Week of February 10, 2026

Medicaid Home-and-Community-Based Services (HCBS): Workforce Medicaid Payment – MACPAC

Medicaid Payment Policies to Support the Home- and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Workforce meeting resource; Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) – January 29.

Medicaid Home-and-Community-Based Services (HCBS): Self-Direction and a Federal Policy Framework – MACPAC

Federal Policy Framework for Beneficiary Health and Welfare in Self-Directed Home- and Community-Based Services (HCBS) meeting resource; Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) – January 30.

Medicaid Home-and-Community-Based Services (HCBS): Outcomes of People Receiving Services

Outcomes of People who Receive HCBS: Still Room for Improvement summary; The Council on Quality and Leadership – February 3.

Persons Dually Eligible for Medicare and Medicaid: Medicaid Agencies and PACE Programs

Exploring the Role of the State Medicaid Agency in the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE): Program Agreement and Waiver Findings meeting resource; Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) – January 30.

Medicaid Reconciliation Law (HR 1): Work and Community Engagement Requirements – A Closer Look at Nebraska – First CMS Recognized Implementing State

A Closer Look at Nebraska, the First State Planning to Implement a Medicaid Work Requirement observations; Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) – January 30.

Medicaid Reconciliation Law (HR 1): Work and Community Engagement Requirements – Kaiser Family Foundation State Implementation Tracking

Tracking Implementation of the 2025 Reconciliation Law Medicaid Work Requirements: 1115-waivers; Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) – January.

Medicaid Reconciliation Law (HR 1): Work and Community Engagement Requirements – Guide for Advocates

Medicaid Work Requirements: A Guide for Advocates slides; Health Care Defense Group: Community Catalyst, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP), National Health Law Program (NHeLP) and Families USA – January 29.

Medicaid Reconciliation Law (HR 1): Work and Community Engagement Requirements – Tool Kit

Mitigating the Harms of Medicaid Work Requirements for Older Adults: Tools for State Advocates toolkit; Justice in Aging – February 4.

Medicaid Reconciliation Law (HR 1): Work and Community Engagement Requirements – Strategies To Mitigate Harm in Your State

Implementing New Medicaid Work Requirements: Strategies to Mitigate Harm in Your State webinar slides; Justice in Aging – February 5.

Medicaid Managed Care: State and Federal Tools for Ensuring Accountability

State and Federal Tools for Ensuring Accountability of Medicaid Managed Care Organizations Policy Options webinar slides ; Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC)– January 29.

Medicaid Prior Authorization – Automation

Automation in the Prior Authorization Process: Findings webinar slides; Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) – January 30.

Medicare Advantage Beneficiary Protections – REAL Health Providers Act Signed Into Law

FY26 Mental Health Funding Update & Passage of the REAL Health Providers Act summary; Mental Health America – February 4.

Medicare Telehealth Coverage Extended Through 2027

Medicare Telehealth Coverage Extended Through 2027 summary; Center for Medicare Advocacy – February 5.

Medicare Advantage – CMS Advance Notice Rules Signals 2027 Instability

Medicare Advantage Advance Notice for 2027 Signals Instability for Program statement; America’s Physician Groups – January 26.

Medicare Advantage – CMS Advance Notice May Underestimate Risk Scores

Apples to Oranges: Including the MA Risk Score Trend in CMS’s Estimates of MA Payments blog; Georgetown University Center on Health Insurance – January 30.

Medicare Advantage – CMS Requires “Linked Medical Record Chart” in Response to “Upcoding”

CMS Takes Aim at Upcoding: Ending “Unlinked” Chart Reviews in Medicare Advantage blog; Georgetown University Center on Health Insurance – February 4.

Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D Rules – Protecting Beneficiaries in “Star Ratings”

Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D Rules – Protecting Beneficiaries in “Star Ratings” (2) comments; AAHD is a National Health Council (NHC) member. The NHC has submitted 31 page detailed comments to CMS on proposed Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D rules. The NHC emphasizes effective beneficiary understanding and effective integration of services and supports. AAHD particularly supports and values the detailed observations and ideas on Medicare Advantage “Star Ratings.” NHC emphasizes access to care, care coordination, beneficiary experience, management of chronic conditions, and implications in serving high-need populations, while cautioning against Star Rating “volatility.” – January 26.

Behavioral Health-General Health Integration: Status Report on Psychiatric Collaborative Care Model Use

Behavioral Health-General Health Integration: Status Report on Psychiatric Collaborative Care Model Use release statement and full report; AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have joined Shatterproof, Bowman Family Foundation, and leading mental health organizations releasing a detailed national study of the use of the Psychiatric Collaborative Care Model in integrating behavioral health and general health. There are several evidence-based integration models in use.