Medicaid

The country’s second COVID-19 stimulus law, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, will increase the federal deficit by $192 billion through 2030, mostly over the next two years, and the largest health-related expenditure is due to the increased federal match rate for Medicaid that doesn’t account for increased enrollment during the downturn, according to an initial estimate from the Congressional Budget Office and the Joint Committee on Taxation.

Following HHS Secretary Alex Azar’s announcement that a part of the $100 billion hospital fund in the CARES Act will be used to reimburse treatment for uninsured COVID-19 patients, Democratic leaders called for legislation that would ensure all patients can get cost-free care, and from any provider, not just from hospitals.

CMS told states on Thursday (April 2) that they have various ways to use federal Medicaid funds to expand telehealth treatments of substance use disorders -- and the agency advised that these telehealth options may be useful during the COVID-19 crisis.

Congress’ Medicaid advisers voted in favor what staff called modest but important recommendations to improve care for beneficiaries eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid -- one would create a special enrollment period for duals eligible for Medicare-Medicaid plans and another would propose Congress provide states with funding to put integrated care models in place.

CMS has agreed to withhold federal Medicaid reimbursements to states in cases where providers are serving Medicaid beneficiaries without being enrolled in state programs after an HHS Office of Inspector General report found 23 states hadn’t enrolled all providers as required by the 21st Century Cures Act.

CMS on Wednesday (April 1) opened the comment period for an 1115 waiver submitted in February by New Jersey that would extend Medicaid coverage for beneficiaries for 180 days after they give birth.

The American Hospital Association called on HHS on Tuesday (March 31) to immediately dispense the $100 billion allocated to the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund by the third coronavirus stimulus package directly to hospital providers using Medicare Administrative Contractors.

Democratic leaders in the House and Senate health committees Friday (March 27) said they’ll fight to include in the next stimulus package a number of proposals aimed at expanding access to affordable health insurance and making COVID-19 vaccines and treatments free for all patients.

The House passed a third coronavirus stimulus package on Friday (March 27) and it now goes to the president’s desk.