CMS

This bulletin provides information that CMS hopes will be helpful to States as they work to implement section 3309 of the Affordable Care Act which eliminates Part D cost-sharing for full benefit dual eligible individuals receiving home and community-based services. The effective date for Section 3309 is January 1, 2012.

This bulletin clarifies earlier guidance the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services provided in a May 31, 2011 Informational Bulletin and accompanying Frequently Asked Questions on section 6501 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). Section 6501 of the ACA amends a section of the Social Security Act and requires State Medicaid agencies to terminate the participation of any individual or entity if terminated under Medicare or any other State Medicaid plan.

This letter provides guidance to States on the implementation of Section 10202 of the Affordable Care Act, which establishes the “State Balancing Incentive Payments Program” hereafter referred to as the Balancing Incentive Program. This letter provides a high-level overview along with the required structural changes and timeframes for implementation. Also review the attached Section 10202 Initial Announcement.

This letter provides guidance on state flexibility to make changes to their home and community-based services (HCBS) programs while complying with the maintenance of effort (MOE) provision of the Affordable Care Act. Letter recommends that States contact CMS for technical assistance if they are interested in pursuing any changes to their long-term care policies. The accompanying Q&As provide guidance on the MOE provisions in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

The Community Living Initiative is an effort to give people with disabilities and older adults greater opportunities to live in their communities and achieve their goals. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services identified several issues and challenges in the development and refinement of new strategies to support and promote community living. HHS held four Listening Sessions around the country with state & local officials, consumers, service providers, and advocates.

“The Innovation Center” is a new engine for revitalizing and sustaining the Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP programs and ultimately to help to improve the healthcare system for all Americans. The Center, established by the Affordable Care Act, was given the flexibility and resources to rapidly test innovative care and payment models and scale up successful models. Visit the website to read about new initiatives such as Partnership for Patients. There is also an area to share your own ideas.

The AoA, CMS, and VA National Grantee Meeting was February 14-17, 2011. Use the attached links to find presentations from the 2011 sessions, available in PDF. Topics range from home and community-based services, evidence based care transition models, person-centered planning, aging and disability partnerships, and supporting caregivers. Full titles are available in the keywords section.

Use this health literacy toolkit to make written material in printed formats easier for people to understand and use. Though the main focus is on material intended for use by individuals eligible or enrolled in programs, the guidelines also apply to material created for people who serve or assist them. The toolkit has 11 parts, including guidelines for writing and design, methods for testing with readers, and guidelines for translation.

States have faced considerable challenges, but by the end of 2009, MFP programs had helped approximately 5,600 people transition to community living. This report describes the program’s status through December 2009, including how states are progressing toward their goals, and provides baseline information for analyses of impacts and outcomes.

This letter provides initial guidance on section 6411 of the Affordable Care Act, Expansion of the Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) Program, which amends section 1902(a)(42) of the SSA requiring States to establish programs to contract with RACs to audit payments to Medicaid providers by December 31, 2010. CMS expects States to fully implement their RAC programs by April 1, 2011. As required by statute, CMS will be issuing regulations in this area shortly, providing additional guidance.