Expert Perspectives

Jan 12, 2023 

New CMS Guidance on “In Lieu Of” Services

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently released a State Medicaid Director Letter on how states can use “in lieu of” (ILOS) services authority, including to address social drivers of health. The letter establishes the requirements and guardrails states must meet to ensure the use of ILOS are cost effective, medically appropriate, preserve enrollee rights and protections, and fulfill the objectives of the Medicaid program. This expert perspective provides a summary of the guidance.

Jan 3, 2023 

Improving Ex Parte Renewal Rates to Support Unwinding: Questions and Answers

When the federal Medicaid continuous coverage requirement expires, states will be required to redetermine eligibility for over 90 million Medicaid enrollees, threatening the historic coverage gains achieved during the federal public health emergency (PHE). One of the most effective tools for states to mitigate coverage loss for eligible people during “unwinding” and beyond is ex parte redetermination. This Q&A is intended to serve as a resource for states looking to improve their current ex parte processes to support their efforts during unwinding and well beyond.

Dec 23, 2022 

Unwinding Provisions in the 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act

After weeks of negotiations during the lame duck session, Congress passed 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. Among the health policies included in the package, section 5131 of the legislation provides a fixed end date for the Medicaid continuous coverage guarantee (March 31, 2023), a gradual phase down of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) enhanced federal match rate, and new conditions, reporting requirements, and enforcement mechanisms to prioritize coverage retention and smooth coverage transitions during the “unwinding.” This expert perspective provides an overview of these unwinding provisions and considerations for states.

Dec 19, 2022 

Did You Miss Them? Top State Health and Value Strategies Publications From 2022

States remained at the center of health policy action again in 2022. This expert perspective profiles ten products published by State Health and Value Strategies in 2022 that highlight three key themes from our work with states this year: helping states prepare for the unwinding of the public health emergency, supporting state innovation and advancing health equity.

Dec 16, 2022 

The Proposed 2024 Notice of Benefit & Payment Parameters: Implications for States

On December 12, 2022, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released its proposed Notice of Benefit & Payment Parameters for plan year 2024. This annual regulation governs core provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), including operation of the health insurance marketplaces, standards for insurers, and the risk adjustment program. This expert perspective focuses on provisions of the proposed rule that would be of interest to state based marketplaces (SBM) and state insurance regulators. Comments on the proposed rule are due on January 30, 2023.

Dec 16, 2022 

Communicating the PHE Unwinding: How States Are Collaborating With Community Partners

To avoid potential coverage losses when the federal public health emergency (PHE) is declared over and the Medicaid continuous coverage requirement ends, states will need to communicate with enrollees and other stakeholders, including community partners, about the actions they need to take to keep individuals enrolled in Medicaid or transition to another form of health coverage. The first expert perspective in this two-part series on how states are conducting outreach and planning highlighted several states that have promoted transparency through the public release of their unwinding operational plans. This expert perspective reviews examples of states that are collaborating with community partners to support their outreach and engagement efforts.