Weekly Roundup

May 18, 2022

In Focus:

The PHE is Continuing—What’s Next for Medicaid?

Roundup:

Illinois Expands Medicaid Hospital Assessment Program
Kansas Governor Vetoes Bill to Delay Reprocurement of KanCare Contracts Until January 2023
Medicaid Expansion News: Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina
Medicaid Eligibility Redeterminations News: Montana, Virginia, MACPAC
New Hampshire Governor to Sign Medicaid Adult Dental Legislation
New Jersey Governor Proposes Expanding Medicaid Coverage to Undocumented Children
Rhode Island to Restart Medicaid Managed Care Procurement Process
Texas Proposes Medicaid Plan Case Management for Children, Pregnant Women
Health Plans Call For Public Reporting of Private Equity Acquisitions
Home Health Aides Can Have Health Premiums, Union Dues Deducted from Medicaid Paychecks
Humana Joins Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe in Primary Care Joint Venture
Medicaid Managed Care Plan Leaders to Address Strategies, Opportunities, Concerns at HMA Conference, October 10-11

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May 11, 2022

In Focus:

KFF Predicts Medicaid Implications of End of PHE

Roundup:

Alabama Medicaid Faces Complaint Against Sobriety Requirement for Hepatitis C Treatment
Florida Releases Medicaid Managed Care RFI Ahead of Statewide Procurement
Louisiana Begins Statewide Rollout of Crisis Response Services for Medicaid Members
Maryland Governor Increases Medicaid Rates to Match Medicare in Fiscal 2023 Budget
Medicaid Redeterminations: Massachusetts, Texas
Missouri Awards Medicaid Managed Care Contracts
New York Governor Hopes to Expand Reach of PACE
North Carolina Audit Finds Deficiencies in Medicaid Eligibility Process, Provider Payments
Oklahoma Senate Rejects Medicaid Value-Based Contracting Measures
Oregon Task Force Meets to Discuss Federal Funding Options for Medicaid Bridge Plan
Pennsylvania Faces Lawsuit from Hospital Association Over Medicaid Managed Care Contract Language
Federal Lawmakers Introduce Mental Health Legislation
Kinderhook Invests in Smoky Mountain Urgent Care as Part of Multi-State, Rural Primary Care Plan
Medicaid Directors from AZ, CA, IN, NC to Address Redeterminations, FMAP, TeleHealth, Equity, Other Key Topics at HMA Conference in Chicago, October 10-11

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May 4, 2022

In Focus:

HMA Conference on the New Normal for Medicaid, Medicare, and Other Publicly Sponsored Programs to Feature Insights from Health Plan Leaders, State Medicaid Directors, Providers

Roundup:

California Medicaid Plan to Pay Providers for Performance for Some Services
California Exchange Automates Enrollment for Medicaid Members Losing Coverage
Colorado Bills to Protect Medicaid Behavioral Health Providers from Clawbacks 
District of Columbia Mayor to Apply for Federal Funds for Health Disparities
Georgia Proposal to Bypass Healthcare.gov Is Rejected by Federal Regulators
Legislature Approves Bill to Delay Reprocurement of KanCare Contracts Until 2023
Michigan Launches Initiative to Improve Behavioral Health Services for Children
Minnesota Submits Request to Expand Self-Directed Personal Care Options
Nebraska Establishes Advisory Committee for State Medicaid Program
New Hampshire Legislature Passes Medicaid Adult Dental Bill
North Carolina HCBS Medicaid Waiver Access Varies by Race, Study Finds
Ohio Delays Launch of ‘Next Generation’ Medicaid Managed Care Program
Rhode Island Senate Committee to Hear Medicaid Rate Legislation
South Carolina Extends Telehealth Flexibilities Beyond PHE
Tennessee House Panel Clears Bill to Renew D-SNP Contracts with Losing Bidders
Texas Seeks Comment on Criteria for Selecting Medicaid Managed Care Plans
Texas 10-Year Medicaid Waiver Extension to Survive
MACPAC Announces New Executive Director, Member
Bow River Capital Completes Investment in Amazing Care Home Health Services
HCA Healthcare to Acquire BetterMed

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April 20, 2022

In Focus:

Nebraska Releases Medicaid Managed Care RFP

Roundup:

California Assembly Committee to Hold Hearing on Bill Allowing No-Bid Medi-Cali Contract
Connecticut Seeks Medicaid Waiver to Address Coverage Gap
Illinois Senate Passes Automatic Medicaid Renewal Legislation
Kansas Lacks Effective System for Tracking HCBS Waiver Redeterminations, Audit Finds
Mississippi Hires Analytics Firm to Investigate PBMs
Missouri Senate Committee Advances Measure Aimed at Medicaid Expansion Funding
Pennsylvania Delays Implementation of Modified Medicaid Managed Care Contracts
Wisconsin Governor Vetoes Bills Aimed at Tightening Medicaid Eligibility Requirements
CMS Proposes 3.2 Percent Increase to Fiscal 2023 Inpatient Hospital Payments
Exchange Plan Premiums Fall 1.8 Percent, Study Finds
FFL Partners Announces Investment in Perlman Clinic

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April 13, 2022

In Focus:

