Just in time for the holiday weekend, CMS issued a Q&A regarding the state option to expand Medicaid by using premium assistance to buy coverage through a qualified health plan in the new insurance marketplaces. Over the past few weeks, “the Arkansas plan” worked itself into a media frenzy and had Medicaid stakeholders concerned over reports that hinted at a deal that might compromise Medicaid protections. The guidance released last week clearly preserves Medicaid’s cost-sharing and benefit protections and would require states to seek a Section 1115 waiver if they mandate participation in premium assistance.

CCF’s own waiver expert, Joan Alker, has been closely tracking the Arkansas discussions and will be back to opine on the latest developments later this week.