Medicaid

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the Community First Choice (CFC) Final Report to Congress. This CFC benefit allows states the option of adding home and community-based attendant services and supports to their State plans. The CFC report is required by the Affordable Care Act. The findings from four states that have implemented the Community First Choice benefit -- California, Montana, Maryland, and Oregon-- are described in the report

On March 15, the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission released the March 2016 Report to Congress on Medicaid and CHIP. The authorizing statute of MACPAC requires the commission to submit a report to Congress by March 15 and June 15 each year. This report focuses on three aspects of Medicare: Support for safety-net hospitals; delivery of care for people with behavioral health conditions; and coverage for low and moderate income children.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released their monthly report for December 2015 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.

Mathematica Policy Research submitted several reports on proposed methods for developing and testing risk and reliability. The important contribution for this work is the development of a risk adjustment methodology that can be applied to Medicaid quality measures of the HCBS population. These resources include: Risk Adjustment of HCBS Composite Measures- Volumes 1 and 2; Development of an HCBS Pressure Ulcer Measure- Volumes 1 and 2; and Development of HCBS Quality Measures webinar and slides.

This white paper examines the progress that is being made in the Aging Network. This paper covers key developments that are re-shaping the network as well as efforts to better measure the quality and value of its programs and services. The paper also includes: Case studies highlighting the work of the aging network in Florida, Massachusetts and California, discussion of quality initiatives and congressional actions, and concluding observations.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released their monthly report for November 2015 on Medicaid and CHIP application, eligibility, 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.

The Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS), in partnership with Mathematica Policy Research and Airam Actuarial Consulting, released an issue brief on the state considerations when setting capitation rates for Medicaid Managed Long-Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) programs. CHCS and its partners examined the considerations taken by eight states (Arizona, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin) as they established their MLTSS rates.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released their monthly report for October 2015 on Medicaid and CHIP application, eligibility, 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.

The AARP Public Policy Institute published a report that examined what state Medicaid agencies need in order to effectively monitor the performance of managed long-term services and supports (MLTSS) programs. Eight states with long-term experience operating and overseeing MLTSS were used to analyze monitoring capacities and develop promising practices. The states were: Arizona, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin.

The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) has four new reports available from the National Study of Long-Term Care Providers (NSLTCP). The data briefs and state tables use survey data from NCHS’ 2014 NSLTCP. NSLTCP provides reliable, accurate, relevant, and timely statistical information to support and inform long-term care services policy, research, and practice.