CMS Proposed Rules Part 3: HCBS Program Changes
On Monday, June 12, State Health and Value Strategies will host a webinar that will focus 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 will provide 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 will also highlight areas where CMS is requesting comment (due July 3, 2023) and review 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.
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.
Section 1115 Demonstration Opportunity to Support Reentry for Justice-Involved Populations: CMS Guidance
On Tuesday, May 2, State Health and Value Strategies hosted a webinar that provided an overview of CMS’ guidance that outlines the opportunity for states to waive the inmate exclusion and receive federal financial participation for expenditures for certain pre-release healthcare services provided to individuals who are incarcerated and otherwise eligible for Medicaid. The webinar built on the recently published expert perspective, CMS Issues Guidance on Section 1115 Demonstration Opportunity to Support Reentry for Justice-Involved Populations.
Development of Statewide Health Equity Data Standards in Massachusetts
On Thursday, March 23, State Health and Value Strategies hosted a webinar that reviewed the recent adoption of statewide health equity data standards for the collection of self-reported patient demographic information by provider organizations, Medicaid and commercial insurers in Massachusetts. During the webinar, experts from MassHealth (Massachusetts Medicaid) and Bailit Health reviewed the adopted standards as well as a complementary framework for introducing accountability for advancing health equity into value-based contracting. Panelists also described how Massachusetts engaged a wide array of stakeholders in the development process and the plan for dissemination and adoption.
Transformational Community Engagement: Working With Community to Advance Health Equity
On Tuesday, February 28, State Health and Value Strategies hosted a webinar that explored how states can implement community engagement strategies that amplify community voices, engage program enrollees, and translate engagement into more effective and equitable health initiatives. Community engagement is a critical component in advancing health equity as it enables trust and respect, improves barriers to health, and allows for efficacy by ensuring programs utilize experiences from the communities they impact. State reactors also highlighted recent Medicaid community engagement efforts.
New CMS Guidance on Medicaid Continuous Coverage Unwinding Provisions in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023
On Wednesday, February 8, State Health and Value Strategies hosted a webinar during which experts from Manatt Health reviewed CMS’ recently released State Health Official (SHO) letter related to “unwinding” the Medicaid continuous coverage guarantee, based on provisions included in section 5131 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (CAA). The webinar reviewed the additional detail and operational expectations of states during the unwinding of Medicaid continuous coverage as laid out in the SHO letter, and discussed key considerations for state policymakers.
Exploring the New Social Care Quality Measures: How Do We Define and Measure Social Needs and High-Quality Social Care?
On Thursday, January 26 State Health and Value Strategies co-hosted a webinar with the Social Interventions Research & Evaluation Network (SIREN) at the University of California San Francisco on the new social care quality measures that will launch from many federal and some state agencies. The measures target a range of payer and delivery system reporting entities. They include requirements around social risk screening and, in some cases, social care interventions. The marked variation across these initiatives highlights a key question: How do we define and measure high quality social care?
Click here for webinar recording
Omnibus Unwinding Provisions and Implications for States
On Wednesday, January 11 State Health and Value Strategies hosted a webinar on the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, an omnibus funding package that includes government appropriations through September 30, 2023 as well as a number of health policy provisions. Included in the package is a date certain for the expiration of the Medicaid continuous coverage requirement, a gradual phase down of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act enhanced federal match rate, and new guardrails to protect against inappropriate coverage loss and smooth coverage transitions. During the webinar, experts from Manatt Health and GMMB provided an overview of the unwinding provisions in the legislation, building on our recent expert perspective, Unwinding Provisions in the 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act. Presenters discussed open questions and key considerations for state policymakers as they head into the final stretch of planning for the transition back to regular eligibility and enrollment operations.
How States are Leveraging Medicaid Managed Care to Address Health-Related Social Needs
On Wednesday, November 9 State Health and Value Strategies (SHVS) and the Health Foundation of South Florida (HFSF) hosted a webinar that reviewed examples of state approaches to address enrollees’ health-related social needs that do not require an 1115 waiver. During the webinar, experts from Bailit Health reviewed a new SHVS/HFSF resource, Addressing Health-Related Social Needs Through Medicaid Managed Care, described approaches to require and/or incentivize Medicaid plans to address health-related social needs, and facilitated a discussion with state Medicaid officials.