We wrote about the 988 crisis line on Say Ahhh! shortly after its launch in 2022. Two years into implementation, we’d like to revisit the crisis line to see where things stand. As a refresher, 988 was designated as the new number for the national mental health crisis hotline, replacing the previous 10-digit number, by […]
This spring, as millions of people prepared their taxes, an increasing number of states were using the tax-filing process to connect those who are eligible but uninsured with comprehensive, affordable health insurance. These “easy-enrollment programs” allow filers to check a box on forms they file with the state (e.g., income tax returns) to indicate that they […]
CMS released a proposed rule related to Medicare hospital outpatient and ambulatory surgical center payments that also includes provisions codifying the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 (CAA) requirement that states provide 12-months of continuous eligibility to all children in Medicaid and CHIP under age 19 as of January 1, 2024. While most of the rule […]
The Centers for Medicare & medicaid Services (CMS) recently released new Medicaid managed care regulations that update CMS policy on State Directed Payments (SDP). In this blog we’ll cover what SDPs are, how they can be used to improve access to care, and some changes in how CMS will allow and regulate them. You can […]
Much has been written about the enormous task state agencies have faced as they returned to routine operations during the unwinding of the Medicaid continuous enrollment requirement. While the primary focus (rightfully) has been around renewals and the renewal process, states have other eligibility and enrollment operational responsibilities including processing applications for new applicants or […]
The Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Managed Care Access, Finance, and Quality final rule makes significant improvements to managed care quality requirements, including boosting transparency and reducing reporting lag times. When fully enacted, these changes will transition states from reporting a single overall quality rating for a managed care plan to rating all […]
