Insights

HMA Insights: Your source for healthcare news, ideas and analysis.

HMA Insights – including our new podcast – puts the vast depth of HMA’s expertise at your fingertips, helping you stay informed about the latest healthcare trends and topics. Below, you can easily search based on your topic of interest to find useful information from our podcast, blogs, webinars, case studies, reports and more.

Show All | Podcast | Blogs | Webinars | Weekly Roundup | Videos | Case Studies | Reports | News | Solutions

Filter by topic:

Receive timely expert insights on topics you care about.

Select Topics

1819 Results found.

Brief & Report

Medicare-Medicaid integration: integrated model enrollment rates show majority of Medicare-Medicaid dual eligible population not enrolled

Download

Working in conjunction with Arnold Ventures, a team of HMA consultants has written an issue brief, Medicare-Medicaid Integration: Integrated Model Enrollment Rates Show Majority of Medicare-Medicaid Dual Eligible Population Not Enrolled. This brief presents key findings on their examination of the availability of integrated programs in states, the growth in enrollment rates, and differences in enrollment and programs across the country.

The HMA team cited several reasons why Medicare-Medicaid integrated program options are not equally available nationwide and why enrollment is limited in places where programs exist. The result is that millions of people are not enrolled in whole-person, integrated program options – a reality that is inefficient, and worse yet, inequitable.

The HMA team, led by Managing Principal Jon Blum and Principal Sarah Barth, includes Narda Ipakchi, Ellen Breslin, Mindy Cohen, Sharon Silow-Carroll and other HMA subject matter experts.

Blog

Proposed Medicare Payment and Policy Changes for Fiscal Year 2021 for Hospice, Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities, and Skilled Nursing Facilities

Read Blog

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.

Read More

Blog

Medicare and Medicaid Telehealth Coverage in Response to COVID-19

Read Blog

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.

Read More

Webinar

Webinar Replay: Reflecting on HCBS Policies and Practices in Response to COVID-19

Watch Now

This webinar was held on April 17, 2020.

Medicaid-covered home and community-based services (HCBS) are critical to the health and well-being of millions of individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities, physical disabilities, and/or behavioral health conditions.

In response to COVID-19, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has provided state Medicaid programs with increased flexibility to modify HCBS programs to continue to provide timely high-quality care. State Medicaid programs have secured approval for new initiatives through a combination of Section 1135 Waivers, 1115 Emergency Amendments, Emergency State Plan Amendments, and Appendix K amendments to HCBS 1915(c) waivers.

During this webinar, our HMA experts outlined what these changes mean for states, providers, and individuals who rely on HCBS. Speakers provided an overview of key flexibilities, offered examples of promising practices, and shared insights about the present and the future of HCBS as reshaped by COVID-19.

Learning Objectives 

  • Learn how state Medicaid programs have used CMS-approved waivers and amendments to temporarily modify HCBS policies and practices to protect people during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Understand how new HCBS flexibilities impact HCBS providers on-the-ground.
  • Understand what these changes mean for individuals who receive services and supports.
  • Learn more about how the pandemic may be changing the future of HCBS.

HMA Speakers

Sarah Barth, JD, Principal, New York, NY
Ellen Breslin, MPP, Principal, Boston, MA
Sharon Lewis, Principal, Portland, OR
Susan Tucker, CPA, Tallahassee, FL

 

Blog

HMA Review of State Appendix K Waivers in Response to COVID-19

Read Blog

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.

Read More

Webinar

Webinar Replay: Treatment of Substance Use Disorders During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Watch Now

This webinar was held on April 2, 2020.

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the treatment of individuals with substance use disorder (SUD), including changes in the administration of Medications for Addiction Treatment (MAT), new telehealth rules and billing procedures, and other emerging protocols and regulations designed to ensure individuals with SUD continue to receive the best care possible.

During this webinar, HMA addiction experts Scott Haga and Shannon Robinson outlined how providers and patients can best navigate this changing landscape, with a special emphasis on the opportunities and risks associated with treating SUD during the pandemic.

Learning Objectives

  • Find out how the COVID-19 pandemic significantly increases the risk of SUD relapse and overdose-related fatalities. 
  • Understand federal regulatory changes to the practice of prescribing MAT for opioid use disorder, including changes from DEA, SAMHSA, Office of Civil Rights and more.
  • Obtain best practices and billing guidelines for the use of telehealth to treat individuals with SUD remotely.

HMA Speakers

Scott Haga, MPAS PA-C, Senior Consultant, Lansing, MI
Shannon Robinson, MD, FASAM, Principal, Costa Mesa, CA

As mentioned in the webinar, the Telehealth Readiness Questionnaire is also available.