In January 2021, Manatt Health described the ten health care imperatives essential for improving our health care system and advancing health equity in the 2020s. Now two years into the decade, we have released our 2022...more
5/3/2022
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Digital Health ,
Disparate Impact ,
Health Care Providers ,
Healthcare Facilities ,
Healthcare Reform ,
Healthcare Workers ,
Hospitals ,
Long Term Care Facilities ,
Mental Health ,
Patient Access ,
Pharmaceutical Industry ,
PHI ,
Physicians ,
Public Health ,
Webinars
On November 20, 2017, North Carolina submitted an amended 1115 waiver application to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) seeking authority to invest $1.2 billion over five years in a range of targeted...more
Editor’s Note: The Affordable Care Act (ACA) brought sweeping changes to the Medicaid program that have had profound implications for family planning coverage, services and providers. In particular, in the 17 states with...more
The IRS releases guidance on resolving Form 1095 conflicts; New Hampshire's Medicaid expansion renewal clears a hurdle in the State; and New York providers get $1.5 billion in long-awaited DSRIP capital and infrastructure...more
3/16/2016
/ Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
DSRIP ,
Health Insurance ,
Healthcare Reform ,
IRS ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Medicaid ,
Medicaid Expansion ,
Prescription Drugs ,
Public Health Insurance Marketplace ,
State and Local Government
STATE STAFFING UPDATES:
Nevada: New Insurance Commissioner Appointed -
The Director of Nevada's Department and Industry announced Barbara Richardson as the Commissioner of the Division of Insurance. Richardson...more
3/2/2016
/ Affordable Care Act ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
GAO ,
Healthcare Reform ,
Healthcare.gov ,
Managed Care Contracts ,
Medicaid ,
Medicaid Expansion ,
Native American Issues ,
OIG ,
State Health Insurance Exchanges
Medicaid expansion cuts the number of low-income adults without health insurance in Kentucky by nearly 70%; the Georgia legislature considers a "Private Option" coverage expansion bill; and CMS and AHIP collaborate on quality...more
Alabama receives federal approval for its Medicaid transformation waiver, while Michigan's Governor submits a Medicaid waiver on behalf of Flint residents; CMS announces $7.7 billion in reinsurance payments; and Vermont seeks...more
2/18/2016
/ Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) ,
Healthcare Reform ,
Hospitals ,
Medicaid ,
Medicaid Expansion ,
Public Health Insurance Marketplace ,
Qualified Health Plans ,
Reinsurance ,
SHOP Program ,
State Medicaid Programs ,
Waivers
CMS details requirements for Kentucky's transition to HealthCare.gov; a new special enrollment period is established for subsidy-eligible individuals who failed to file their 2014 taxes; and President Obama sends his final...more
Virginia submits a $1 billion DSRIP application; Michigan's Governor will request authority to extend Medicaid coverage to Flint residents aged 21 and under; and Hawaii reinstates small business tax credits in its updated...more
Louisiana's Governor pushes ahead on Medicaid expansion, while expansion is blocked by Wyoming's Legislature; Massachusetts plans to submit a 1332 waiver application to preserve its merged markets; and CBO lowers its 2016...more
1/28/2016
/ Affordable Care Act ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Healthcare Reform ,
Healthcare.gov ,
Medicaid ,
Medicaid Expansion ,
Medicare ,
Prescription Drugs ,
State Budgets ,
State Health Insurance Exchanges ,
Tax Credits
Louisiana's Governor signs an executive order on his first day in office to expand Medicaid; Kentucky's Governor opts to replace, rather than repeal, its Medicaid expansion program; and New York and Missouri make it easier...more
A flurry of support for Medicaid expansion this week…with Virginia hospitals backing a provider assessment, Wyoming's Governor putting forth a budget initiative, and Arkansas announcing plans to extend its waiver. Meanwhile,...more
12/10/2015
/ Affordable Care Act ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Comment Period ,
Conflicts of Interest ,
Enrollment ,
Governor Pence ,
Healthcare Costs ,
Healthcare Reform ,
Medicaid ,
Medicaid Expansion ,
State Budgets ,
Waivers
HHS proposes significant new network adequacy standards and surprise billing protections for 2017 QHPs; Louisiana's Governor-elect reiterates his intent to expand Medicaid on "Day One"; and California considers pursuing a...more
Editor’s note: Born as an afterthought to Medicare five decades ago, Medicaid has evolved from an adjunct to state welfare programs into the nation’s largest health insurer. Medicaid’s 50th birthday is a fitting time to...more
10/27/2015
/ Affordable Care Act ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) ,
Eligibility ,
Enrollment ,
Health Care Providers ,
Health Information Technologies ,
Health Insurance ,
Healthcare ,
Healthcare Costs ,
Healthcare Reform ,
Medicaid ,
Medicaid Expansion ,
Medicaid Reform ,
Public Health Insurance Marketplace ,
State Medicaid Programs ,
Tax Credits ,
Value-Based Purchasing ,
Waivers
Arizona seeks Medicaid Waiver to implement new coverage restrictions for Medicaid expansion enrollees and delivery system reform; Tennessee’s uninsured rate continues to drop; and Louisiana gubernatorial candidates line up...more
10/21/2015
/ Affordable Care Act ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) ,
Co-Op ,
Co-payments ,
