Medicaid

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released their monthly report for March 2018 on Medicaid and CHIP application, eligibility determination, and enrollment data. This report includes point-in-time data from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, including the number of applications submitted directly to Medicaid and CHIP agencies, the number of eligibility determinations made on these applications, and the total number of individuals enrolled in the Medicaid and CHIP programs.

This paper examines whether there is evidence that MLTSS programs increase access to home and community-based services (HCBS). One theory states that MLTSS programs may reduce costs associated with the use of institutional services, thereby allowing states to expand HCBS services and reduce waiting lists. This brief uses this theory and examines changes in a state's HCBS waiting list as one way to measure access to HCBS.

This paper explores how state MLTSS programs interact with federal LTSS initiatives. It examines this interaction in four states: Illinois, Iowa, New York, and Ohio. It specifically focuses on the the interaction of these states' MLTSS programs with the Money Follows the Person (MFP) demonstration, the Balancing Incentive Program, the Health Home State Plan Option, and the Financial Alignment Initiative (FAI).

This paper looks at the impact of various MLTSS policies on access to LTSS. It looks specifically at four states and the policies which these states identify as important to ensuring access. All four states identified network adequacy standards, transition of care, provider reimbursement, and level of care criteria as important factors. In addition, the paper examined participant-directed services policies and care coordination models.

This issue brief summarizes the current evidence surrounding the effects of Medicaid expansion on coverage, access, affordability, health outcomes, and economic indicators. The paper draws primarily from evidence examined in 202 studies reviewed in a previous KFF literature review on this subject.

This recently released follow-up report was aimed at studying changes in the second year after individuals transitioned out of institutional care into community settings. Participants in the MFP program had higher costs during the first twelve months than non-MFP participants who also transitioned to community-based care. However, this study showed that these costs became comparable after the first year of transition.

As part of Mathematica’s ongoing evaluation project of section 1115 demonstrations, they have released their interim findings on MLTSS programs. This preliminary report looked closely MLTSS programs in New York and Tennessee and found mixed results regarding the goals of reducing hospitalizations and rebalancing care. Mathematica aims to release a final report on the effectiveness of MLTSS in 2019.

As part of Mathematica’s ongoing evaluation project of section 1115 demonstrations, they have released their interim findings on the DSRIP program. This report shows quantitative evidence of DSRIP motivating positive provider actions, but the program’s impact on outcomes is still unclear. Mathematica aims to release a final report on the effectiveness of DSRIP in 2019.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released their monthly report for February 2018 on Medicaid and CHIP application, eligibility determination, and enrollment data. This report includes point-in-time data from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, including the number of applications submitted directly to Medicaid and CHIP agencies, the number of eligibility determinations made on these applications, and the total number of individuals enrolled in the Medicaid and CHIP programs.

This report describes key considerations and policy decisions that states should consider as they work to implement EVV systems in accordance with the mandate included in the 21st Century Cures Act. The paper also examines different approaches that states may wish to use to establish EVV within their HCBS programs, and discusses some of the benefits and challenges associated with each approach. Lastly, it includes case studies of four states with existing EVV systems.