On March 17, 2021, HHS notified Arkansas and New Hampshire officials that it was withdrawing its approval of demonstration projects which had permitted those states to impose work requirements as a condition for eligibility...more
This week in Washington: House committees hold budget reconciliation markups for COVID-19....more
CMS approved Georgia’s Section 1115 demonstration project to partially expand Medicaid coverage for adults not otherwise eligible for Medicaid coverage with incomes up to 95 percent of the Federal Poverty Line (FPL)—short of...more
The Trump administration has issued sweeping new Medicaid guidance, continuing its efforts to cap federal Medicaid funding. The new policy relies on untested legal theories to implement the fundamental “bargain” of block...more
On Thursday, Jan. 30, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the Healthy Adult Opportunity initiative, long-awaited guidance that would enable states to convert Medicaid funding into a block grant for...more
On December 12, 2019, CMS approved South Carolina’s proposal for a demonstration project that would add work, or community engagement, requirements as part of the eligibility determinations for the state’s Medicaid plan. ...more
On November 4, Georgia released two draft waiver applications for public comment—a Section 1332 State Relief and Empowerment Waiver (“1332 waiver”) to restructure the state’s individual insurance market and a Section 1115...more
On November 4, 2019, Georgia officials announced a proposed Section 1115 demonstration waiver, referred to as the “Georgia Pathways Health Waiver,” to expand Georgia’s Medicaid program eligibility for non-disabled adults. If...more
On September 17, 2019, Tennessee released its proposal to block grant most of the funding the state’s Medicaid program (TennCare) receives from the Federal government. If approved by CMS, the amendment to the state’s...more
With the recent scoop from Politico that the Trump Administration is considering giving states the ability to implement Medicaid block grants, there has been considerable speculation on what the Administration is planning....more
On November 20, 2018, Virginia submitted an application to CMS for a Section 1115 demonstration program entitled Virginia COMPASS (Creating Opportunities for Medicaid Participants to Achieve Self-Sufficiency). The application...more
To date, 34 states (including D.C.) have adopted Medicaid expansion. Of the remaining 17 states, some are considering expanding Medicaid. States with recent activity relating to Medicaid expansion include Florida, Idaho,...more
In early January, Idaho Governor Butch Otter signed an executive order (EO) directing the state’s Department of Insurance (DOI) to “seek creative options” to expand “access” to health insurance coverage for Idahoans. The EO...more
Happy New Year!?! 2017 was an eventful year for health care, and now we can all sit back and relax with very little concern that major health policy will be on the table in 2018. Right? Why must Speaker Ryan ruin our...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
On October 19, Kaiser Family Foundation and Health Management Associates hosted a joint briefing to release their 17th Annual 50-State Medicaid Budget Survey for state fiscal years (FY) 2017 and 2018. The survey highlights...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
Editor’s Note: With efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA) flagging, stakeholders are redirecting their attention toward Medicaid Section 1115 demonstrations. The Trump administration has encouraged...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
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
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
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
States react to the failure of the AHCA; the HHS Inspector General launches an investigation into the Trump Administration's suspension of Marketplace enrollment outreach efforts; and the Kansas Legislature sends a Medicaid...more
In a new chart pack commissioned by the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation for the Massachusetts Coalition for Coverage and Care, Manatt Health provides an overview of proposals to cap federal Medicaid funding...more
With Congress back in session, attention in the health care policy universe is directed squarely at Washington, where Republicans in Congress and the Trump Administration are debating how to repeal and replace the Affordable...more