Medicaid, CHIP, and ACA News, Information, and Resources (Washington Update, January 9, 2019)

Managed Care Comments Due on January 14
As reported earlier, and explained in the “Your Input Sought” section below, the administration issued a proposed rule on Medicaid/CHIP managed care on November 14. Comments are due on January 14. See Proposed Changes to Medicaid Managed Care Rule Will Reduce Access to Providers (short post on the blog of the Georgetown Center on Children and Families, 12/6/18); Inside the Trump Administration’s Proposed Medicaid Managed Care Rule (long post on the Health Affairs blog, 12/5/18).

Medicaid Waivers

In late December, CMS approved Medicaid §1115 waivers for Michigan, Maine, Kansas and New Mexico. Although the Kansas “KanCare” extension was approved through 2023, the state’s request to establish a work requirement and time limit were not approved. The federal comment period for Virginia’s waiver proposal ended on January 6. That proposal includes a work requirement, increased premiums and cost-sharing. The federal comment period is open until January 18 for Oklahoma’s waiver proposal, which also includes a work requirement.

Tennessee proposes to amend its demonstration to add community-engagement requirements as a condition of eligibility for certain individuals age 19 through 64 who are enrolled in the parent/caretaker relative eligibility group. The federal public comment period for that proposal is open until February 7. For updates on §1115 waiver proposals see the Kaiser Family Foundation’s Medicaid Waiver Tracker: Approved and Pending Section 1115 Waivers by State (last updated January 3).

AFFORDABLE CARE ACT

The annual open-enrollment season for the federal health insurance exchange (HealthCare.gov) ended on December 15. Some state exchanges are still open for enrollment.