Medicaid Managed Care Approaches to Confront Mental Health Inequities
On Thursday, July 27, State Health and Value Strategies (SHVS), hosted a webinar highlighting the recently published issue brief, Medicaid Managed Care Strategies to Reduce Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities in Mental Healthcare for Adults, which describes approaches that states can take to reduce racial and ethnic inequities in mental healthcare and improve mental health outcomes. The webinar was facilitated by experts from Bailit Health and will include a discussion with experts from Health Equity Solutions and a state official on their activities to promote equity in mental healthcare.
Medicaid Managed Care Strategies to Reduce Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities in Mental Healthcare for Adults
Medicaid programs are uniquely positioned to promote greater equity in mental healthcare, as the program plays an outsized role in the financing and delivery of mental healthcare. The issue brief identifies four approaches states can use to leverage their Medicaid managed care programs to advance their health equity goals. The brief also provides state examples to further illustrate how each approach has been implemented.
Highlights of the State Health Equity Measure Set: Measures to Assess and Improve Equity
On Thursday, June 29, State Health and Value Strategies hosted a webinar highlighting the recently published State Health Equity Measure Set, which introduces a curated set of existing health equity measures in areas where consumers experience disparate outcomes. States can use the Measure Set to assess how their performance on the measures varies by race and ethnicity and compare it to the performance of other states. The webinar was facilitated by experts from Bailit Health and included a question and answer session with state representatives from the advisory group that informed the development of the measure set.
State Health Equity Measure Set
The State Health Equity Measure Set provides a standard set of health equity measures that states can use to assess their performance against other states, and inform interventions that strive to improve equity in healthcare access and outcomes within their state. The State Health Equity Measure Set includes 10 population-level measures, which gauge health status, and 19 healthcare measures, which evaluate receipt of, and outcomes associated with, evidence-based health services. All measures have been tested and are in use by national measurement bodies. The Measure Set provides states with the resources to inform policies and program interventions that are focused on reducing disparities in healthcare access, care delivery, and health outcomes for people of color.
CMS Proposed Rules Part 3: HCBS Program Changes
On Monday, June 12, State Health and Value Strategies hosted a webinar that focused specifically on key reforms that CMS has proposed for Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS) included in the “Access Proposed Rule.” During the third webinar in this three part series, experts from Manatt Health provided an overview of the provisions to enhance access to HCBS, standardize quality measures and reporting requirements, and address longstanding shortages in the direct care workforce. Presenters also highlighted areas where CMS is requesting comment (due July 3, 2023) and reviewed considerations for state officials.
CMS Proposed Rules Part 2: Coverage, Financing, Payment and Quality
On Friday, May 26, State Health and Value Strategies hosted a webinar that provided an overview of CMS’ recently released proposed rules: (1) “Managed Care Access, Finance, and Quality” (or the “Managed Care Proposed Rule”), which focuses on managed care delivery systems; and (2) “Ensuring Access to Medicaid Services” (or the “Access Proposed Rule”), which focuses on fee-for-service delivery systems and program improvements for home and community-based services across delivery systems. During the second webinar in this three-part series, experts from Manatt Health focused exclusively on key provisions in the “Managed Care” proposed rule related to coverage, financing, payment, and quality. Presenters highlighted areas where CMS is requesting comment (due July 3, 2023) and reviewed considerations for state officials.
1115 Demonstration Facilitation Tool: Crosswalk of Requested Reentry Demonstration Features to Federal Requirements and California’s Approved Demonstration
On January 26, 2023, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) approved California’s request to amend the California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal Section 1115 demonstration. On April 17, 2023, CMS released a State Medicaid Director Letter (SMDL), “Opportunities to Test Transition-Related Strategies to Support Community Reentry and Improve Care Transitions for Individuals Who Are Incarcerated.” The following tool can be used as part of a state’s discussions with CMS regarding a requested demonstration’s proposed features as compared with the reentry requirements outlined in the SMDL and California’s section 1115 demonstration approval.
CMS Proposed Rules Part 1: Access to Care and Transparency
On Tuesday, May 23, State Health and Value Strategies hosted a webinar providing an overview of CMS’ recently released proposed rules: (1) “Managed Care Access, Finance, and Quality” (or the “Managed Care Proposed Rule”), which focuses on managed care delivery systems; and (2) “Ensuring Access to Medicaid Services” (or the “Access Proposed Rule”), which focuses on fee-for-service delivery systems and program improvements for home and community-based services across delivery systems. During the first webinar in this three-part series, experts from Manatt Health provided an overview of the access to care and access monitoring proposals included in both rules. Presenters highlighted areas where CMS is requesting comment (due July 3, 2023) and reviewed considerations for state officials.
State Spotlight: Oklahoma’s Award-Winning Communications Campaign to Promote Medicaid Expansion Enrollment
The Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion allows for the expansion of Medicaid coverage to nearly all adults with incomes up to 138% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) and provides states with an enhanced federal matching rate for their expansion populations. On June 30, 2020, the Oklahoma Medicaid Expansion Initiative, State Question 802, passed by a majority vote to expand Medicaid eligibility to adults ages 19 to 64 whose income is 138% of the FPL or lower. This state spotlight describes the Oklahoma Health Care Authority’s approach to outreach and education in support of overall enrollment goals.
Federal Declarations and Flexibilities Supporting Medicaid and CHIP COVID-19 Response Efforts Effective and End Dates
To help states respond to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the White House, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have invoked their emergency powers to authorize temporary flexibilities in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. Congress’s legislative relief packages have provided additional federal support for state Medicaid programs, subject to certain conditions. The timeframes for these emergency measures are summarized in the chart, including the effective dates and expiration timelines dictated by law or agency guidance. This SHVS product has been updated to reflect the expiration of the PHE at the end of the day on May 11, 2023 and related guidance from CMS regarding the unwinding of certain Medicaid flexibilities. The document also includes a timeline of key Medicaid unwinding provisions included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023.