HMA Principal Mary Hsieh offered her expertise and insights during a panel discussion at the America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) Conference. The panel, Blockbuster Medicare Innovations, focused on sweeping policy changes announced by the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services.
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Medicaid Managed Care Enrollment Update – Q2 2019
This week, our In Focus section reviews recent Medicaid enrollment trends in capitated, risk-based managed care in 29 states.[1] Many state Medicaid agencies post monthly enrollment figures by health plan for their Medicaid managed care population to their websites. This data allows for the timeliest analysis of enrollment trends across states and managed care organizations. All 29 states highlighted in this review have released monthly Medicaid managed care enrollment data into the second quarter (Q2) of 2019. This report reflects the most recent data posted. HMA has made the following observations related to the enrollment data shown on Table 1 (below):
Preliminary Insights on 2020 Medicare Advantage and Part D Plan Offerings
This week, our In Focus section reviews the Medicare Advantage (MA) and Part D landscape files for the 2020 plan year released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on September 24, 2019. These files include information on MA and Part D offerings, including premiums and benefit design. This year’s release signals continued growth for the MA program in 2020. Nationwide, the number of MA plans continues to increase, with 3,144 offerings, up from 2,741 in 2019. Among these plans, 2,832 will offer Part D coverage. CMS states that the average monthly plan premium is expected to decrease 14 percent to $23.00 in 2020 down from $26.87 in 2019. According to CMS, this is the lowest average monthly premium since 2007.
The Future of the ACA: Implications of 5th Circuit Decision in Texas v. United States
This week, our In Focus section reviews Texas v. United States., the most recent legal challenge to the Affordable Care Act (ACA). In July 2019, the United States Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit heard oral arguments in the case and is reviewing the decision of United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas (District Court). The District Court ruled that the “individual mandate” provision of the ACA is unconstitutional as a result of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) zeroing out of the tax penalty for not having health insurance and, consequently, that the entire ACA should be struck down as a result. As the nation awaits the 5th Circuit panel’s decision, this article discusses background, next steps in the court process, and the potential far-reaching implications of this case.
Highlights from this Week’s HMA Conference on The Next Wave of Medicaid Growth and Opportunity
This week, our In Focus section provides a recap of the fourth annual HMA Conference, The Next Wave of Medicaid Growth and Opportunity: How Payers, Providers, and States are Positioning Themselves for Success, held this Monday, September 9, and Tuesday, September 10, in Chicago, Illinois. Nearly 500 leading executives representing managed care organizations, providers, state and federal government, community-based organizations, and other stakeholders in the health care field gathered to address the challenges and opportunities for organizations serving Medicaid and other vulnerable populations. Conference participants heard from keynote speakers, engaged in panel discussions, and connected during informal networking opportunities. Below is a summary of highlights from this year’s conference.
Hawaii Releases Quest Integration Medicaid Managed Care RFP
This week, our In Focus section reviews the Hawaii QUEST Integration (QI) Medicaid Managed Care request for proposals (RFP), issued by the Hawaii Department of Human Services (DHS) on August 26, 2019. DHS intends to contract with four health plans. All four will serve Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) members in Oahu, while two will also operate statewide. The two plans with the highest scoring technical proposals will serve beneficiaries statewide. The Quest Integration program is worth $2.2 billion annually.
Strategies to Support Postpartum Visits for Women in Medicaid
This week, our In Focus section comes from HMA Community Strategies (HMACS) Senior Associate Diana Rodin and HMA Managing Principal Sharon Silow-Carroll who authored a recent article in the Journal of Women’s Health drawing on data from the recently completed five-year evaluation of the Strong Start for Mothers and Newborns II Initiative to identify promising approaches to support women in Medicaid to attend postpartum visits. Nationally, less than 60 percent of women enrolled in Medicaid or the State Children’s Health Insurance Program attend a scheduled postpartum medical visit, and some states have much lower rates.[1],[2]
HMA Colleagues Author Journal Article on Strategies to Support Postpartum Visits for Women in Medicaid
HMA Community Strategies (HMACS) Senior Associate Diana Rodin and HMA Managing Principal Sharon Silow-Carroll have authored an article drawing on data from the recently completed five-year evaluation of the Strong Start for Mothers and Newborns II Initiative to identify promising approaches to support women in Medicaid to attend postpartum visits.
CMS Medicare Fee-For-Service FY 2020 Proposed Rules Part 2: Physician Fee Schedule and Home Health
This week, our In Focus section reviews the new Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Medicare Fee-For-Service FY 2020 proposed rules: the Physician Fee Schedule (PFS), released on July 2019, and Home Health prospective payment system, released on July 11, 2019. For the hospital outpatient department (HOPD) and ambulatory surgical center (ASC) prospective payment systems (PPS) and the End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) PPS proposed rules, please see last week’s In Focus here.
National Jail-Based Opioid Treatment Program Expands
A successful approach to expanding access to jail-based opioid treatment, that began in California, will grow to 16 additional counties across the country. Health Management Associates (HMA), a leading healthcare consulting firm, developed the program blueprint which was successfully deployed in 29 California counties and resulted in better access to Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) for those in the criminal justice system.
CMS Medicare Fee-For-Service FY2020 Proposed Rules: Hospital Outpatient Department and End-Stage Renal Disease
This week, our In Focus section reviews the new Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Medicare Fee-For-Service FY 2020 proposed rules. On July 29, 2019, CMS issued the Calendar Year (CY) 2020 proposed rules for the Physician Fee Schedule (PFS), the hospital outpatient department (HOPD) and ambulatory surgical center (ASC) prospective payment systems (PPS), and the End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) PPS. These proposed regulations include payment rate and policy changes for the upcoming calendar year. The comment deadline for all three of these proposed rules is September 27, 2019.
MAT Issue Brief Addresses Objections and Misconceptions
A new issue brief authored by HMA Principal Donna Strugar-Fritsch, MPA, BSN, dispels myths about, and objections to, the use of medication-assisted treatments (MAT) to treat opioid addiction. The brief is a clear and concise look at MAT, how and why it works, and what its use can mean for those impacted by opioid use disorder.