Medicaid Home-and-Community-Based Services (HCBS) – “We Can Not Fix What We Refuse To Define”
A Message from Theo Braddy: We Cannot Fix What We Refuse to Define blog; National Council on Independent Living (executive director blog) – February 17.
Medicaid Home-and-Community-Based Services (HCBS): Person-Centered Service Planning Process: Ensuring Rights, Choice, and Control
Home & Community Based Services Training Series webinar slides – Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Div on Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) – February 11.
Does Medicaid Cover In-Home Care?
Does Medicaid Cover In-Home Care? A 2026 Guide to Benefits and Eligibility guide; U.S. News and World Report 2026 guide – Feb 13; Self-Direction News shared Feb 12 US News guide.
Paragon Health Institute Claims “Pervasive Fraud” in Medicaid Home-and-Community-Based Services (HCBS)
Beyond Minnesota: Four Medicaid Services Vulnerable to Fraud and the Case for Stronger CMS Enforcement report – leading critic of Medicaid and ACA marketplace and Project 2025 co-author Paragon Health Institute has prepared a report on “pervasive fraud” in Medicaid HCBS. Paragon reports are cited by Congressional members and others – February 18.
Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS): Racial and Ethnic Variation
Racial and Ethnic Variation in the Prevalence of Long-Term Services and Supports Needs – Community Living Equity Center paper – Brandeis, The Heller School – February 11.
Medicaid Section 1115 Waivers: Advancing Access, Quality, and Equity
Population Health Alliance brief – Population Health Alliance (scroll down to issue and enter your contact info) – February 17.
Medicaid Reconciliation Law (HR 1): Work and Community Engagement Requirements – SUD and MH Exemptions
Medicaid Reconciliation Law (HR 1): Work and Community Engagement Requirements – SUD and MH Exemptions letter to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS); AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have joined the Coalition for Whole Health, led by the Legal Action Center, writing CMS on mental health and substance use disorder exemptions for the Medicaid work and community engagement requirements – February 9.
Medicaid Payment Impacts on Nursing Home Outcomes
Moving Forward Nursing Home Quality Coalition 2026 Coalition Conversation Webinar Recording: Turning Evidence into Action – How Medicaid Payments Impact Nursing Home Outcomes webinar materials; John Hartford Foundation shared by Forward Nursing Home Quality Coalition – January 20 webinar shared February 12.
CMS Narrows State Medicaid Provider Tax Waivers
Initial Analysis on 2027 NBPP Proposed Rule; Families USA – Updated February 17, 2026 -February 19.
Congressional Watchdog Finds Significant Gaps in Federal Health Care and Disability Data
Major gaps in federal health care and disability data report; PRISM February 16 article summarizing December 19 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report (included in AAHD Disability and Public Health News – January 20, 2026, issue 2026-2.
ACA Marketplace: Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters (NBPP) Proposed Rule – FUSA Initial ReviewA
Initial Analysis_of Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2027; Families USA– February 17.
ACA Marketplace: Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters (NBPP) Proposed Rule – (Part 2)
HHS Proposes Sweeping Changes For 2027 Marketplace Plans (Part 2 analysis); Health Affairs– February 13 – (Part 1 included in Feb 17 AAHD Disability and Health News).
ACA Marketplace: Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters (NBPP) Proposed Rule – (Part 3)
HHS Proposes Sweeping Changes For 2027 Marketplace Plans (Part 3) analysis; Health Affairs – February 17. (Part 1 article included in Feb 17 AAHD Disability and Health News; Part 2 – see above).
ACA Marketplace: Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters (NBPP) Proposed Rule – AAHD Topics of Focus
2027 Marketplace Plans summary; AAHD – National Disability Navigator Resource Collaborative (NDNRC) newsletter – February 20.
ACA Marketplace: States Step In To Cushion the Blow of Expired Subsidies
States Step In To Cushion the Blow of Expired Obamacare Subsidies article focused on 10 states efforts; Governing, the magazine of state and local government governance – February 18.
The QALY Paradox – Unintended Consequence of Most Favored Nation Drug Pricing
The QALY (Quality Adjusted Life Years) Paradox: An Unintended Consequence Of Most Favored Nation Drug Pricing article; Health Affairs – February 18.
Addressing the Health Care Needs of People with IDD
Addressing the Health Care Needs of People with I/DD webinar slides and recording; Leavitt Partners and Special Olympics – February 13.
Advancing the Future of Behavioral Health Data Exchanges
Advancing the Future of Behavioral Health Data Exchange blog; Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) – February 4.
ACOs – CMS LEAD Model – Long-Term Enhanced Accountable Care Organization Design
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Long-Term Enhanced Accountable Care Organization Design fact sheet – CMS – January 29 briefing materials shared February 19.
Quality Over Quantity: Developing New Measures To Assess Patients’ Experiences of Social Care
Quality over Quantity: Developing New Measures to Assess Patients’ Experiences of Social Care webinar materials and recording; Social Interventions Research and Evaluation Network (SIREN) – February 12.
NCQA HEDIS Updated Quality Measures for Public Review
Public Comments – National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) Healthcare Effectiveness and Data Information Set (HEDIS); NCQA updated quality measures for public comment, including person-centered outcomes and emergency departments – February 13 with March 13 comment deadline.
The Role of State Alcohol and Drug Agencies
Role of the Single State Agencies (SSAs) v6 – National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Agency Directors (NASADAD) updated brief – February 12.