Medicaid

Medicaid funding can play a critical role in meeting the needs of children with emotional disturbances and adults with mental illnesses. This paper provides information regarding recent state activities and trends in developing and revising the Rehab Option; relates to service coverage, agency and practitioner requirements, rates and coding, and management of services; and offers steps that states and other interested parties should consider when “updating” their Rehab Option. Brief: Vol 3 Iss 2

This memorandum presents state-by-state data on Medicaid long term care expenditures in Federal Fiscal Year 2004 (October 2003 through September 2004). The accompanying tables present data on Medicaid Expenditures for Long-Term Care services from 1992 to 2004. A new table this year shows the effect of supplemental nursing facility payments in some states on expenditure data. A separate file ranks states based on the proportion of LTC spending for community services.

This paper, prepared for presentation to NGA, discusses issues, problems and challenges facing Medicaid in 2005 and suggests principles and proposals for reform.

The Alliance for Health Reform offered a briefing on Medicaid fundamentals, for those wanting to brush up on their knowledge as well as those new to the subject. Speakers included Senator Jay Rockefeller, Alliance for Health Reform, Ed Howard, Alliance for Health Reform, Diane Rowland, Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured Rodney Whitlock, Senate Finance Committee Republican Staff, Alan Weil, NASHP The transcript, materials, webcast and evaluation are all available.

This topic paper summarizes how states can use Medicaid to pay for most institutional transition program costs on a permanent basis as a result of policy change since 2000. It also describes how states are currently using Medicaid HCBS Waivers to pay for community transition services-temporary supports people need when trying to move such as housing deposits, utility set-up fees, and furniture.

Collaboration between state Medicaid and Mental Health programs has varied greatly across states and administrations. The purpose of this paper is to identify and describe the basic elements of successful collaboration through 1) a review of the literature on collaboration, and 2) a description of collaboration in two states. The state examples highlight the mechanisms through which successful collaboration occurs and describe the types of activities in which collaborating agencies engage.

This guide explains the critical role Medicare and Medicaid have come to play in the lives and the futures of roughly 20 million children, adults, and seniors with disabilities - and gives people new information. This guides answers many questions such as: How do people with disabilities apply and can they get help with the process? What is the policy for covering durable medical equipment? How to appeal coverage decisions? Can a person be employed and still keep their coverage?

This electronic briefing book was distributed at a seminar requested by congressional staff to provide an overview of the Medicare, Medicaid, and State Children’s Health Insurance programs. The sessions featured experts from the Government Accountability Office, Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, Congressional Research Service, and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, plus public and private entities. This link contains presentations, handouts, reports, websites, and other resources.

Improving Health and Long-Term Care Coverage for Low-Income Americans This report—the product of a year-long effort to identify changes that would make the 40-year-old Medicaid program more effective—was developed in collaboration with a workgroup of state officials and national experts. The group’s final recommendations identify numerous opportunities for improving the program and are focused on three key areas: eligibility, benefits and financing.

Individuals with certain combinations of needs who enroll in both the state-administered Medicaid program and the federally-administered Medicare program are referred to as dual eligibles. Currently, they receive prescription drugs and most LTC benefits from Medicaid, while they are covered by Medicare for acute benefits. Because dual eligibles receive benefits from both programs, many care coordination challenges arise in delivering high-quality, cost effective, & comprehensive benefits.