Recent Releases and Announcements
Information for National Health Information for EMS Workgroup
The California Medical Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) and the National Association of State EMS Officials (NASEMSO) are launching the National Health Information for EMS Workgroup. This workgroup will meet quarterly to share promising state and local EMS and health information exchange efforts. The first meeting is scheduled for Friday, January 12, 2018 10-11AM PST/1-2PM EST. For those who are interested in participating in the workgroup please email: Joe Ferrell (joe@nasemso.org). It is open to all interested stakeholders including, but not limited to: HIE organizations, health IT developers, EMS agencies and organizations, and other state, local and federal partners.
Invitation to Part 2 of the CMS/DHS version 37 Enhancements State Roundtable
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) invite you to attend a roundtable discussion via webinar on Tuesday, January 16, from 3pm to 5pm (Eastern Time).
This is the second session of our joint DHS and CMS interactive discussions on DHS’ Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) Program. State-based Exchanges and Medicaid and CHIP agencies use the SAVE Program to conduct immigration status verifications. The roundtable will focus on the SAVE web service version 37 (v37) upgrade and DHS’ paperless requirement, which will impact all states, whether they connect to the service via the CMS Federal Data Services Hub (Hub), use a direct web service, or a SAVE GUI connection.
During this roundtable, CMS will outline helpful v37 build milestones and calendar dates and provide both operational and technical guidance regarding DHS’ paperless deadline. CMS will offer guidance on testing and Medicaid funding as it relates to v37 implementation and will highlight areas where the v37 Business Service Definition (BSD) significantly differs from the version of SAVE in current use.
In an effort to provide states with an opportunity to ask questions, a significant portion of the roundtable will be devoted to a question and answer session with DHS and CMS. Following the presentation, DHS and CMS staff will address states’ pre-submitted questions first before opening the floor to additional questions, time permitting. We highly encourage states to submit questions in advance to CMSVLPv37UpgradeSupport@hcgov.us for consideration for discussion on the roundtable.
To participate, simply log into the webinar and use the following call-in information:
Dial-in: 1-866-928-2008
Participant Code: 276415
Upcoming Calls and Webinars
ONC Webinar: 21st Century Cures Act Overview for States
Monday, January 8th, 2-3 PM EST
This ONC webinar will help familiarize states with the Title IV Delivery provisions of the 21st Century Cures Act: What the Cures Act calls for, who is responsible for each activity, and when states should expect to see next steps. The session will provide an overview of the law, including its provisions on topics such as the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement, information blocking, interoperability and reducing administrative burden. This initial session may help states plan and coordinate their own health IT initiatives that are impacted by the law. Potential future sessions could provide more detail on specific topics introduced in this initial session.
Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) Two-Part Training Series
January 10, 2018: Part Two – Strategies for EVV Implementation
This training will share promising practices for states to consider when selecting and implementing their EVV model. This training will also review strategies for training and educating state staff, providers, individuals and their families on the use of EVV. Lewis & Ellis and Navigant will present this training with support from Ralph Lollar and Kenya Cantwell.
Wednesday, January 10th 1:30-3pm
Audio Option #1: 1-844-396-8222 Your WebEx Meeting Number: 907 626 064
Audio Option #2 and Webinar
Medicaid Innovation Accelerator Program
Register Now: Medicaid IAP Information Session (January 16, 2018)
New Technical Support Opportunity for States: Value-Based Payment for Home and Community-Based Services
The Medicaid Innovation Accelerator Program (IAP)’s Community-Integration through Long-Term Service and Supports (CI-LTSS) Program Area is launching an 11-month long technical support opportunity for up to 10 states seeking to design Value-Based Payment (VBP) strategies for Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS). We invite you to join us for an information session to learn more about this opportunity on Tuesday, January 16, 2018 from 3:30 pm - 4:30pm ET.
During the information session, participants will learn about the goals, structure, and technical support approach for working with states on VBP for HCBS. Selected states will have the opportunity to work with HCBS industry experts through their individualized technical support and state-to-state learning activities.
This technical support opportunity is open to states at all levels of experience and progress in developing a VBP strategy for HCBS. States that have previously participated in the Medicaid IAP CI-LTSS Incentivizing Quality and Outcomes (IQO) tracks are welcome to submit an expression of interest for this technical support opportunity.
Register Now: Medicaid IAP National Learning Webinar (January 25, 2018)
Working with Unique Beneficiary Identifications in Medicaid Data
To assist Medicaid and CHIP agencies with their data analytic needs, the CMS Medicaid Innovation Accelerator Program (IAP) will host a national learning webinar on Thursday, January 25, 2018 from 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm ET about strategies for working with unique beneficiary identifications (IDs) in Medicaid. During this webinar, state Medicaid agencies and other interested stakeholders will learn about approaches to common challenges associated with IDs, such as duplication, beneficiaries moving across states, mothers and newborns sharing the same ID, and administrative errors.
Presenters will share different perspectives on addressing issues associated with beneficiary IDs. Bruce Greenstein, Chief Technology Officer from the Department of Health and Human Services, will share best practices applied within a state environment. Additionally, states will learn about deduplication, probabilistic and deterministic matching, as well as linking beneficiary data to the National Death Index.
Register Now: Medicaid IAP Information Session (January 29, 2018)
New Technical Support Opportunities for States: Reducing Substance Use Disorders
The CMS Medicaid Innovation Accelerator Program’s (IAP) Reducing Substance Use Disorder (SUD) program area is launching new technical support opportunities for state Medicaid agencies. All interested states are encouraged to attend the information session on Monday, January 29, 2018 from 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm ET to learn more.
During this information session, states will learn about collaborative learning and individualized technical support opportunities offered through the Medicaid IAP SUD program area, including an Opioid Data Analytics Cohort. Webinar participants will also learn about additional opportunities available to states, such as a Data Dashboards Flash Track, Rapid Response on Best Practices, Medication-Assisted Treatment Model/Payment Design, and 1115 SUD Strategic Design Support.
Register Now: Medicaid IAP National Learning Webinar (January 31, 2018)
Determining Performance Benchmarks for a Medicaid Value-Based Payment Program
On Wednesday, January 31, 2018 from 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm ET, the CMS Medicaid Innovation Accelerator Program (IAP) is holding a national webinar for state Medicaid agencies and other interested stakeholders to learn about various benchmarking methods and considerations for setting performance benchmarks in a Medicaid value-based payment program. The webinar will also include presentations and insights by state Medicaid officials from Oregon’s Coordinated Care Organizations Pay-For-Performance Program and Vermont’s Medicaid Shared Savings Program.