HMA Weekly Roundup

Arizona

Arizona House Committee Advances Bill to Reduce Medicaid Redetermination Period. State of Reform reported on March 3, 2023, that the Arizona House Health Committee advanced a bill (HB 2624) to reduce the Medicaid redetermination period from 12 months to nine months for all members by December 31. An estimated 600,000 Medicaid members will no longer qualify. Read More

Colorado

Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Authorize Medicaid Reimbursement for Community Health Services. The Greeley Tribune reported on March 6, 2023, that lawmakers introduced a bill (SB 23-2) that would authorize the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) to seek federal approval to provide Medicaid reimbursement for community health worker services. HCPF would determine what qualifications community health workers would need, what services Medicaid might cover, and how they would be reimbursed. The bill would also require the state to present a report on how community health workers are being utilized through Medicaid by January 31, 2026. Read More

Connecticut

General Assembly Committee Advances Proposal to Extend Medicaid Coverage to Individuals Under 19 Without Legal Status. The Record-Journal/The Connecticut Mirror reported on March 6, 2023, that the Connecticut General Assembly Human Services Committee advanced a proposal to extend Medicaid coverage to individuals 18 and under, regardless of immigration status, beginning January 1, 2024. In 2022, the General Assembly extended coverage to individuals 12 and under without permanent legal status, as long as their family meets the qualifying income limits for Medicaid. The proposal now goes to the Appropriations Committee for review. Read More

Delaware

Delaware Could Disenroll Up to 50,000 Medicaid Enrollees When Redeterminations Begin. The Delaware Department Health and Social Services announced on March 1, 2023, that a projected 40,000 to 50,000 Medicaid enrollees could be disenrolled when redeterminations begin. The state, which has about 310,000 Medicaid members, will be working with Medicaid plans to reach out to beneficiaries. Read More

Florida

Florida Made an Estimated $6.9 Million in Improper Capitated Medicaid Payments in August 2020, Federal Audit Finds. The Washington Examiner reported on March 3, 2023, that the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) made an estimated $6.9 million in Medicaid capitation payments in August 2020 on behalf of enrollees who were residing in another state and concurrently enrolled in both Florida and another state Medicaid program, according to a report by the U.S. Office of the Inspector General (OIG). Read More

Maryland

Maryland Health Information Exchange to Expand Medicaid Eligibility Redetermination Notifications. CRISP, Maryland’s health information exchange, announced on March 3, 2023, that it would expand its effort to notify the state’s 1.6 million Medicaid enrollees of upcoming eligibility redeterminations. CRISP, which rolled out the program with Federally Qualified Health Centers in February 2023, will now make it available to all participating providers and Medicaid managed care plans by May. Read More

Massachusetts

Massachusetts Makes $92 Million in Improperly Documented Behavioral Telehealth Payments, Audit Finds. The Massachusetts Office of the State Auditor announced on March 2, 2023, that MassHealth made approximately $92 million in improperly documented payments to providers for behavioral telehealth services, according to the Medicaid Audit Unit annual report. The audit also found $4.6 million in improper payments to dental providers. Read More

Mississippi

Legislature Passes Bill to Extend Postpartum Medicaid Coverage to 12 Months. Mississippi Today reported on March 7, 2023, that the Mississippi House passed a Senate bill to extend postpartum Medicaid coverage from 60 days to 12 months. The bill now goes to Governor Tate Reeves, who is expected to sign it. Read More

Mississippi Releases Medicaid Utilization Management, Quality Improvement Organization IFB. The Mississippi Division of Medicaid released on March 3, 2023, an invitation for bids (IFB) for a single contractor to provide utilization management (UM) and quality improvement organization (QIO) for the Medicaid fee-for-service population for medical services, behavioral health services, dental services, and level care of reviews. The contractor will also provide peer review services, clinical/medical consultation, quality improvement services, and care management services. Responses are due April 28, with awards expected May 19. Contract implementation will be July 6, with the operational phase beginning February 1, 2024. The current UM/QIO contract with Alliant Health Solutions ends on January 31, 2024. The new contract will also include non-emergency, outpatient advanced imaging services, currently under a separate UM/QIO contract ending on November 30, 2023, with two option years. Read More

Montana

Montana Bills to Raise Medicaid Reimbursement Rates Advance in Legislature. The Bozeman Daily Chronicle reported on March 3, 2023, that a Montana bill (HB 649) to raise Medicaid reimbursement rates passed a second House reading and now moves to an appropriations committee. Another bill (SB 296) also cleared an initial vote in the Senate. The bill would require nursing home rates to increase annually in line with inflation up to 3 percent starting in 2025 and require an analysis every four years to determine if a new base level for Medicaid reimbursements is needed. The Senate bill would also move people from the Big Sky Waiver program to the Community First Choice program, which allows older or disabled persons to “self-direct” their care to someone of their own choice. Read More

