Old Weekly Roundup

April 10, 2024

In Focus:

Roundup:

California Medicaid FFS Contracts with Heali’s Food as Medicine Platform
Colorado Settles Lawsuit Regarding Mental Health Care for Children, Agrees to Outside Examination of Program
Avesis, Elevance Health Partner with Uber to Improve Maternal Health in Georgia
Michigan Announces Medicaid Managed Care Awards
New York Governor Invests $359 Million to Expand Supportive Housing Options
North Dakota Approves Pilot Program for Paid Family Caregivers
Vermont Receives Approval for Medicaid Mobile Crisis State Plan Amendment
Virginia Governor Vetoes Prescription Drug Affordability Board Legislation
CMS Announces Final Rule to Promote Competition, Access to Care in Medicare Advantage, Part D Plans
Medicaid Supplemental, Base Payments Vary Among States, MACPAC Finds
Lawmakers Call on FTC, DOJ to Block Optum-Steward Acquisition

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April 3, 2024

In Focus:

Roundup:

Arkansas Releases Medicaid Sustainability Review Aimed at Containing Costs
Idaho Re-enrolls 22 Percent of Medicaid Beneficiaries Disenrolled During Redeterminations
Iowa Cancels Dental RFP for Iowa Dental Wellness Plan, Hawki
Molina, Cityblock Offer SDOH Resources to Dual Eligibles in Massachusetts
Mississippi Senate Passes Medicaid Expansion Bill with Work Requirements
Nebraska Governor Signs Bill to Increase Medicaid Payment Rates for Hospitals
New Mexico Open Enrollment Begins for Turquoise Care Managed Care Program
Oklahoma Launches SoonerSelect Medicaid Managed Care Program
Rhode Island Medicaid Managed Care Procurement Attracts Four Bidders
Virginia Reissues Notice of Intent to Award Medicaid Managed Care Contracts
CMS Marketplace Final Rule Adjusts Network Standards, Enrollment Period, Increases Access to Dental Care
Kaiser Permanente Acquires Geisinger Health
FTC Issues Injunction to Block Novant Health’s Acquisition of North Carolina Hospitals

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March 27, 2024

In Focus:

Roundup:

Alaska Receives Extension for Behavioral Health Reform 1115 Demonstration
California Approves Proposition 1 to Provide Funding Addressing Homelessness Crisis, Substance Misuse
Florida Governor Signs Legislative Package Aimed at Boosting Healthcare Workforce, Access
Georgia Submits Section 1115 Waiver Amendment for Personal Care Services
Maryland Submits Section 1115 Waiver Amendment for Pre-release Services
Maryland Submits AHEAD Model Application to CMS
Nebraska Legislature Passes Provider Tax Bill to Increase Medicaid Hospital Payment Rates
New York Announces RFP For Development of 13 Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics
New York Governor Allocates $102 Million to Fund New Mental Health Care Programs
Rhode Island Senate Considers Bill to Establish a Prescription Drug Affordability Board
Rhode Island Receives CMS Approval for 1115 Waiver Amendment Permitting HCBS in Acute Hospital Settings
Vermont Submits AHEAD Model Application to CMS
Virginia Rescinds Notice of Intent to Award for Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Procurement
Biden Administration Issues Final Rule to Streamline Medicaid, CHIP Enrollment
HHS Announces Lower Coinsurance Rate for 41 Medicare Part B Drugs
CMS Signals New Guidance on Medicare Part D Coverage of Obesity Drugs
Kaiser, Town Hall Ventures Launch PACE Joint Venture
United/Optum to Acquire Steward Health Care’s Physician Network

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March 20, 2024

In Focus:

Roundup:

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March 13, 2024

In Focus:

Roundup:

