HMA

The 21st annual Medicaid Budget Survey results were released this week. The survey produces information on Medicaid spending, enrollment and policy, with a special focus this year on COVID-19 policies. Two reports were released: “States Respond to COVID-19 Challenges but Also Take Advantage of New Opportunities to Address Long-Standing Issues: Results from a 50-State Medicaid Budget Survey for State Fiscal Years 2021 and 2022” and “Medicaid Enrollment & Spending Growth: FY 2021 & 2022”.

This issue brief analyzes COVID-19 related legislative, regulatory, and subregulatory changes to Medicare from January 1, 2020 to July 24, 2020. The brief groups these regulatory changes into nine themes and examines questions regarding the policy changes moving forward. The brief is accompanied by a policy tracker that categorizes all 212 changes based on factors including types of providers and plans affected, effective date, and expected duration.

Kaiser Family Foundation and Health Management Associates released a report about implementing coverage and payment initiatives in Medicaid. The data for this report was collected from the 16th annual budget survey completed by the Medicaid directors and Medicaid staff in all fifty states and the District of Columbia. Included in the report is information on the policy changes to the Medicaid programs in each state that were implemented in FY 2016 or planned for implementation in FY 2017.