Cost-Sharing ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
DSRIP ,
Enrollment ,
Health Insurance ,
Healthcare ,
Healthcare Reform ,
Hospitals ,
Medicaid ,
Medicaid Expansion ,
Medicaid Reform ,
OIG ,
Public Health Insurance Marketplace ,
Qualified Health Plans ,
State Health Insurance Exchanges ,
Tax Credits ,
Waivers
Iowa's largest insurer joins the State's Marketplace for coverage year 2017; carrier changes are announced for Marketplaces in Kentucky, Oklahoma and Wyoming; and South Dakota's Governor convenes the Health Care Solutions...more
10/14/2015
/ Affordable Care Act ,
Blue Cross ,
Blue Shield ,
Health Care Providers ,
Health Insurance ,
Health Insurance Exchanges ,
Healthcare Reform ,
Healthcare.gov ,
HIV ,
Managed Care Contracts ,
Medicaid ,
Medicaid Expansion ,
Open Enrollment ,
Public Health Insurance Marketplace ,
Qualified Health Plans
Congress passes a bill to give states greater flexibility in defining “small businesses”; South Dakota seeks to offset Medicaid expansion costs in part with increased use of the fully federally-funded Indian Health Service;...more
10/7/2015
/ Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Co-Op ,
DSRIP ,
Enrollment ,
Health Care Providers ,
Health Insurance ,
Healthcare ,
Healthcare Reform ,
Healthcare.gov ,
Medicaid ,
Medicaid Expansion ,
Medicaid Reform ,
Pending Legislation ,
Public Health Insurance Marketplace ,
Qualified Health Plans ,
Small Employers ,
Waivers
The Massachusetts Marketplace takes steps to ease consumer confusion by reducing choice among QHPs; North Carolina appears poised to pass Medicaid reform legislation; and bipartisan support is gaining for defining businesses...more
9/23/2015
/ Affordable Care Act ,
Bundled Payments ,
Burwell v Hobby Lobby ,
Census Bureau ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Contraceptive Coverage Mandate ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
GAO ,
Governor Bentley ,
Governor McCrory ,
Health Insurance ,
Health Insurance Exchanges ,
Healthcare ,
Healthcare Reform ,
Hospitals ,
Long-Term Care ,
Managed Care Contracts ,
Medicaid ,
Medicaid Expansion ,
Medicaid Reform ,
Medicaid Reimbursements ,
Medicare ,
OIG ,
Pending Legislation ,
Public Health Insurance Marketplace ,
Qualified Health Plans ,
Religious Accommodation ,
SCOTUS ,
State Budgets ,
State Medicaid Programs
The GAO reports an increase in choice of plans both on and off Marketplaces; Hawaii submits the first 1332 waiver application, with a focus on substituting the employer mandate and SHOP provisions with pre-existing State...more
9/16/2015
/ Affordable Care Act ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Employer Mandates ,
GAO ,
Health Insurance Exchanges ,
Healthcare Reform ,
Healthcare.gov ,
Medicaid ,
Public Health Insurance Marketplace ,
SHOP Program ,
State Health Insurance Exchanges
Colorado’s uninsured rate is down 9 percentage points in four years; Michigan requests increased cost-sharing for its Medicaid expansion population above the federal poverty line; and, HHS’s proposed guidance strengthens...more
9/10/2015
/ Affordable Care Act ,
Anti-Discrimination Policies ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Comment Period ,
Cost-Sharing ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Disability Discrimination ,
Draft Guidance ,
Federal Health Insurance Exchanges ,
Gender Discrimination ,
Health Care Providers ,
Health Insurance ,
Healthcare ,
Healthcare Reform ,
Medicaid ,
Medicaid Expansion ,
NPRM ,
Proposed Regulation ,
Public Health Insurance Marketplace ,
Qualified Health Plans ,
Sex Discrimination ,
Sexual Orientation Discrimination ,
State Health Insurance Exchanges ,
Tax Credits ,
Transgender ,
Waivers
CMS permits states to use income information from other means-tested benefit programs for Medicaid eligibility determinations; Alaska’s Medicaid expansion is given the green light to launch today; and Washington State submits...more
9/4/2015
/ Affordable Care Act ,
Blue Cross ,
Cadillac Tax ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) ,
Co-Op ,
Comment Period ,
Eligibility ,
Essential Health Benefits ,
Federally Facilitated Exchanges ,
Health Care Providers ,
Health Insurance ,
Healthcare ,
Healthcare Reform ,
IRS ,
Means Test ,
Medicaid ,
Medicaid Expansion ,
Medicare ,
Payment Systems ,
Premiums ,
Reconciliation ,
SNAP Program ,
Special Assessments ,
State Health Insurance Exchanges ,
Tax Returns
Arkansas's “Private Option” is projected to have a net impact of $438 million on state funds 2017-2021; Iowa selects MCOs for proposed Medicaid managed care transition; and, the DC Marketplace launches a robust dual-language...more
Ohio’s Medicaid expenditures came in $2 billion below estimates despite enrollment growth after Medicaid expansion; California extends full Medicaid benefits to more pregnant women; and nearly one million have enrolled in...more
CMS offers a special enrollment period for HealthCare.gov enrollees whose incomes were miscalculated due to system error; California Marketplace announces two new insurers; and Connecticut’s budget reduces eligibility levels...more
7/29/2015
/ CCIIO ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
DSRIP ,
Enrollment ,
Fast Track Process ,
Health Insurance ,
Healthcare Reform ,
Healthcare.gov ,
IRS ,
Medicaid ,
Medicare ,
Public Health Insurance Marketplace ,
State Budgets ,
Tax Credits ,
Waivers
Montana’s Medicaid expansion waiver seeks monthly premiums and a “third party administrator”; Rhode Island’s Medicaid working group recommends pursuing a DSRIP waiver; and Utah’s Medicaid expansion discussions are put on hold...more