U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions are used to provide additional information and/or statutory guidance not found in State Medicaid Director Letters, State Health Official Letters, or CMCS Informational Bulletins. The different sets of FAQs as originally released can be accessed below.

Showing 1 to 10 of 69 results

Are individuals who were in foster care and enrolled in Medicaid when they turned age 18 or aged out of foster care in a different state eligible under this group?

We do not believe the statue requires states to cover, under this group, individuals who were in foster care and enrolled in Medicaid when they turned age 18 or aged out of foster care in a different state. However, we believe the statute provides states the option to do so. As noted above, pending publication of a final regulation at section 435.150, states may exercise the option proposed when they complete SPA page S33 for this group.

Supplemental Links:

FAQ ID:92166

SHARE URL

At state option, are states allowed to claim title XIX funding instead of title XXI for services provided under a Medicaid expansion program?

Yes. Section 115 of CHIPRA gives states the option to claim expenditures for Medicaid expansion program populations under section 1905(u)(2)(B) of the Act, either at the enhanced FMAP rate using title XXI funds or at the regular FMAP rate using title XIX funds. States that elect to claim expenditures under title XXI will receive the enhanced FMAP rate. However, states that elect to claim expenditures under title XIX will receive the regular Medicaid FMAP rate. Claims submitted at the enhanced FMAP rate will be paid from the state's CHIP allotment.

Supplemental Links:

FAQ ID:92171

SHARE URL

Are federal matching funds available for services provided during a PE period when the individual is subsequently found to not be eligible after the completion of a full Medicaid application?

Yes, services covered under the state plan rendered during the PE period will qualify for federal match regardless of the ultimate Medicaid eligibility decision. The standards that states can set for hospitals and the findings from reviews of hospital performance relative to those standards are intended to ensure that hospitals are making appropriate PE determinations and following state hospital PE procedures. When problems are identified, states should take corrective action to ensure future compliance with state policies and procedures.

Supplemental Links:

FAQ ID:92111

SHARE URL

Are there any circumstances that would allow a state to apply the same Upper Payment Limit (UPL) demonstration to multiple years?

When the data that factors into the state's UPL demonstration has not changed from one year to the next, then the state could apply the same overall UPL demonstration to the following year. The state must submit a justification to support the application of a previous year's UPL demonstration to another year.

FAQ ID:92221

SHARE URL

What information does CMS expect to be included in the Notes tab?

The Notes tab should include any and all information to fully support the state's UPL demonstration. CMS expects states to provide clarifying information in the Notes tab. For example, this information would provide details for the adjustments to Medicare as input in variables 212.1 and 212.2, various supplemental payments in variables 313.1, 313.2, and 313.3, and adjustments to Medicaid in variables 314.1 and 314.2. In addition to reporting through the notes tab, the state also has the option of using the guidance document or narrative to fully support its UPL demonstration.

FAQ ID:92376

SHARE URL

How do states implement hospital PE?

States have flexibility in establishing agreements with hospitals, structuring training programs and conducting oversight consistent with overall federal guidance and the goal of ensuring that hospital PE is available as a way for individuals to access coverage. Under the regulations, states must explain their PE policies and procedures to their qualified entities. To provide transparency into the states' approach to ensuring that qualified entities have information on state eligibility policies and procedures, states must describe their process as part of their state plan amendment (SPA) submission and include with their SPA copies of training materials, documents or other materials provided to qualified entities demonstrating that the state is fulfilling its responsibilities. To assist states, CMS has provided a model structure for training materials and examples from other states where hospital PE has been approved. CMS will review materials in draft form in order to facilitate the SPA review and approval process. Materials relating to hospital PE are available on Medicaid.gov at www.medicaid.gov/resources-for-states/medicaid-and-chip-mac-learning-collaboratives/index.html.

Supplemental Links:

FAQ ID:91466

SHARE URL

What is the timeline that applies to a hospital PE period? Is it different than other PE periods?

The timeline is the same for all types of PE, including hospital PE. The hospital PE period begins on the day that the qualified hospital approves PE. The end date, if a Medicaid application is filed by the last day of the month after the month that PE is determined, is the date full Medicaid eligibility is approved or denied. If a Medicaid application is not filed by the last day of the month after the month that hospital PE is determined, the PE period ends on that day. The statute (section 1920(b)(1), 1920A(b)(2), and section 1920B(b)(1)), codified at section 435.1101 (definitions), discusses the beginning and end dates for coverage based on presumptive eligibility.

Supplemental Links:

FAQ ID:91471

SHARE URL

Does a Medicaid application have to be to approved and processed in order for a PE eligibility determination to be made?

The purpose of hospital PE and PE more broadly is to provide a streamlined option for people who appear to be eligible to get access to immediate coverage. The statute makes it clear that a full eligibility determination is not immediately needed and cannot be required in order for hospital PE to be approved.

While states may not require an individual to fill out a full Medicaid application in order to receive a hospital PE determination or before a PE period begins, individuals should be informed that filing a full Medicaid application is necessary for coverage to continue, and states may require that qualified entities assist individuals determined presumptively eligible in completing a full Medicaid application during the PE period.

A state may use the full application for enrollment into hospital PE as long as the application clearly notes which questions need not be answered for PE purposes. An applicant can decide whether to answer those questions at the same time they are enrolling in PE, or to finish the application at a later time. Alternatively, a state could use a separate, short-form hospital PE application and then direct the qualified entity to help the applicant complete the full application by the end of the hospital PE period.

Supplemental Links:

FAQ ID:91476

SHARE URL

Can states require citizenship and residency attestations on hospital PE applications?

Yes, this is a state option. Consistent with 42 CFR section 435.1102(d)(i), the individual or another person completing the application on the individual's behalf (who has reasonable knowledge of the individual's status) may be asked to attest that the individual is a citizen or in satisfactory immigration status, and is a resident of the state. It is important to note that while questions regarding attestation for citizenship, immigration status, and state residency are allowed, hospital PE determinations cannot be held up pending verification of such status. Verification of citizenship and immigration status is, however, required before a final eligibility determination can be made.

Supplemental Links:

FAQ ID:91481

SHARE URL

Which components of the single, streamlined application are relevant for hospital PE and can or should be required for hospital PE determinations?

As noted above, states have many different options for developing and administering the presumptive eligibility application. States are not required to use a written application for hospital PE; they can permit qualified entities to ask the applicant for the information needed to make a PE determination and be accountable for accurately recording the information provided. States can also choose to use a written application for hospital PE. If a state requires the use of the single, streamlined application for hospital PE, it must denote which fields must be filled out in order for PE to be determined, meaning that the PE determination will be denied or delayed if this information is not provided by the applicant. The state cannot require the full Medicaid application be filled out in order to receive a PE determination. Questions that are not related to making a PE determination cannot be required (e.g. race and ethnicity).

If the state intends to use a separate application designed specifically for hospital PE, the questions must be limited to those needed by the qualified hospital to make a PE determination. CMS is available to provide technical assistance on the application questions that are necessary and that cannot be required for hospital PE purposes.

Supplemental Links:

FAQ ID:91496

SHARE URL
Results per page