Editor’s Note: In a recent "State Spotlight" for The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, reprinted below, Manatt Health discusses the investments and efforts that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is making to promote health...more
The crisis in immigrant health coverage has been both highlighted and exacerbated by the recent pandemic. COVID-19 has taken a heavy toll on immigrants, who are disproportionately frontline/service workers, making them...more
In a new “Expert Perspective” prepared for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s State Health and Value Strategies program, Manatt Health provides a midyear update on the public option at the federal and state levels. ...more
Editor’s Note: In a recent issue brief for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s State Health and Value Strategies program, summarized below, Manatt Health describes the provision in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP)...more
On January 30, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released long-anticipated guidance that invites states to pursue capped funding demonstrations for the Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion population as well...more
Lawmakers across the country are considering “Medicaid buy-in” programs to stabilize the Affordable Care Act insurance market and offer a coverage option that is more affordable and accessible than current options in the...more
Lawmakers across the country are proposing legislation to stabilize the Affordable Care Act (ACA) insurance market, make coverage more affordable for consumers, and improve access to care by leveraging the bargaining power...more
The new year begins with a divided Congress, which is already gridlocked over a funding agreement to end the partial government shutdown now entering its fourth week. With Democrats newly in control of the House and...more
With a divided Congress that will struggle to reach agreement about major health policy legislation, states will continue to serve as the drivers and testing ground for new healthcare reforms in at least the next two years....more
The Massachusetts Medicaid program, MassHealth, plays a critical role as a source of health insurance coverage in Massachusetts. It covers a broad range of residents of the commonwealth, including vulnerable populations such...more
On June 7, 2018, Virginia joined 32 other states and the District of Columbia in expanding Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act to adults with incomes at or below 138% of the federal poverty level (FPL). After rejecting...more
To date, 32 states and the District of Columbia have expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to adults with incomes at or below 138% of the federal poverty level (FPL)—newly covering more than 12 million...more
In November 2017, Maine voters approved a referendum to implement expansion of MaineCare under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to adults with incomes up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL). As Maine’s legislature...more
Since assuming office last January, the Trump administration has signaled a shift in Medicaid policy. In early November, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Seema Verma made the administration’s...more
Massachusetts Waiver Amendment Requests Partial Expansion and Closed Formulary -
On September 8, 2017, Massachusetts submitted a waiver amendment request to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to modify its...more
This brief provides an overview of the proposal released on September 13th by Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA)—along with Senators Dean Heller (R-NV) and Ron Johnson (R-WI) and former Senator Rick...more
The Senate is poised to vote today, July 25, 2017, on a motion to proceed (MTP) to debate on repealing and possibly replacing the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The MTP allows the Senate to consider the House repeal and replace...more
Next steps regarding Congressional action on repeal and replace remain uncertain, with the President again supporting repeal coupled with replace, members attempting to bridge their differences over the Better Care...more
On June 22, Senate leadership released their proposed substitute for the House-passed American Health Care Act (AHCA), the Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017 (BCRA), as a discussion draft. The BCRA was updated on June 26,...more
Indiana is seeking a three-year extension of its Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP) 2.0 Section 1115 demonstration. Through HIP 2.0, which the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved in January 2015, Indiana...more
On Thursday, May 4, the House passed by a narrow margin the American Health Care Act (AHCA), the House Republican plan to repeal and replace major provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA)....more
On April 25, 2017, the Maine Department of Health and Human Services released for public comment a draft Section 1115 waiver application to implement new eligibility and coverage requirements for MaineCare, the State’s...more
5/2/2017
/ 1115 Waivers ,
Affordable Care Act ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Cost-Sharing ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Eligibility ,
Fee-for-Service ,
Health Insurance ,
Healthcare Reform ,
Medicaid ,
Medicaid Work Requirements ,
Premiums
CMS Issues Self-Referral Disclosure Protocol for Stark Law Violations -
On March 28, 2017, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a new voluntary self-referral disclosure protocol (SRDP) for disclosing...more
4/25/2017
/ Affordable Care Act ,
Anti-Steering Rules ,
Antitrust Provisions ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Deceptive Intent ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Drug Pricing ,
Healthcare Reform ,
Medicaid ,
Medicare ,
Pharmacist ,
Self-Referral ,
Stark Law ,
Telehealth ,
Trump Administration
On April 19, 2017, Wisconsin released for public comment a proposed amendment to its BadgerCare Reform Section 1115 demonstration. BadgerCare Reform currently provides coverage to approximately 150,000 childless adults ages...more
4/24/2017
/ 1115 Waivers ,
Affordable Care Act ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Drug Testing ,
Drug Treatment ,
Eligibility ,
Enrollment ,
Federal Poverty Line ,
Health Insurance ,
Healthcare Reform ,
Medicaid ,
Medicaid Work Requirements ,
Mental Illness ,
Proposed Amendments ,
Trump Administration ,
Waivers
Editor's Note: Montana's 2016 expansion of Medicaid provides an important opportunity to strengthen the state's substance use disorder (SUD) prevention and treatment system. In a new report for the Montana Healthcare...more