Blog

Proposed Policy Changes Affecting Health Reimbursement Arrangements

This week, our In Focus section comes to us from HMA Senior Consultant Ryan Mooney (Austin), who reviewed the proposed rule on Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs). On October 29, 2018, the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the Department of Labor, and the Department of Health and Human Services published a proposed rule (83 FR 54420), the purpose of which is to expand the use of HRAs. An HRA is an employer-supported account that helps employees pay for qualified medical expenses not covered by their health plans. The proposed rule is the latest component of the President’s Executive Order 13813, which directed the federal government to expand and facilitate access to association health plans, short-term and limited-duration insurance products, and HRAs. 

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Navigating CMS’ Proposed Medicaid Managed Care Regulations

This week’s HMA Weekly Roundup features an In Focus article from HMA Senior Consultants Amber Swartzell and Stephanie Baume (Indiana), who reviewed the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed Medicaid managed care regulations. On November 8, 2018, CMS released a proposed rule that would update several sections of the Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) managed care rules, which were most recently amended in 2016. This much anticipated proposal, scheduled to appear in the Federal Register on November 14, 2018, focuses on “promoting flexibility, strengthening accountability, and maintaining and enhancing program integrity.” The key provisions of the proposed regulations are summarized below.

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Florida Statewide Medicaid Managed Care (SMMC) Awards

This week, our In Focus section comes to us from Principal Elaine Peters (HMA – Florida), who reviews the recent re-procurement by the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) of its Statewide Medicaid Managed Care (SMMC) health and dental plans.  The SMMC program currently has two key program components:  Long-Term Care (LTC) and Managed Medical Assistance (MMA).  The new SMMC program changes the two components to: Integrated MMA and LTC and Dental.  The 2016 Legislature “carved out” dental services from MMA plans and new dental plans will be responsible for providing dental services to eligible members.

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A Deeper Look Into Highlights From the Kaiser/HMA 50-State Medicaid Director Survey

This week, our In Focus section reviews highlights and shares key takeaways from the 18th annual Medicaid Budget Survey conducted by The Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) and Health Management Associates (HMA). Survey results were released on October 25, 2018, in two new reports: States Focus on Quality and Outcomes Amid Waiver Changes: Results from a 50-State Medicaid Budget Survey for State Fiscal Years 2018 and 2019 and Medicaid Enrollment & Spending Growth: FY 2018 & 2019. The reports were prepared by Kathleen Gifford, Eileen Ellis, Barbara Coulter Edwards, and Aimee Lashbrook from HMA, and by Elizabeth Hinton, Larisa Antonisse, and Robin Rudowitz from the Kaiser Family Foundation. The survey was conducted in collaboration with the National Association of Medicaid Directors.

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