A team of HMA consultants have authored a peer-reviewed journal article drawing on data from the recently completed five-year evaluation of the Strong Start for Mothers and Newborns II Initiative to discuss key considerations for implementing a group prenatal care model, including barriers to implementation and sustainability as well as strategies for overcoming barriers and sustaining the model.
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COVID-19 education, contact tracing, and care connections: community health workers key to sustainable local public health response
As reported by the New York Times (An Army of Virus Tracers Takes Shape in Massachusetts, April 17), Massachusetts has hired 1,000 public health contact tracers to speed containment of COVID-19 during its surge in infections. Contact tracers are reaching out to those who have tested positive, providing information, and talking them through their recent movements and connections, using cell phones and triangulation data. They then, in turn, reach out to inform and educate those contacts.
Dual eligible financial alignment demonstration 2020 enrollment update
This week, our In Focus section reviews publicly available data on enrollment in capitated financial and administrative alignment demonstrations (“Duals Demonstrations”) for beneficiaries dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid (duals) in nine states: California, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Texas. Each of these states has begun either voluntary or passive enrollment of duals into fully integrated plans providing both Medicaid and Medicare benefits (“Medicare-Medicaid Plans,” or “MMPs”) under three-way contracts between the state, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and the MMP. As of February 2020, approximately 371, 200 duals were enrolled in an MMP. Enrollment fell 1.2 percent from February of the previous year.
HMA experts examine Medicare-Medicaid integration
In 2019, 7.7 million people in the United States were eligible to receive access to full benefits under Medicare and individual state Medicaid programs. This group of people is known as the Full Benefit Dual Eligible (FBDE) population. While FBDE enrollment in integrated programs nearly quadrupled over the past five years, the number of people enrolled in an integrated program never rose above one in 10 FBDE people.
Proposed Medicare payment and policy changes for FY 2021: hospice, inpatient psychiatric facilities, and skilled nursing facilities
Recently, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued proposed rules to update the Medicare payment rates and implement other policy changes for three types of Part A providers: hospice, inpatient psychiatric facilities (IPFs), and skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). CMS is publishing these proposed rules in accordance with existing statutory and regulatory requirements to update Medicare payment policies for these providers on an annual basis. This brief summarizes the proposed payment rates and key policy changes for each of these provider types.
Medicare and Medicaid telehealth coverage in response to COVID-19
Telehealth service expansions by Medicare and most Medicaid programs aim to rapidly increase access to care and reduce transmission, but also provide a natural experiment for policymakers.
This week, our In Focus section examines the extensive scope of flexibilities Federal and State governments have made to Medicare and Medicaid telehealth coverage in response to the COVID-19 national emergency. In March and April 2020, federal and state policymakers responded to the COVID-19 emergency by temporarily and aggressively expanding the definition of and reimbursement for telehealth services—moves intended to improve access to care and reduce virus transmission. Under the Medicare and Medicaid programs, these temporary expansions have been rapid and historic in scope, and will have substantial implications for patients, providers, payers, and federal/state financing. For policymakers, this temporary expansion may serve as a natural experiment for assessing which forms of telehealth services successfully expand access to care and should become permanent healthcare policy.
HMA model provides forecast of COVID-19 impact on Medicaid, Marketplace, and uninsured
A model developed by Health Management Associates (HMA) assesses COVID-19’s potential impact on health insurance coverage for each state and forecasts Medicaid enrollment could increase by 11 to 23 million across all states over the next several months.
HMA review of state Appendix K waivers in response to COVID-19
This week, our In Focus section comes from HMA Principals Ellen Breslin (MA) and Sharon Lewis (OR). In direct response to COVID-19, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has encouraged states to maximize Medicaid flexibilities to protect people during the pandemic emergency. This includes state flexibilities for people receiving home and community-based services. States may temporarily amend their Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) 1915(c) waivers through an expedited process by submitting an Appendix K request. As of March 31, 2020, CMS had approved Appendix K submissions for thirteen states with effective periods ranging from four months to one year.[1] The thirteen states are: Alaska, Connecticut, Colorado, Hawaii, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming.
D-SNP 2021 hospital and SNF admission data sharing: opportunity for states and health plans to support care transitions
This week, our In Focus section provides an overview of new requirements and opportunities for states and Medicare Advantage (MA) Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs) to increase Medicare and Medicaid coordination in plan year 2021. Specifically, states and health plans will need to partner for compliance with calendar year (CY) 2021 Medicare Advantage Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan (D-SNP) data sharing requirements for D-SNPs that are not designated as a fully integrated D-SNP (FIDE SNP) or a highly integrated D-SNP (HIDE SNP)[1]. CY 2021 State Medicaid Agency Contracts (SMACs) with these D-SNPs must document the notification process for sharing hospital and skilled nursing facility (SNF) admissions for at least one group of high-risk enrollees.[2]
HMA article highlights value-based payment models
With a focus on value-based payment (VBP) models and helping primary care practices prepare for a value-driven future, HMA experts Suzanne Daub, Caroline Rosenzweig and Meggan Christmas Schilkie will publish their article in the American Psychological Association journal Families, Systems & Health.
Medicare and Medicaid flexibilities during public health emergencies
This week, our In Focus comes from HMA Vice President Kathleen Nolan and Managing Principal Jon Blum. On March 13, 2020, President Trump declared a national emergency due to the rapid spread of COVID-19 virus. This declaration provides Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) new abilities to waive Medicare and Medicaid regulatory requirements to help health care providers, health plans and other stakeholders respond to immediate needs of their patients and communities. In the past, HHS and CMS have solicited requests for relief needs from states, local providers and trade associations, among other stakeholders. Health care providers, health plans and others should continue to monitor policy announcements from HHS and CMS and work with their states and trade associations to identify potential areas of need for requested regulatory relief.
HMA analysis of the 2020 Medicare Advantage annual election period
This week, our In Focus section examines Medicare Advantage (MA) enrollment changes resulting from the 2020 Annual Election Period (AEP). The AEP takes runs from October 15 to December 7 each year, and provides an opportunity for Medicare beneficiaries to sign up for, change, or disenroll from an MA plan for the upcoming year. The majority of enrollment changes occur during this period, but depending on beneficiary circumstances, additional opportunities may exist throughout the year to change coverage. Initial findings from the enrollment data suggest: