Last week stakeholders across the healthcare landscape pushed Congressional leaders for more federal Medicaid funding and urged them to throw out the controversial proposed Medicaid Fiscal Accountability Rule (MFAR) that would remake how some states draw down federal dollars.
Addressed to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate...Arizona News
Director Jami Snyder's March 17 letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services asks the agency to waive certain Medicaid and CHIP requirements. Arizona's Medicaid agency also added a new webpage with a list of resources for addressing COVID-19 and a handy FAQ section.
Among the many asks to CMS, the Arizona Health Care Cost...Arizona News
In addition to Steward Health Choice individual and employer plans, BCBSAZ will now provide health coverage and related services to Arizonans eligible for Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) Complete Care plan and the “Generations” Medicare health plan.
Pam Kehaly, President and CEO of...Arizona News
A state task force established by Gov. Doug Ducey after an incapacitated woman in the care of Hacienda Healthcare was raped and gave birth last December, issued a report with recommendations to help prevent future incidents.
The 28-page report included 30 recommendations, among them are: improving reporting requirements, better...Arizona News
Maricopa County Assessor Paul Petersen received a 32 count indictment in Arizona on Oct. 15 following the discovery of an adoption scheme orchestrated by Petersen involving transporting women from the Marshall Islands to the United States to give birth. The pregnant women he brought to the U.S. were able to receive government-funded...Arizona News
A case manager at the Department of Economic Security (DES) is taking steps to lead a class action suit after filing a civil complaint alleging outstanding unpaid overtime hours for her and hundreds of other state workers in the developmental disabilities division.
Plaintiff Kimberly Spitler has worked for DES since 2017 and...Arizona News
Arizona's Medicaid agency, the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), published its first "At A Glance" infographic in June. The agency offers this visual snapshot that includes its quarterly enrollment numbers, behavioral health services usage and details the impact of programs addressing the state's opioid crisis.
...Arizona News
The rideshare company announced Wednesday, eligible beneficiaries unable to secure their own transportation to medical appointments can receive coverage for Lyft services by Arizona's Medicaid program for nonemergency transport. Lyft has opened up a whole new consumer base as a newly dubbed Medicaid provider.
Transportation...Arizona News
Originally created to ensure Medicaid beneficiaries with a serious mental illness (SMI) weren't warehoused in facilities by the government, the IMD exclusion means state Medicaid agencies can't pay for mental healthcare services received in a residential treatment center with more than 16 beds.
This week, (November 13) Medicaid...Arizona News
Retiring AHCCCS Director Tom Betlach will join Missouri Medicaid Director Dale Carr and a senior leader from the Center for Program Integrity at CMS to discuss how states and the federal government are partnering to identify and address inappropriate or unnecessary spending in the healthcare system.
Department of Health & Human...Arizona News
Two nonprofits, Intermountain Centers for Human Development and Community Partners Inc., that provide behavioral health care for AHCCCS beneficiaries, consolidated to weather the storm of forecasted payment cuts and changes to Arizona's Medicaid program.
The consolidation took effect on Friday, Aug. 31, 2018 as...Arizona News
As part of a million dollar translational research grant, over the next two years select Arizona State University faculty will spend time researching ways to improve quality and services as well as reduce costs for Maricopa County populations. The partnership will be led by College of Health Solutions researcher William...Arizona News
Kentucky will be offering a novel way to reactivate your medical coverage: a health or financial literacy course you must pass.
The waivers approved by the Trump administration present opportunity for new ways to think about how to empower individuals to improve their health.
The precise content of the courses is not yet worked...
Early in December Arizona indicated intent to file a waiver, it has now been submitted to CMS.
The Section 1115 waiver requests CMS to permit work requirements and a five-year lifetime limit to Arizona's Medicaid program. If CMS approves the waiver, residents of Arizona who qualify for Medicaid and are between the ages of 19 and 55...
Plaintiff Goldwater Institute said the money the legislature used to fund the expanded Medicaid program was actually a tax and should have received a two-thirds vote that the state constitution requires of all revenue-raising measures.
The Phoenix Business Journal quotes Greg Vigdor, president and CEO of the Arizona Hospital and...Arizona News
This afternoon at the State Medicaid Advisory Committee’s (SMAC) quarterly meeting, AHCCCS Director Tom Betlach briefly announced the resignation of Beth Kohler, Deputy Director of Arizona's Medicaid program.
“I think you all know that unfortunately Beth is leaving us,” said Betlach, speaking solemnly of her departure....Arizona News
To make sure AHCCCS providers have time to participate in the program, the Arizona Medicaid agency pushed its application deadline to August 18, 2017.
The program, which The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), calls “one-time opportunity to support integrated and coordinated care for AHCCCS members” is part of...Arizona News
Lawmakers could not shrink Medicaid - waivers can.
Medicaid is a $500 billion program with unprecedented growth the past four years and now covers 75 million people.
Josh Archambault, senior fellow for the conservative Foundation for Government Accountability, said without congressional action on the health bill “the...National News
A study commissioned by the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP) looked at potential savings of Medicaid capitated care with national and state-by-state estimates.
Managed care is poised to become the dominant payment model for Medicaid, the report notes. In 2010, capitated managed care represented only a quarter of...
How much do Medicaid beneficiaries really like the care they are receiving?
The Centers of Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) develops and conducts Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers & Systems (CAHPS) surveys to better understand Medicaid beneficiaries’ experiences with providers. These CMS surveys are not measuring...
