Medicaid: The Linchpin in State Strategies to Prevent and Address Opioid Use Disorders
The nation’s opioid epidemic claimed more than 42,000 lives in 2016, and more than 2 million people in the United States have an opioid use disorder (OUD)—with nearly another 10 million at risk due to misuse of these drugs. Yet, only 1 in 5 people suffering from an OUD receive treatment. Today, Medicaid covers more than 1 in 3 people with an OUD, and program spending for people with an OUD in 2013 (before Medicaid expansion in many states) was more than $9 billion. In this issue brief, data from three states—New Hampshire, Ohio and West Virginia—highlight Medicaid’s role as the linchpin in states’ efforts to combat the opioid epidemic.
Global Budgeting for Rural Hospitals
Global budgeting is an innovative payment approach for rural hospitals that can enhance financial solvency and advance population health. Hospitals with global budgets know their revenues in advance of the year and so can concentrate on providing the services their communities need as well as on the prevention and management of chronic illness. Maryland rural hospitals have received global budgets since 2010; selected Pennsylvania rural hospitals will be starting on global budgets soon.
Analysis of the Trump Administration’s Proposed Short-Term Health Plan Rule: Implications for States
The Secretaries of Health and Human Services, Treasury, and Labor released a proposed rule to implement the President’s October 12, 2017 executive order calling for expanded availability of short-term limited duration health plans that do not have to comply with Affordable Care Act standards. The proposed rule would relax current federal rules by allowing short-term plans to be sold for a duration of up to 12 months. It also modifies required consumer disclosures about these products.
Model Legislation for State Individual Mandate
[*Updated Feb. 21, 2018*] The tax bill passed in December 2017 repealed the penalty associated with the Affordable Care Act’s individual shared responsibility provision, also known as the individual mandate. The provision required those who could afford health coverage to either maintain coverage, qualify for an exemption, or make a payment with their federal income tax return. The Congressional Budget Office projects that repealing the mandate penalty will increase insurance premiums by 10 percent on average and result in 13 million more persons being uninsured. A number of states have expressed an interested in examining a state-level individual mandate, which Massachusetts has had in place since before the ACA.
How State Programs are Defining and Tracking MCO Implementation of APMs
State Health and Value Strategies hosted a webinar on how states are utilizing a variety of approaches to require and assess the use of APM strategies through their contracted health plans. Beth Waldman from Bailit Health highlighted findings from a SHVS resource entitled State Medicaid Approaches for Defining and Tracking Managed Care Organizations Implementation of Alternative Payment Models. Staff from the Rhode Island Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner and Texas Health and Human Services Commission participated to share insights on their APM approaches.
Categorizing Value-Based Payment Models According to the LAN
State Health and Value Strategies is hosting a webinar on categorizing value-based payment models according to the LAN Alternative Payment Models (APM) Framework. Megan Burns from Bailit Health highlights findings from an upcoming SHVS resource for states, Categorizing Value-Based Payment Models According to the LAN Alternative Payment Model Framework: Examples of Payment Models by Category. The webinar provides real-world examples of what types of payment models fit within the LAN categories. Kat Latet, Manager, Health System Innovation at Community Health Plan of Washington participates and discusses the development and categorization of their APM.
Categorizing Value-Based Payment Models According to the LAN Alternative Payment Model Framework: Examples of Payment Models by Category
As the movement from volume to value-based payment progresses, more state purchasers are requiring their contracted health plans to implement alternative payment models (APMs) with the goals of improving the quality of care and reducing costs for taxpayers. The LAN APM Framework is an increasingly common method being used by states to measure plan progress toward implementation of APMs. This brief provides real-world examples of APMs within the LAN categories and can help states and other interested purchasers develop a common understanding of what types of payment models fit within the framework categories.
State Medicaid Approaches for Defining and Tracking Managed Care Organizations Implementation of Alternative Payment Models
As state Medicaid programs emphasize a focus on value-based payment, they are increasingly requiring their Medicaid managed care organizations to implement alternative payment models (APMs). This brief focuses on different ways in which states may set standard APM definitions to a) track MCO progress toward meeting state APM goals, and b) support comparison of APM implementation within a state and nationally.
Association Health Plan Proposed Rule: Summary and Implications for States
In response to President Trump’s October 12 executive order (EO), the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has published proposed rules to expand the availability of health coverage sold through associations to small businesses and self-employed individuals. The public has until March 6, 2018 to submit comments on these proposed rules and this brief provides state health officials with a review of the content of the proposed rules and examines the implications for those interested in commenting on the rule.
New Work and Community Engagement Requirements: Overview of Federal Activity and State Considerations
On January 11th, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released a State Medicaid Director letter providing guidance for states seeking 1115 waivers that condition Medicaid eligibility on work and community engagement, quickly followed by approval of Kentucky’s 1115 waivers that include these requirements. Both the new guidance and recent waiver approval represents a significant departure from past Administrations’ positions. In this webinar, the State Health and Value Strategies program, together with technical assistance experts from Manatt Health, review the new guidance, including key design parameters, budget neutrality requirements, and monitoring and evaluation criteria. The webinar also discusses state legal, policy and operational considerations for implementing work and community engagement requirements and highlight key elements of Kentucky’s waiver approval.