhanced Provider Payment Strategies and COVID-19: Questions and Answers
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to progress, providers across the continuum of care are experiencing significant changes in utilization resulting in declining revenue and jeopardizing access to care. The federal government has acknowledged the financial challenges facing providers through supplemental funding included in the three federal stimulus bills enacted to date. In addition, several states have submitted Section 1115 waivers requesting CMS approval to establish “disaster relief funds,” paid for with Medicaid dollars, to further assist providers. While it will take some time for waiver requests to be reviewed and for the new federal funds to be released, more immediately available tools can help ensure payments continue flowing to providers despite substantial utilization changes. This Q&A provides a moment-in-time update in response to questions SHVS has received regarding the April 9 Targeted Options for Increasing Medicaid Payments to Providers During COVID-19 Crisis Webinar and corresponding Toolkit.
The Federal Government’s Response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic: Questions & Answers
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government is moving rapidly to help states and health care providers respond to mounting needs for new sources of funding and flexibility. Congress has passed three COVID-19 stimulus bills, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has issued guidance outlining new flexibilities available to states and providers, and is working to approve additional requests from states, to award funds appropriated by Congress, and to issue more guidance about such funding. This Q&A provides a moment-in-time update in response to questions SHVS has received about the federal government’s response.
Impact of COVID-19 on Medicaid Managed Care Performance Incentives
On Tuesday, April 21, State Health and Value Strategies hosted a state-only webinar, Impact of COVID-19 on Medicaid Managed Care Performance Incentives. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve and significantly alter care delivery, states, managed care organizations (MCOs), and providers are considering the impact on health care quality and spending. States are examining their value-based payment programs and evaluating modifications to their performance year 2019 quality measurement and performance year 2020 quality and cost performance policies, particularly those arrangements that hold entities financially accountable for performance. During the webinar, experts from Bailit Health identified quality and cost performance issues related to Medicaid managed care performance incentives and discuss policy options for state consideration.
Implications of Health Care Provisions for States in the CARES Act
On Thursday, April 16 State Health and Value Strategies hosted a webinar, Implications of Health Care Provisions for States in the CARES Act, on the $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, signed into law on March 27. The CARES Act contains a number of health care related provisions and federal funding sources to support states as they continue to work tirelessly to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak. During the webinar experts from Manatt Health and Georgetown’s Center on Health Insurance Reforms highlighted funding opportunities and conducted a deep dive on key provisions relevant to states included in the CARES Act.
Implications of Health Care Provisions for States in the Second COVID Stimulus Bill
On Thursday, March 26 at 2:00 p.m. ET State Health and Value Strategies hosted a webinar for state health officials that explored the key health care provisions in the second COVID-19 stimulus bill, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, and the implications for state Medicaid and CHIP agencies, state departments of insurance, and state-based Marketplaces. The bill, Families First Coronavirus Response Act (enacted March 18), focuses largely on ensuring access to free testing as well as Medicaid fiscal relief; it also includes emergency supplemental appropriations to agencies on the front lines of the response to the pandemic, $1 billion in food aid, the establishment of an emergency paid leave benefits program, and the extension of sick leave benefits.
Responding to COVID-19: State Strategies for Medicaid and Commercial Health Insurance Oversight
On Wednesday, March 18 State Health and Value Strategies hosted a webinar, Responding to COVID-19: State Strategies for Medicaid and Commercial Health Insurance Oversight. As states navigate increased spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus), and in light of the President’s declaration of a national emergency, states are evaluating the tools available to them to respond to this new public health crisis. The webinar explored both the strategies available to Medicaid programs and the opportunities for state regulators to reduce gaps in coverage and lower barriers to accessing care. Technical assistance experts from Manatt Health and Georgetown’s Center on Health Insurance Reforms discussed the steps states have taken so far, as well as strategies and opportunities for states to consider as they ramp up their response to COVID-19. The webinar included a question and answer session during which states posed their questions to the experts on the line.
The Fiscal Impact of the Healthy Adult Opportunity Medicaid Demonstration Initiative
TO BE RESCHEDULED. State Health and Value Strategies was planning to host a webinar on March 19, The Fiscal Impact of the Healthy Adult Opportunity Medicaid Demonstration Initiative that will discuss findings from a new publication by our friends at the Commonwealth Fund and Manatt Health. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released guidance inviting states to apply for the Healthy Adult Opportunity Medicaid demonstration initiative, which allows states to opt into a block grant funding model. The issue brief finds that the initiative would result in substantially less federal funding for state Medicaid programs, as well as greater financial risks for states that elect to pursue the demonstration. During the webinar, experts from Manatt Health will share their findings from the new publication, with an opportunity for states to ask questions of the report authors.
Medicaid’s Crucial Role in Combating the Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Crisis
On March 11, State Health & Value Strategies (SHVS) hosted a webinar in which experts from Manatt Health explored Medicaid strategies to improve maternal health outcomes and address disparities in five key domains: coverage, enrollment, benefits, models of care, and quality improvement. This webinar shared findings from a published Manatt Health issue brief for SHVS on Medicaid’s role in combating the maternal mortality crisis.
Click here for webinar recording
Medicaid’s Crucial Role in Combating the Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Crisis
This issue brief describes select policy and strategy levers that Medicaid agencies can employ to improve maternal health outcomes and address outcome disparities in five areas: coverage, enrollment, benefits, models of care, and quality improvement. In some cases, the Medicaid agency will be responsible for implementing these policies; in other cases, the Medicaid agency can lead collaboration with other state agencies such as the public health department or the state marketplace.