Examining the Public Charge Proposed Rule
On October 1, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s State Health and Value Strategies program hosted a webinar, facilitated by experts at Manatt Health on the long-anticipated proposed rule released by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on September 22. The proposed rule seeks to change how DHS determines whether immigrants—when seeking admission to the United States, an extension of their stay, or status change to become a legal permanent resident—are “likely at any time to become a public charge” (i.e., dependent on the government for financial support). Consequentially, being determined a “public charge” may put immigration status at risk. The webinar reviewed the proposed rule and its potential impacts on consumers, states and providers. Specifically, we highlighted the key ways the proposed rule departs from current guidance, with a particular focus on the implications for Medicaid and other health-related public benefits, and how the proposed rule may impact consumers’ access to certain benefits. Click here for the webinar slides.
The Effects of Medicaid Expansion under the ACA: Select Articles Published Between January 1, 2018 and August 31, 2018
Thirty-three states and the District of Columbia have expanded Medicaid since 2014. As experience with Medicaid expansion grows, states and independent researchers are generating studies that evaluate its impacts at both the state and national levels. This resource highlights articles published since January 2018 that report on those impacts, organized by health access and outcomes, economic impacts, and coverage impacts.
State Health Policy Highlights: Service Integration and Joint Accountability Across State Agencies and Programs
Health status is largely influenced by factors outside the health care delivery system, particularly for low-income populations. State efforts to improve health and reduce health disparities through the lens of medical care alone will miss opportunities for individuals, particularly the most vulnerable and their communities. As more states focus broadly on population health goals, they seek to employ and coordinate a variety of health and other resources on targeted efforts. This State Health Policy Highlight profiles three State Health and Value Strategies (SHVS) issue briefs that provide states with practical approaches to improve individual and population health and create joint accountability across health care and other sectors.
State Health Policy Highlights: Addressing Social Determinants of Health
There is an extensive body of evidence that shows social determinants of health (SDOH) play a powerful role in shaping health and health outcomes. State policymakers are increasingly focused on SDOH because of the influence they have on health, health care outcomes and Medicaid spending. As state Medicaid agencies consider addressing SDOH, there are a range of models they can employ. State Health and Value Strategies (SHVS) has published resources and hosted webinars with information for state health officials on approaches to addressing SDOH. This State Health Policy Highlight profiles two issue briefs and a webinar produced by SHVS on the topic of how state Medicaid programs can address SDOH.
Using Hospital Admission, Discharge, and Transfer (ADT) Data to Coordinate Care: Lessons from Tennessee and Washington
On September 6, 2018, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s State Health and Value Strategies program hosted a webinar on effective use of admissions, discharge, and transfer (ADT) data. Considered to be the most relevant real-time electronic data for health care providers, ADT data, if used effectively, can help states improve overall health of their populations. This webinar featured the use of ADT data feeds to coordinate care for patients with behavioral health and other complex care issues by two states, Tennessee and Washington. Presenters provided an overview of their respective state programs, including operational and financing strategies, linkages to quality metrics and outcomes, and alignment with other statewide payment and delivery system efforts. Presenters also shared lessons learned and advice to states.
Measure Selection, Alignment and Performance Benchmarking: A New Resource for States
On October 12, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s State Health and Value Strategies program hosted a webinar, facilitated by experts at Bailit Health, on a new suite of publicly available resources that support states in their measure selection, alignment and performance benchmarking efforts. The Buying Value Benchmark Repository builds upon the Buying Value Measure Selection Tool and is a downloadable database of non-HEDIS and modified HEDIS measures that states and regional health improvement collaboratives are using for reporting, payment or other purposes. During the webinar technical experts from Bailit Health provided an overview of the repository and discussed how states can both utilize the tool and contribute measures to it. The webinar also reviewed the resources available through Buying Value to support measurement selection. These resources are publicly available to download and use, and the Measure Selection Tool can be customized to support measure alignment and selection processes.
Work and Community Engagement Requirements in Medicaid: State Implementation Requirements and Considerations
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has approved state work/community engagement (CE) waivers in Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, and New Hampshire, and additional states have submitted or are poised to submit similar waivers. Manatt Health has produced a series of charts that outline the legal, policy, financial and operational tasks and issues that states will face in adding a work/CE condition to their Medicaid program. This information is intended to highlight for states the complexity of administrative tasks associated with implementing a work/CE requirement.
Safeguarding Financial Stability of Provider Risk-Bearing Organizations
An increasingly common feature of health care payment models is the transfer of financial risk from payers to providers for health care services delivered to a defined population of patients. In these “value-based payment” models, providers accept financial responsibility should spending for most, or all, services for an attributed patient population exceed targeted levels. This financial liability is often shared with payers, and maximum risk exposure is typically capped. This issue brief explores options for states as they consider oversight of risk-bearing organizations, with a focus on states that have elected to act to protect against provider insolvency.
State Health and Value Strategies hosted a companion webinar, Safeguarding Financial Stability of Provider Risk-Bearing Organizations, based on the issue brief that provided an overview of options for states as they consider oversight of risk-bearing organizations (RBOs) as well as a deeper dive on the Massachusetts approach.
Explaining the Stewart v. Azar Decision and Implications for States
On July 24th, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation State Health and Value Strategies (SHVS) program, together with technical assistance experts from Manatt Health, hosted a webinar to review the Stewart v. Azar decision and its potential implications for states with approved, pending or planned Medicaid waivers that include work/community engagement requirements. During the webinar, we reviewed the court’s findings and any Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services guidance. Even in states not pursuing work/community engagement requirements, the court’s findings may shape what type of analysis will be necessary to demonstrate that future waivers advance the objectives of the Medicaid statute.
Waivers of the Institutions for Mental Disease (IMD) Exclusion: Emerging Opportunities and Challenges
On June 21, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s State Health and Value Strategies program, together with technical assistance experts from Manatt Health, hosted a webinar to discuss the status of state efforts to secure waivers to use federal Medicaid funding to provide care in Institutions for Mental Disease (IMD). The webinar reviewed the requirements states must meet to secure an IMD waiver; the status of requests and approvals; and issues and opportunities arising as states pursue and increasingly implement the IMD waiver. We were joined by leadership from the New Jersey Department of Human Services, which received approval of its IMD waiver in October 2017 and is now in the implementation phase.