This week, our In Focus section reviews updated information issued by the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on Medicaid expansion enrollment from the 鈥淢arch 2020 Medicaid and CHIP Applications, Eligibility Determination, and Enrollment Report,鈥� published on June 22, 2020. Additionally, we review 2020 Exchange enrollment data from the 鈥淗ealth Insurance Exchanges 2020 Open Enrollment Period: Final State-Level Public Use File,鈥� published by CMS on April 2, 2020. Combined, these reports present a picture of Medicaid and Exchange enrollment in early 2020, leading up to the COVID-19 pandemic and representing 70.9 million Medicaid and CHIP enrollees and 11.4 million Exchange enrollees. Medicaid/CHIP and Exchange enrollment is expected to rise in 2020 according to a team of HMA Medicaid experts, health economists, and data analysts. Read the previous In Focus on HMA鈥檚 forecast model.
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GAO 50-state Medicaid survey on federal policy challenges
This week our In Focus section summarizes the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) Medicaid report, State Views on Program Administration Challenges, released earlier this year. GAO conducted interviews with Medicaid officials from 50 states and the District of Columbia to identify challenges related to federal Medicaid policies. 听
CMS updates Medicare Advantage and Section 1876 cost plan network adequacy
This week, our In Focus section examines new guidance issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding Medicare Advantage (MA) plan network adequacy requirements. On June 17, 2020, CMS released updated Medicare Advantage and 1876 Cost Plan Network Adequacy Guidance for Medicare Advantage (MA) health plans to use now for Contract Year 2021 network submission.
New report highlights IEHP鈥檚 establishment of 50 care teams for Health Homes Program services
A new report has been released outlining Inland Empire Health Plan鈥檚 (IEHP) efforts to establish 50 care teams to support the delivery of core Health Homes Program services for IEHP鈥檚 most vulnerable members with complex health conditions.
HMA contributed to the new report and has supported implementation of IEHP鈥檚 Health Homes Program since 2018, providing consultation in the development and implementation of a clinical model of care,听the design and deployment of a population health management tool, the creation and delivery of a multi-modal training program, and the provision of practice coaching to over 50 care teams.
HMA-developed medications for addiction treatment (MAT) training for justice and child welfare now available online
Focused on ongoing support and solutions for those living with opioid use disorder (OUD), 黑料网 (HMA) has developed a robust web-based training program about addiction and its treatment in the criminal justice and child welfare systems, including access to, and continued use of, medications for addiction treatment (MAT).
Impact of COVID-19 federal policy on Medicare Advantage
This week, our In Focus section examines the operational impacts of federal Medicare Advantage policy changes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. On January 31, 2020, the Secretary of Health and Human Services declared a public health emergency. This was followed by a national emergency declared by President Trump on March 13, 2020. These declarations provide the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) authority to waive certain Medicare and Medicaid regulatory requirements to help health plans, providers, and other stakeholders respond to immediate needs of their members and communities. These waiver flexibilities, when combined with other legislative and regulatory changes issued by Congress and CMS have resulted in over 200 policy changes to Medicare alone. Many of these affect Medicare Advantage sponsors and have direct implications to current and future operations of plan responsibilities. We examine eight categories of requirements and flexibilities that have significant business relevance and exposure for Medicare Advantage plan sponsors:
Optimizing buprenorphine prescribing capacity in jails and prisons
This week, our In Focus section discusses an issue brief prepared by 黑料网 (HMA), Optimizing Capacity for Prescribing Buprenorphine in Jails and Prisons, authored by HMA Principals Shannon Robinson, MD and Donna Strugar-Fritsch, BSN, MPA, CCHP.
Webinar Alert – The Tsunami of need is coming: Integrated care in the era of COVID-19
HMA is cohosting a webinar with the.
Thursday, June 25, 2020
Webinar | 12:00pm – 12:45pm PST / 3:00pm – 3:45pm EST
Discussion with Panelists | 12:45pm – 1:30pm PST / 3:45pm – 4:30pm EST
Webinar alert: Evidence-based treatment of opioid use disorder in correctional settings
HMA is cohosting a webinar with the
Opioid use disorder is a chronic brain disease with effective, evidence-based treatments, and is a condition protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Prisons and jails are expected, by national health care and justice organizations and by communities, to treat incarcerated persons with OUD in accordance with evidence-based practices. This webinar reviews the most current evidence-based care for opioid withdrawal and OUD treatment and provides clinicians with strategies to move correctional health practices into compliance with national and community standards.
HMA framework examines behavioral health crisis diversion facilities
This week, our In Focus section provides a model framework examining an option for care for individuals with behavioral health needs who often find themselves involved with law enforcement or in hospital emergency rooms during times of crisis. The framework – Crisis Diversion Facilities – was released by 黑料网, led by HMA Principal Bren Manaugh and supported by听 as part of a larger opioid and mental health response initiative.
Exploring flexibilities in Medicare Advantage supplemental benefits: HMA brief on access, adoption, and impacts
An HMA-authored issue brief examines beneficiary access to, and plan adoption of, newly expanded Medicare Advantage (MA) supplemental benefit flexibilities and raises questions regarding the expected impacts of new supplemental benefit offerings on beneficiary satisfaction, outcomes, and total cost of care.
The new flexibilities for MA plans include innovative supplemental benefits offered through expansion of primarily health-related benefits, benefits offered non-uniformly, Value-Based Insurance Design (VBID), and Special Supplemental Benefits for the Chronically Ill (SSBCI).
The brief鈥檚 key finding is that enrollment in plans offering these flexibilities is relatively low and varies across geographic areas with 19% of all MA enrollees enrolled in a plan that offered at least one expanded supplemental benefit. HMA will conduct additional analyses including interviews with key stakeholders to inform the policy community on the opportunities and challenges with the adoption and implementation of new supplemental benefits.
This brief was produced by HMA Managing Principals Jonathan Blum and Mary Hsieh, Principal Eric Hammelman, and Senior Consultant Narda Ipakchi under a grant from .
HMA conference on trends in publicly sponsored healthcare
HMA Conference 2020
What鈥檚 Next for Medicaid, Medicare, and Publicly Sponsored Healthcare:
How Payers, Providers, and States Are Navigating a Future of Opportunity and Uncertainty
Pre-Conference Workshop: October 25
Conference: October 26-27
Location: Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park