Psychiatric Disabilities/Mental Illness

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) published a report that examines the way health plans are handling parity for mental health treatment. NAMI conducted an online survey in 2015 with the main question being, "What do insurance beneficiaries experience when they seek mental health care?" Additionally, the report offers several recommendations regarding network adequacy, plan transparency, and covering out-of-network costs.

The Center for Health Care Strategies, Inc. released a technical assistance brief, funded through support by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, titled "State Medicaid Managed Long-Term Services and Supports Programs: Considerations for Contracting with Medicare Advantage Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans."

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released their monthly report for August 2016 on Medicaid and CHIP application, eligibility determination, and enrollment data. States provide data to CMS on factors related to key application, eligibility and enrollment processes using the Medicaid and CHIP Performance Indicator Project. The data is then used to inform CMS on the operations of the programs in each state and to share state performance data publicly.

During calendar year 2015, ADvancing States engaged in a collaboration with the DentaQuest Foundation to identify and promote effective oral health interventions for older adults and people with physical disabilities. This initiative involved collaborating with partners from the dental, aging, and disability fields in order to increase knowledge regarding issues and challenges related to dental services for older adults and people with disabilities.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released their monthly report for July 2016 on Medicaid and CHIP application, eligibility determination, and enrollment data. States provide data to CMS on factors related to key application, eligibility and enrollment processes using the Medicaid and CHIP Performance Indicator Project. The data is then used to inform CMS on the operations of the programs in each state and to share state performance data publicly.

Mathematica Center for Studying Disability Policy published a policy brief explaining how states can help workers keep their jobs after injury, illness, or disability.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released their monthly report for June 2016 on Medicaid and CHIP application, eligibility determination, and enrollment data. States provide data to CMS on factors related to key application, eligibility and enrollment processes using the Medicaid and CHIP Performance Indicator Project. The data is then used to inform CMS on the operations of the programs in each state and to share state performance data publicly.

ADAPTED PACE is an operational framework for a comprehensive, capitated, and community-based service model. Consideration of testing the expansion and adaptation of the PACE (the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) model (ADAPTED PACE) to serve new populations was recently made possible by the PACE Innovation Act which granted waiver authority to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for this purpose.

The National Governors Association (NGA) Center for Best Practices Health Division released a new guide, “The Future of Medicaid Transformation: A Practical Guide for States.” The guide provides a framework for how states can design statewide Medicaid transformation proposals, and is based on the NGA policy academy attended by three states that initially pursued Section 1115 waivers (Alabama, Nevada, and Washington).

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released their monthly report for May 2016 on Medicaid and CHIP application, eligibility determination, and enrollment data. States provides data to CMS on factors related to key application, eligibility and enrollment processes using the Medicaid and CHIP Performance Indicator Project. The data is then used to inform CMS on the operations of the programs in each state and to share state performance data publicly.