The Family Glitch and Changes to Premium Tax Credit Eligibility

Roundup:

Florida Governor Signs Medicaid Managed Care, Nursing Home Legislation
Illinois Lawmakers Approve Medicaid Bill Expanding Certain Benefits, Coverage
Louisiana Awards NEMT Contract
Louisiana Legislature Passes Bill to Provide Medicaid Dental Coverage to Adults
Massachusetts Releases Medicaid ACO RFR
New York Files 1115 Waiver Amendment to Address Health Equity
New York Medicaid Director Brett Friedman Steps Down
Oregon Governor Establishes Taskforce to Develop Medicaid Bridge Plan
Rhode Island Names Kristin Pono Sousa Medicaid Director
HHS Extends Public Health Emergency for 90 Days to July 15
Genuine Health Group Acquires Accountable Care Medical Group

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April 6, 2022

In Focus:

Texas Releases STAR+PLUS RFP

Roundup:

Florida Reaches $484 Million Settlement with Pharmacy Chain Over Opioid Claims
Georgia Enacts Bill to Implement 85 Percent Minimum MLR Requirement for Medicaid Plans
BCBS-Illinois Appoints Stephen Harris as President
Kansas Senate Approves Bill to Extend KanCare Contracts Through 2024
Minnesota DHS Recommends Actions to Improve Racial Equity, Health Outcomes in Medicaid
New Mexico HCBS Providers to Receive Temporary 15 Percent Reimbursement Rate Increase
Oklahoma Names Traylor Rains State Medicaid Director
Rhode Island Medicaid Managed Care Bid Is Rejected After Missing Submission Deadline
Biden Proposes Fix to Exchange ‘Family Glitch’ Impacting 5 Million Individuals
CMS Finalizes 8.5 Percent Rate Increase for Medicare Advantage, Part D Plans
Intermountain Healthcare, SCL Health Complete Merger
UnitedHealth/Optum to Acquire Majority Stake in Kelsey-Seybold Clinic
Federal Judge Dismisses Anthem’s Claims in PBM Lawsuit Against Cigna

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March 30, 2022

In Focus:

President’s Budget Recommends Significant Investments in Unity Agenda Issues

Roundup:

Arkansas Eligibles Face Barriers Enrolling in Medicaid, Report Finds
Connecticut Medicaid Enrollment Increases by 120,000 During Pandemic
Florida Medicaid Plan Has New Enrollment Suspended by State
Kansas Governor Urges Legislature to Remove Budget Bill Provision to Extend KanCare Contracts
Michigan Home-Based Care Providers Struggle After Reimbursement Rate Cut
New Hampshire Hospitals Can Proceed with Lawsuit Over Vermont Over Medicaid Rates
North Carolina Launches Initiative to Provide Integrated Care for Children On Medicaid, CHIP
Pennsylvania to Release MMIS RFP in September 2022
South Carolina Receives CMS Approval of Temporary HCBS Rate Increases
Health Plan Invests More Than $85 Million to Help Develop Affordable Housing in Texas
Medicaid Spending Will Exceed $1 Trillion in 2028, CMS Projects

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March 23, 2022

In Focus:

Learning from COVID-19-Related Flexibilities: Moving Toward More Person-Centered Medicare and Medicaid Programs

Roundup:

California Extends Medi-Cal Assisted Living Waiver Program
Colorado, Novartis Begin Medicaid Value-Based Drug Pacts
Illinois to Fund Effort on Social Determinants of Health
Iowa to Release Medicaid Enterprise Provider Solutions RFI
NEMT News: Michigan, Utah
Nevada Releases RFP for Medicaid Dental Benefits Plan
Medicaid Plans Can Play Important Role in Redeterminations
CMS Says Medicaid, Exchange Enrollment Is at All-Time High

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March 16, 2022

In Focus:

How Stakeholders Can Prepare for Unwinding of Medicaid Public Health Emergency Continuous Eligibility

Roundup:

Florida Legislature Passes Bill Reducing Number of Medicaid Managed Care Regions
Georgia House Passes Bill to Carve-Out Medicaid Pharmacy Benefits
Iowa Releases Non-Emergency Medical Transportation RFP
New Jersey Seeks Approval of Adult Continuous Eligibility, Maternal Care Programs in Medicaid 1115 Waiver Extension
New York Legislature Rejects Competitive Bidding for Medicaid Managed Care
CMS Must Issue Decision on TX Waiver Programs
Congress Extends Medicare Telehealth Coverage in Newly Approved Budget

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March 9, 2022

In Focus:

HMA Experts Lay Out Scenarios for Transitioning from COVID-19 Public Health Emergency

Roundup:

Alaska Releases MMIS RFI
California Medicaid Telehealth Visits Soar
Georgia House Approves Minimum MLR for Medicaid Plans
UCare to Bid on Iowa Medicaid Managed Care Contract
Kentucky Releases PBM RFP for Fee-For-Service Medicaid
Nebraska Medicaid Managed Care RFP Is Expected in April 2022
North Carolina to Launch Medicaid SDOH Pilot
Ohio Medicaid Managed Care Enrollment Begins
Oregon Bill Passes to Address Post-PHE Coverage Losses

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