Congressional advisory panel makes recommendations for improving Medicaid’s responsiveness during economic downturns, addressing disparities The Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) released its March 2021 Report to Congress on Medicaid and CHIP today, recommending that Congress adopt measures aimed at improving Medicaid’s responsiveness during economic downturns; addressing concerns about high rates of maternal morbidity ... [Read More]

The Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) today released the 2020 edition of the MACStats: Medicaid and CHIP Data Book, with updated data on national and state Medicaid and State Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) enrollment, spending, benefits, and beneficiaries’ health, service use, and access to care. From July 2019 to July 2020, enrollment in Medicaid and CHIP increased by about 5.6 percent, driven in large part by the economic downturn created by the COVID-19 pandemic.... [Read More]

Although MACPAC’s next public meeting is not until September, we wanted to reach out to let you know about activities underway at MACPAC to address the two key public health crises gripping the United States: COVID-19 and systemic racism. As others have noted, these two are linked: elevated rates of infection and mortality from COVID-19 ... [Read More]

Commission says addressing these issues is “of heightened importance at this time” The Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) today released its June 2020 Report to Congress on Medicaid and CHIP, which this year addresses how to improve integration of care for dually eligible beneficiaries who have both Medicaid and Medicare coverage; increasing enrollment ... [Read More]

The Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) requests proposals for a solicitation to award multiple Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) task order contracts. The request for proposals is available at this link on the beta.sam.gov website; a paper copy will not be issued. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this procurement ... [Read More]

Commission looks at safety-net hospital payment, reporting on quality measures, and demonstration program evaluations The Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) today released its March 2020 Report to Congress on Medicaid and CHIP, highlighting three issues of ongoing interest to Congress: payment to safety-net hospitals; the quality of behavioral health care and care provided ... [Read More]

Commission finds that nearly every state uses Medicaid funds to pay for IMD services, despite longstanding federal prohibition Washington, DC—Despite a decades-old statutory provision that largely prohibits federal Medicaid payments to institutions for mental diseases (IMDs), states can and do legitimately pay for mental health or substance use disorder (SUD) services in these facilities, according to ... [Read More]

New data show a cumulative decrease in Medicaid and CHIP enrollment of 2.6 percent over the past two years   The Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) today released the 2019 edition of the MACStats: Medicaid and CHIP Data Book, with updated data on national and state Medicaid and State Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) ... [Read More]

Report to Congress finds wide variation in utilization management policies to control costs and prevent diversion of addiction-treatment drugs The Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) today released a report to Congress on Medicaid utilization management policies for medication-assisted treatment (MAT), finding that utilization management policies vary widely across the country and the extent ... [Read More]

Report to Congress also features analysis of Puerto Rico’s projected Medicaid funding shortfall, which could occur as early as March 2020 Washington, DC—The Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) today called on Congress and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to make changes to improve Medicaid policy affecting prescription drug and ... [Read More]