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Strategies to Address the Opioid Epidemic, New Medicare Card Forum, & Value-Based Pay Webinars

Recent Releases and Announcements

SMDL: Strategies to Address the Opioid Epidemic

As part of the Department-wide effort to combat the ongoing opioid crisis, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is providing additional flexibilities to help states improve access to and quality of substance use disorder treatment through Medicaid 1115 demonstrations. This revised policy (PDF, 170.7 KB) will take the place of the initiative announced in the State Medicaid Directors’ letter issued on July 27, 2015.

With this new policy, CMS’s main goal is to support state initiatives to improve access to treatment by requiring less upfront administrative process barriers for approvals of state initiatives. This is a significant step to help states address the immediate treatment needs of individuals and families as well as providers that are on ground zero of the crisis. Through this new policy, we also hope to work with states to better understand the opioid crisis and the most effective ways to respond. This focus on outcomes will help us guide state efforts to tackle this epidemic. 

Read the State Medicaid Directors' Letter (PDF, 170.7 KB) (PDF 170.7 KB) and learn more about Medicaid & Substance Use Disorders.

Medicaid Innovation Accelerator Program (IAP) 

Register Now: Medicaid Value-Based Payment Approaches for Maternal and Infant Health National Learning Webinar (Thursday, November 2, 2017)

To assist state Medicaid directors, maternal and infant health providers, Title V Directors, and other state Medicaid/CHIP staff, CMS’s Medicaid Innovation Accelerator Program (IAP) will host a webinar on Thursday, November 2, 2017, from 2:00 – 3:00 PM ET on Medicaid Value-Based Payment (VBP) Approaches for Maternal and Infant Health. This webinar will:

  • Share perspectives on the importance of payment reform in maternal and infant health
  • Describe Medicaid VBP approaches that states can use to improve maternal and infant health outcomes
  • Provide examples of Medicaid VBP approaches in maternal and infant health
    • Arkansas: Perinatal bundled payment
    • Louisiana: Pay-for-Performance on the use of progesterone to prevent preterm births

This is the last webinar of a series of VBP-focused national learning webinars the Medicaid IAP is hosting in October/November.

Upcoming Calls and Webinars

Value-Based/Pay for Performance Rate Methodologies in a FFS Environment Training *REBROADCAST*

This session is being repeated due to technical difficulties with the original HCBS SOTA call conducted on October 17, 2017.

This training will highlight promising practices and strategies for developing value-based/pay for performance rate methodologies in a FFS environment. Lewis & Ellis with assistance from Navigant Consulting is currently the training lead through the Rate Review Multi-Award Contract overseen by the Division of Long Term Services & Supports (DLTSS).  Lewis & Ellis and Navigant Consulting will present the training and Ralph Lollar, DLTSS Division Director, and the DLTSS Team will support the training and lead the Q&A Session.

Wednesday, November 8th 1:30-3pm

Audio Option #1: 1-844-396-8222 Your WebEx Meeting Number: 908 621 799

Audio Option #2 and Webinar 

New Medicare Card Project Special Open Door Forum

Thursday, November 9 from 2 to 3 pm ET

This call will educate State Medicaid Agencies, Medicaid providers, Managed Care Organizations, Medicaid partners, and other Medicaid stakeholders about the change from Social Security Number-based Health Insurance Claim Numbers to new Medicare Beneficiary Identifiers (MBIs). A question and answer session follows the presentation. CMS discusses:

  • Background and implementation
  • MBI format
  • Timeline and milestones, including the transition period
  • Beneficiary outreach and education
  • How to get ready for the new number

To participate:

  • Dial-In Number: 800-837-1935; conference ID #: 49255212
  • TTY services dial 7-1-1 or 800-855-2880

For more information, visit the New Medicare Project website and Transcripts  webpage.

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