Arizona Medicaid to Reimburse for Community Health Worker Organizations
Arkansas Governor Approves Committee, Strategic Plan to Support Maternal Health
Florida House Passes Bill to Establish Rural Emergency Hospitals
Georgia Senate Committee Advances Bill to Relax Certificate-of-need Regulations
Minnesota House Committee Holds Hearing on Bills to Support HRSNs Through Section 1115 Waiver
Nevada Receives Federal Approval Allowing Medicaid Funds to Cover Housing, Supportive Services
Oregon Awards $17 Million to CBOs Supporting Health Equity
Texas Announces Awards for STAR, CHIP RFP
Texas FQHCs Receive $19.3 Million to Expand Services to Underserved, Uninsured Populations in 2023
Virginia Postpones Several Caregiver Policies
Redetermination Updates: Montana, Texas
States Pause Nursing Home Staffing Penalties Amid Review of CMS Rule
CMS Permits States to Expand Medicaid Behavioral Health Professionals, Claim Federal Match Funding for Nurse Advice Lines
HHS to Investigate Cyberattack at UnitedHealth Group’s Change Healthcare
White House Pressures UnitedHealth Group to Increase Funding for Providers Affected by Cyberattack
CMS Announces Availability of Payments to Providers, Suppliers Following Cyberattacks at UnitedHealth Group’s Change Healthcare

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March 6, 2024

In Focus:

Roundup:

Colorado Receives Feedback on Behavioral Health Administrative Service Organizations; RFP Expected Spring 2024
Idaho House Committee Advances Bill to Expand Postpartum Medicaid Coverage to 12 Months
Iowa Releases Health Link Medicaid Managed Care RFP to Reprocure One Contract
Maryland Faces $236 Million Medicaid Budget Shortfall
Minnesota Requests Additional Five-year Extension of Substance Use Disorder Reform Demonstration
Mississippi Legislature Passes Bill that Would Grant Early Medicaid Coverage for Pregnant Women
Nebraska Waiver Expands HCBS to 850 Children on Developmental Disabilities Registry
Nevada Holds Workshop on Medicaid Managed Care Procurement
New York Receives Federal Approval for Section 1332 State Innovation Waiver to Expand Essential Plan Eligibility
Oregon CCOs to Offer Grant Funding to Support Community Organizations in HRSN Delivery
Pennsylvania Releases Electronic Visit Verification Module RFP
Tennessee to Release Pharmacy Benefits Administrator RFP in Fourth Quarter of 2024
Virginia Announces Awards for Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Procurement
Biden Administration Takes Steps to Prevent Corporate Overcharging of Consumers, Government Programs
Federal Regulators Launch Investigation into Private Equity Healthcare Deals
United Health Group Provides Temporary Funding, Pharmacy System During Cyber Attacks
The Ensign Group Acquires Skilled Nursing Facilities in Colorado, Kansas

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February 28, 2024

In Focus:

Roundup:

Alaska Receives CMS Approval to Extend Postpartum Medicaid Coverage to 12 Months
California Awards More Than $10 Million to Residential SUD Treatment Facilities
Florida House Agrees to Boost Physician Workforce, Increase Healthcare Innovation Grants, and Hospital At Home
Indiana Plans to Transition 1,600 Children to Structured Family Caregiving Program
Mississippi House Committee Advances Medicaid Expansion Bill with Work Requirement
Montana Proposes Housing Assistance, Incentives, Re-entry Services for Medicaid Beneficiaries with Mental Health Disorders
New Mexico Names Dana Flannery Medicaid Director
North Carolina Legislators Push to Re-examine Law Granting Special Privileges to Hospital Authorities
Ohio Nursing Home Associations Sue Medicaid Program Over Alleged Underfunding
Oregon Receives Federal Approval for Limited HCBS for Seniors, Adults with Disabilities
Texas Releases STAR Kids Draft RFP
Washington House Considers Bill that Would Place Greater Oversight on Provider Consolidations
Redetermination Updates: Arkansas, Iowa, Mississippi
CMS Releases Second Evaluation of Integrated Care for Kids Model
CareSource Seeks to Enter Wisconsin Marketplace, Acquire Local ACA Co-op Plan

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February 21, 2024

In Focus:

Roundup:

