State Telehealth Laws and Reimbursement Policies Report, Spring 2022
Bi-annual summary report on telehealth policies as of May 2022. Covers Medicaid reimbursement, private payer laws, and professional requirements.
Additional links: Executive Summary, Infographic, State Summary Chart
Date: 05/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
view details

The Impact of COVID-19 on the Rural Health Care Landscape: Challenges and Opportunities
Presents an overview of key findings from interviews with stakeholders in eight states - Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming - regarding the rural healthcare landscape. Discusses rural hospital financial health, rural hospital transformation models, challenges facing the rural healthcare workforce, and the role of telehealth in increasing access to care. Provides recommendations aimed at further advancing the use of virtual care in all communities, including rural and frontier areas, beyond the temporary federal COVID-19 public health emergency flexibilities.
Author(s): Sabah Bhatnagar, Julia Harris, Tara Hartnett, et al.
Date: 05/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
view details

CMS Health Equity Symposium
Recording of a CMS Office of Minority Health symposium held on April 28, 2022 discussing health equity initiatives in Medicare, Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and the Health Insurance Marketplaces. Mentions efforts to increase healthcare access for rural Americans.
Additional links: Slide deck, Transcript
Date: 04/2022
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
view details

Medicaid in Montana - 2022 Annual Report
Report details the effect Medicaid has on healthcare, economy, and state budget of Montana. Explores the role of Medicaid expansion plays in improving access and features a special section on Medicaid in rural Montana.
Additional links: Data Book
Date: 04/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Montana Healthcare Foundation
view details

CMS Framework for Health Equity 2022–2032
Report outlines the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services plan for improving health equity across the U.S. for racial and ethnic communities, rural communities, people with disabilities, and those living in poverty. Details a 5 priority framework emphasizing data collections and standardization; language access and health literacy; and reducing health disparities through increasing healthcare capacity and workforce, among others.
Date: 04/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
view details

MACPAC Response to CMS Request for Information on Access and Coverage in Medicaid and CHIP
Letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) responding to a request for information on access to coverage and care in Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Discusses strategies related to enrolling in and maintaining coverage, accessing services, and ensuring adequate payment rates. Includes information on physical and behavioral health integration, substance use disorder treatment for pregnant and postpartum women, telehealth, and more.
Date: 04/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
view details

Medicaid Coverage of Community Health Worker Services
Provides an overview of types of community health workers (CHWs) and the services they provide. Summarizes studies examining the effects of CHW programs on health outcomes and costs. Discusses state approaches to covering CHW services through Medicaid, including the services covered, regulatory authorities used to provide Medicaid payment, the populations served, and training and certification requirements.
Date: 04/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
view details

Health Panel Comment Letter – Access to Coverage and Care in Medicaid & CHIP
Offers comments in response to the Access to Coverage and Care in Medicaid and CHIP Request for Information. Discusses ways the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) can support states in addressing barriers to enrollment and retention, minimum access standards, and monitoring care availability and access to care.
Date: 04/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
view details

What Happens When COVID-19 Emergency Declarations End? Implications for Coverage, Costs, and Access
Identifies federal health-related COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) declarations, the flexibilities each provides, and implications for ending them. Topics covered include COVID-19 testing, treatment, and vaccination; telehealth; Medicaid coverage; Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance flexibilities; and more.
Author(s): Juliette Cubanski, Jennifer Kates, Madeline Guth, et al.
Date: 04/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Kaiser Family Foundation
view details

Learning From COVID-19-Related Flexibilities: Moving Toward More Person-Centered Medicare and Medicaid Programs
Presents a person-centered framework to facilitate policymakers' decisions regarding the future of COVID-19-related temporary regulatory flexibilities. Identifies priority flexibilities that should be considered for permanence, modification, or further evaluation. Covers regulatory flexibilities regarding telehealth, scope of practice, Medicare Advantage requirements, and more. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 03/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Health Management Associates, Manatt Health, The Scan Foundation
view details