State Medicaid Director's letters

This letter provides guidance to States and discusses policy issues related to peer support and notes that States are increasingly interested in covering peer support providers as a distinct type for the delivery of counseling and other support services. The letter (SMDL #07-011) provides policy guidance on requirements for supervision, care-coordination, and minimum training criteria of peer support providers.

Take a look at the newly re-designed web site with a new look and feel that is more user-friendly. Visitors can find news, conferences, key issues areas, State Medicaid Director Letters, Federal Budget Information, Links to key organizations and state Medicaid agencies, publications and many other resources.

This letter announces the availability of a new technical assistance tool for use by States who wish to assess the current state of their long-term care systems, including their progress towards rebalancing. \"A Model State Profile for Assessing a State Long-Term Care System\", along with a \"Technical Assistance Guide to Assessing a State Long-Term Care System\" are now available on the CMS website.

Are you searching for previous versions of past letters? The CMS website now has over 300 letters on-line in a searchable database. State Medicaid Directors' letter are used to provide States with guidance and clarification on current information pertaining to Medicaid policy and Medicaid data issues. The intent of these letters is not to establish policy, but to ensure consistency and better serve the States. Review the list which is sortable by subject, date or topic.

This letter is one of a series that provides guidance on the implementation of the Deficit Reduction Act. Section 6044, State Flexibility in Benefit Packages, adds a new section 1937 to the Social Security Act. Review the options that states have to amend plans to provide alternative benefit packages to beneficiaries, without regard to comparability, statewideness, freedom of choice, or certain other traditional Medicaid requirements.

Quality Communication #10 represents another in a series of CMS communications to support state efforts to improve the quality of services and supports. The letter announces the final revised working draft of the 1915 (c) Waiver Application, Instructions and Technical Guide, Resource Documents, and the CMS Review Instrument. This is the version that CMS is currently automating for use as a web-based application available for use in early February 2006.

The Disabled and Elderly Health Programs Group, Center for Medicaid and State Operations, CMS invites your comments on their draft Strategic Action Plan. The action plan is a is a public declaration of what is important, a statement of accountability, and provides direction to the future. Please review and send your comments to StrategicActionPlan@cms.hhs.gov

This memo is from Gale Arden, Director of the Disabled and Elderly Health Programs Group. The letter offers clarity on the changes brought about by the Medicare Modernization Act and prescription drugs for persons who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid (dual eligibles).

This CMS letter to State Medicaid Directors highlights six evidence-based practices shown to be effective for persons with mental illness. Following each description is a short discussion of the role of Medicaid services to support all or part of the practice.

Quality Communication #9 represents another in a series of CMS communications to support state efforts to improve the quality of services and supports. The letter announces 4 technical assistance products: Home and Community Based Services: Quality Management Roles & Responsibilities; Discovery Methods for Remediation and Quality Improvement; Software for the Participant Experience Survey (PES & Users’ Guide) –MR/DD Version; Participant Experience Survey & Users’ Guide –Brain Injury version.