Newsletters

03.25.19

New Medicaid Briefing Series: Priority Issues for State Lawmakers

Where  the agency and its leadership sit within state government can enable or impede the Medicaid director’s authority to make critical decisions about strategy, services and budget.


09.27.18

Arkansas’s Medicaid Work Requirement Challenged as Thousands Lose Coverage

During the first half of 2018, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) granted four states—Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky and New Hampshire—Section 1115 waivers permitting them to condition Medicaid coverage for certain enrollees on work or community engagement requirements.


03.28.18

Medicaid’s Critical Role in Addressing the Opioid Crisis

As the opioid crisis in the United States continues to deepen—with opioid overdoses claiming 42,000 lives in 20161—policymakers, providers, advocates and other stakeholders are seeking out all available resources in an attempt to fight back.


10.26.17

CMS Approves West Virginia’s Substance Use Disorder Waiver

On October 6, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) approved West Virginia’s “Creating a Continuum of Care for Medicaid Enrollees with Substance Use Disorders” Section 1115 demonstration.


10.11.17

Massachusetts Waiver Amendment Requests Partial Expansion and Closed Formulary

On September 8, 2017, Massachusetts submitted a waiver amendment request to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to modify its MassHealth Section 1115 demonstration.


06.14.17

Indiana Proposes New Eligibility Requirements in Waiver Extension Application

Indiana is seeking a three-year extension of its Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP) 2.0 Section 1115 demonstration. Through HIP 2.0, which the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved in January 2015,


06.01.17

Massachusetts Waiver Amendment Proposes Transportation Benefit and Eligibility Changes

On May 12, 2017, Massachusetts released for public comment a proposed amendment to its MassHealth Section 1115 demonstration. MassHealth is a comprehensive demonstration that applies to the State’s entire Medicaid population.


05.02.17

Maine Releases Draft Waiver Request Proposing New Eligibility Requirements

On April 25, 2017, the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS released for public comment a draft Section 1115 waiver application to implement new eligibility and coverage requirements for MaineCare, the State’s Medicaid program.


04.24.17

Wisconsin Releases Draft Waiver Amendment Proposing New Eligibility Requirements

On April 19, 2017, Wisconsin released for public comment a proposed amendment to its BadgerCare Reform Section 1115 demonstration.


08.17.16

Medicaid: States’ Powerful Tool to Combat the Opioid Crisis

As a major source of coverage and payment in all states, Medicaid programs are answering the charge to fight the opioid epidemic. Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has amplified Medicaid’s role.