Nebraska

Nebraska Projects Up to 80,000 Medicaid Enrollees Could Lose Coverage During Redeterminations. The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services announced on March 3, 2023, that 40,000 to 80,000 Medicaid enrollees could lose coverage following Medicaid eligibility redeterminations. The state has sent notice of renewal to 390,000 beneficiaries, and those deemed ineligible will be directed to the federal Exchange. Read More

Nevada

Nevada Says 200,000 Medicaid Beneficiaries Could Be Impacted by Redeterminations. KOLO reported on March 1, 2023, that Nevada projects 200,000 Medicaid beneficiaries could be impacted when eligibility redeterminations begin, according to the state Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). HHS is sending out renewal packets so beneficiaries can reapply. Read More

New Jersey

Senate Committee Advances Bill to Increase Medicaid Reimbursement Rates for Assisted Living Facilities. The New Jersey Monitor reported on March 6, 2023, that the New Jersey Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee advanced a bill to increase daily Medicaid reimbursement rates for assisted living. The bill calls for a $10 to $13 increase to $114 for assisted living facilities, $104 for comprehensive personal care homes, and $94 for assisted living programs. Rates would be effective July 2023 and recalculated annually. Read More

New Mexico

House Passes Bill to Study Medicaid Buy-in Program. The Albuquerque Journal reported on March 7, 2023, that the New Mexico House passed a bill to commission a study on allowing individuals not eligible for Medicaid to access coverage on a sliding scale of premiums. The goal of the study is to determine the impact on private insurance, medical providers, and other stakeholders. The bill now heads to the Senate. Read More

North Carolina

North Carolina Senate Committee Advances Medicaid Expansion Bill. The Associated Press reported on March 7, 2023, that the North Carolina Senate Health Care Committee advanced a Medicaid expansion bill. The bill also includes changes to hospital certificate of need rules. The bill is expected to advance through two other committees and go to the full Senate for a vote. Read More

House, Senate Leaders Agree on Medicaid Expansion Bill. The News & Observer reported on March 2, 2023, that North Carolina House speaker Tim Moore (R-Cleveland) and Senate leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) announced an agreement on a Medicaid expansion bill. The bill will ease hospital certificate of need regulations, a roadblock to prior House and Senate agreement. Read More

North Carolina Could Disenroll Up to 300,000 Medicaid Enrollees when Redeterminations Begin. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announced on March 1, 2023, that up to 300,000 Medicaid members in the state could be disenrolled when redeterminations begin. The state is working with counties to reach beneficiaries to redetermine eligibility. Read More

Rhode Island

Rhode Island Could Disenroll 22,000 Medicaid Members After Redeterminations Begin. The Providence Journal reported on March 1, 2023, that about 22,000 Medicaid enrollees in Rhode Island could lose coverage when eligibility redeterminations begin. The state has about 360,000 Medicaid beneficiaries. Read More

South Carolina

South Carolina Announces $35 Million in Grants for Behavioral Health Crisis Stabilization Services. The South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announced on March 2, 2023, the availability of $35 million in grants for building specialized hospital-based emergency departments and observational units dedicated to behavioral health. The state will be accepting grant applications until April 24.

Wisconsin

Governor Proposes Tying Medicaid Expansion to Medicaid Reimbursement Rates in Fiscal 2025 Budget. The Wisconsin Examiner reported on March 3, 2023, that Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers is proposing increases in Medicaid reimbursement rates for hospitals and providers in his fiscal 2025 budget, but only if the state implements Medicaid expansion. The increases would boost hospital rates by $626 million and other provider rates by $250 million. Read More

West Virginia

House Passes Bill to Scrap Medicaid Managed Care RFP Process, Move to Applications. West Virginia News reported on March 7, 2023, that the West Virginia House passed a bill that would scrap the Medicaid managed care request for proposals process, allowing any health insurance entity to submit an application to participate as long as it meets state and federal requirements. The current request for proposals process limits the awards to three managed care plans. The bill now moves to the Senate. Read More

Wyoming

Wyoming Extends Postpartum Medicaid Coverage from 90 Days to 12 Months. Buckrail News reported on March 6, 2023, that Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon signed a bill (HB0004) to extend postpartum Medicaid coverage from 90 days to 12 months. The bill will be in effect from July 1, 2023, through March 31, 2027, and cost an estimated $3.8 million in state and federal funding. Read More

