Medicaid Home-and-Community-Based Services (HCBS) – Reconciliation (HR 1) Waiver Expansion
Medicaid Home-and-Community-Based Services (HCBS) – Reconciliation (HR 1) Waiver Expansion letter; AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have joined the Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD) Task Force on LTSS writing CMS for clarification and guidance on the Reconciliation Act (HR 1) Medicaid HCBS expanded waiver authority – February 6.
Home-and-Community-Based Services (HCBS): Olmstead’s Effects – Three State Study (GA, NC, VA)
Olmstead’s Effects on Housing Affordability, Supportive Housing, and Home and Community-Based Services: A Three-State Study; The Heller School -Brandeis University – Community Living Policy Center and Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund (DREDF) study – February 5.
The Role of Medicaid and Managed Care in Home-and-Community-Based Services (HCBS) and Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS)
Health and Home journal article; American Society on Aging shared – shared February 11.
Medicaid Reconciliation Law (HR 1): Work and Community Engagement Requirements – Vendor Assessments and Evaluations
Assessing the Medicaid Work Requirement Vendor Landscape paper; Center on Budget and Policy Priorities – February 9.
Medicaid Reconciliation Law (HR 1): Work and Community Engagement Requirements – SUD Payment Consent To Facilitate Exemption
Medicaid Reconciliation Law (HR 1): Work and Community Engagement Requirements – SUD Payment Consent To Facilitate Exemption letter; AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have joined a coalition promoting the integration of behavioral and general health services and medical records, led by the Association for Behavioral Health and Wellness, letter to HHS/HHS OCR/SAMHSA advocating that individual consent to Substance Use Disorder (SUD) diagnosis or treatment can be a factor to satisfy the Medicaid community engagement exemption – February 6.
Medicaid Buy-In and Workers with Disabilities
Medicaid “Buy-In” Q&A – ACL and DOL ODEP The Administration for Community Living (ACL) and the Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (DOL ODEP) summary shared February 6 by AUCD sharing an amendment expanding eligibility by Senator Blackburn (S. 3690) signed into law.
Medicaid and CHIP Annual MACPAC Data Book
MACStats data report; Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Payment and Access Commission– February 5.
Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D Medication Payment Rates: CMS Announced Methodological Changes
Wakely Summary: Advance Notice of Methodological Changes for CY 2027 Medicare Advantage Capitation Rates and Part C and Part D Payment Policies white paper; Wakely Consulting Group, a – Health Management Associates company – February 5.
Mental Health Among Medicare Beneficiaries
2022 Mental Health Among Medicare Beneficiaries PUF (Public Use File); Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) shared Medicare Current Beneficiary Annual Updates – shared February 11.
ACA Marketplace: Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters (NBPP) Proposed Rule
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2027 Proposed Rule fact sheet; Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters (NBPP) – February 9.
ACA Marketplace: Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters (NBPP) Proposed Rule – “Sweeping Changes” for Health Plans
HHS Proposes Sweeping Changes For 2027 Marketplace Plans (Part 1) article review; Health Affairs – February 11.
Health Care Payment – Alliance for Health Policy Annual Insights
2026 Health Care Payment Insights Report; Alliance for Health Policy – February 4.
State Mental Health Agencies – Four Profile Reports
NRI: No Person’s life will be limited by mental illness or addiction reports;– National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors Research Institute, Inc (NASMHPD NRI)– expenditures and financing; financing crisis services; crisis services registries; suicide prevention – February 5 shared.
Building the Behavioral Health Crisis Response Workforce
Building the Behavioral Health Crisis Response Workforce report; Think Bigger Do Good report – February 2.
Community Health Workers: State Policy 101
State Community Health Worker Policy 101 webinar recording;– National Academy for State Heath Policy (NASHP) – January 13.
How Can State and Local Human Services Agencies Improve Program Coordination in Today’s Federal Policy Landscape?
How Can State and Local Human Services Agencies Improve Program Coordination in Today’s Federal Policy Landscape? paper; Urban Institute – January 13.
Understanding Frequent Emergency Department (ED) Use Despite Strong Care Coordination
Understanding frequent ED use despite strong care coordination blog; Camden Coalition – January 21.
Family Caregiver Support: How States Are Implementing the National Strategy
How States Are Implementing the National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers webinar materials; National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) – February 5.
Caregiver Insights Data
National Alliance for Caregiving Webinar Recording: Caregiver Insights Across the States – Translating Data into Local Action; National Alliance for Caregiving – January 27 – John Hartford Foundation shared February 12.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Announces Updated Core Quality Measures Collaborative (CQMC) Measure Set
CMS Announces Updated Core Quality Measures Collaborative (CQMC) Measure Set; CMS announced the updated Core Quality Measures Collaborative (CQMC) measure set. CMS substantially finances the CQMC, a public private partnership convened by America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) and CMS, with technical staff provided by Health and Human Service (HHS) and CMS funded Battelle Partnership for Quality Measurement (PQM). CQMC is predominantly a health plan, health payer, and medical societies partnership with patient and consumer members. AAHD is a CQMC member. The two CQMC areas AAHD is engaged in are behavioral health and ACO/Patient-Centered Medical Home/Primary Care – February 12.
HUD Permanent Supportive Housing Funding Largely Maintained
Aging and Disability Advocates Help Push Back on HUD’s Efforts to Dismantle Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) blog; Justice in Aging blog – February 12.