Florida Delays Awards for Medicaid Managed Care ITN
Georgia Bill Would Establish Study Committee to Examine Private Option Medicaid Expansion Waiver
Iowa Senate Advances Bills Altering Postpartum Medicaid Coverage, MOMS Program
Kentucky Senate Advances Bill to Cover Midwife Services Under Medicaid
Maryland Awards Behavioral Health ASO Contract to Elevance
Missouri Supreme Court Rules Against Blocking Medicaid Payments to Planned Parenthood
Nebraska Legislature Considers Bill to Expand Medicaid Coverage of Anti-obesity Medications
Pennsylvania Submits Section 1115 Waiver Application Addressing Health-related Social Needs
CMS Issue Brief Finds Doulas, Community Health Workers Improve Postpartum Outcomes
CMS Releases Preliminary CMS-64 2023 Medicaid, CHIP Expenditure Report
CMS Issues Final Rule Imposing Restrictions on DSH Payments
Point32Health to Acquire Health New England
Bon Secours Mercy Health Enters Joint Venture with Compassus
Brightside Announces New Medicaid, Medicare Partnerships to Expand Telehealth for Mental Health Services

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February 14, 2024

In Focus:

Roundup:

Arizona Releases Housing, Health Opportunities Services Program Administrator RFP
Arizona Selects 57 Providers to Extend Medicaid Services to Incarcerated Individuals Prior to Release
Connecticut Governor Calls for Increased Hospital, Pharmaceutical Oversight in Fiscal 2025 Spending Plan
Florida Announces Intent to Award Florida Community Care Comprehensive IDD Managed Care Pilot Program Contract
Georgia Governor’s Budget Proposal Increases Health Services Spending by $485 Million
Kansas Governor Proposes $23 Million for IDD, Physical Disability Waiver Waitlists
Minnesota Announces $8 Million RFP for Live Well At Home Program
Mississippi Medicaid Requesting $83 Million Increase in State Support in Fiscal 2025
Montana Grant Program to Increase Residential Bed Capacity for Individuals with SMI, Developmental Disability
Pennsylvania Extends Medicaid to Cover Perinatal Doula Care
Oregon Receives Federal Approval for HRSN Benefits Framework Under Section 1115 Waiver
HHS Partners with Eight States, District of Columbia to Address Homelessness
States Continue to Impose Regulations Around Prior Authorization Practices
BCBS-LA Withdraws from Planned Merger with Elevance
KKR to Buy Stake in Cotiviti from Veritas Capital

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February 7, 2024

In Focus:

CMS Releases Advance Notice of Methodological Changes for MA Capitation Rates and Medicare Part C and Part D Payment Policies

Roundup:

Colorado Hospital Transparency Reports Reveal Increased Operating Expenses, Reimbursements
Florida House, Senate Consider Bills to Establish Rural Emergency Hospitals
Georgia Releases PBM RFP in Partnership with Alaska, Montana, and Vermont
Hawaii Requests Five-year Extension of Hawaii QUEST Integration Waiver
Iowa Lawmakers Advance Bill to Extend Postpartum Medicaid Coverage to 12 Months
Minnesota Seeks Section 1115 Medicaid Waiver Amendments to Expand Eligibility for Children
Mississippi Senate Passes Bill to Streamline Prior Authorization Requests
Montana Releases Medicaid NEMT Program RFI
Nevada Medicaid Managed Care RFP Release Expected by January 2025
New Mexico Receives Federal Approval for Use of Mobile Crisis Intervention Teams
Cityblock, Fidelis Care Form Partnership to Increase Health Services For New York Medicaid Members
North Carolina Releases Foster Care Specialty Plan RFP
North Carolina Medicaid to Launch Behavioral Health IDD Tailored Plans on July 1
Several States Direct Medicaid Funding to Provide Housing Aid Amidst Disenrollments
HHS Issues Final Rule Permitting Use of Telehealth for Opioid Treatment Programs
CMS Outlines Guidelines for Use of Artificial Intelligence in Medicare Advantage
Cigna Indicates Plans to Grow its Evernorth Health Services Unit

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