National

15 States Seek Section 1115 Waiver Amendments to Provide Medicaid Services to Incarcerated Individuals Prior to Release. Kaiser Health News reported on March 8, 2023, that 15 states are seeking Section 1115 waiver amendments to allow eligible incarcerated individuals to receive Medicaid coverage prior to release. California is the first state to receive federal approval to provide the services. Read More

Biden Wants Medicare to Negotiate Prices for Additional Drugs in Fiscal 2024 Budget. Fierce Healthcare reported on March 7, 2023, that President Biden has proposed allowing Medicare to negotiate prices for additional drugs in the proposed fiscal 2024 budget, to be released on March 9. Building on the drug price reforms under the Inflation Reduction Act, Medicare will negotiate prices for a small number of drugs beginning in 2026 and bring drugs into negotiation sooner after they launch. Read More

Hospital Groups Urge Congress to Delay Medicaid DSH Cuts. Becker’s Hospital Review reported on March 7, 2023, that nine organizations representing hospitals and health systems are urging Congress to delay Medicaid disproportionate share hospital (DSH) cuts, which are currently set to begin in fiscal 2024. Hospital stakeholders estimate the cuts will total $8 billion. Read More

U.S. House Committee Launches Investigation into PBMs. Modern Healthcare reported on March 6, 2023, that the U.S. House Oversight and Accountability Committee Chair James Comer (R-KY) launched an investigation into the anti-competitive tactics of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). Comer sent letters to CVS Health’s Caremark, UnitedHealth Group’s OptumRx, and Cigna’s Express Scripts, seeking information on how they design formularies, engage patients, collect rebates from pharmaceutical companies, and establish differential pricing arrangements. The committee also requested information from federal agencies about how PBMs interact with government health programs. Read More

AHIP Expresses Concern Over Changes to Medicare Advantage Risk Adjustment Model. America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) said on March 6, 2023, that it had “serious concerns” over proposed changes to the Medicare Advantage (MA) risk adjustment methodology, citing a Wakely study suggesting the changes would result in payment cuts of 3.7 percent to MA plans and 6.4 percent for dual eligibles in 2024. AHIP noted its concerns in formal comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services regarding the Advance Notice of Methodological Changes for Calendar Year 2024 for MA and Part D. Read More

Federal Judge Orders CMS to Reinstate Medicaid Coverage for Members Eligible for Medicare Savings Program. CT Insider reported on March 6, 2023, that a federal judge in Connecticut ordered the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to reinstate Medicaid coverage for individuals who lost coverage due to a Trump administration rule that allowed the disenrollment of Medicaid members eligible for the Medicare Savings Program. Read More

U.S. House Democrats Oppose Potential Medicaid Cuts by Republicans in Fiscal 2024 Budget Talks. The Hill reported on March 5, 2023, that U.S. House Democrats say they will oppose potential Medicaid funding cuts by Republicans when crafting the federal fiscal 2024 budget. Republican leaders are seeking to cut Medicaid to reduce the deficit and are supportive of proposals that include capping spending and imposing work requirements. Read More

CMS Releases State Timelines for Initiating Medicaid Unwinding Renewals. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published on March 2, 2023, the anticipated state timelines for initiating Medicaid unwinding-related renewals. The chart shows the expected first month for each state’s unwinding-related renewals, as well as the anticipated effective date for the first procedural terminations. Read More

Medicare Part D Plans Improperly Authorized $86 Million in Opioid Prescriptions, Audit Finds. STAT News reported on March 2, 2023, that Medicare Part D plans improperly authorized $86 million worth of opioid prescriptions between July 2015 and December 2019, according to an audit by the U.S. Office of Inspector General. The audit found that the prior authorization process used by the plans was not robust enough to catch the prescription errors. Read More

Medicaid, CHIP Enrollment Grows by 23.3 Million During the Pandemic, Study Finds. Kaiser Family Foundation reported on March 2, 2023, that Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) will have grown by 23.3 million enrollees from February 2020 to March 31, 2023, when the continuous enrollment period ends. Oklahoma saw the largest growth at 81 percent, while Connecticut saw the smallest at 22 percent. Read More

U.S. House Committee Probes PBMs for Documents Regarding Anti-Competitive Tactics. Fierce Healthcare reported on March 1, 2023, that the U.S. House Oversight Committee demanded that CVS Caremark, Express Scripts, and OptumRx release documents on potential anti-competitive tactics among pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), including spread pricing and rebates. The request also covers topics like preferred drug lists and direct and indirect remuneration fees. Read More