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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 11 to 20 of 48 results

What functions can my role perform?

Refer to the table below.

Role Actions
State Editor (SE)
  • Responsible for creating SPA submission packages
State Point of Contact (SPOC)
  • Responsible for reviewing and submitting the SPA submission package to CMS
  • Responds to Requests for Additional Information (RAIs) from CMS
  • Documents and reviews Correspondence Log
State Director (State Director)
  • Reviews and certifies SPA submission packages
State System Administrator (SSA)
  • Creates/maintains State Profile

FAQ ID:92901

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How do I assign a SPA ID?

The SPA ID is assigned by the State Editor and entered in a field in Official Submission packages. The SPA ID (SS-YY-NNNN-xxxx) is assigned by the State in Official Submission Packages and consists of the State abbreviation (SS), they year (YY), a four character sequence number (NNNN), and an optional four character alpha and numeric (xxxx).

FAQ ID:92906

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How do I access previous submission packages for my state?

Select the "Records" tab in the upper tool bar. Select "Submission Packages" for your state and then search for the package you would like to view.

FAQ ID:92911

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What is the difference between a Draft Submission Package and Official Submission Package?

Official Submission Package

CMS suggests initially submitting simple program amendments or new programs that are similar to existing programs as official submission packages.

Draft Submission Package

CMS suggests submitting complex programs or new Health Home models and new targeted amendments as draft submission packages.

Official submissions start the 90 day policy clock upon submission to CMS for review and disposition.

Drafts submitted to CMS do not start the 90 Day Policy Clock.

CMS may review and view package. States may allow CMS to view the submission package informally prior to official submission.
CMS may approve, disapprove, request additional information (RAI), or submit a clarification for the official submission package. CMS may review, but cannot approve, disapprove, implement an RAI, or request clarification for the draft submission package.
The State may allow CMS to view the submission package informally prior to official submission. When CMS returns the package to the State they may provide feedback in the correspondence log or offline.
If the state chooses not to edit the returned draft package, it may be closed and converted to an official package for submission to CMS starting the 90 Day Policy Clock.
If the state chooses to edit the returned submission package, the state must re-submit the draft to CMS as a draft submission package for re-review prior to closing the draft submission and converting to an official submission package.
Closed draft submissions cannot be edited.
Official submissions that were converted from drafts cannot be edited with the exception of the SPA ID and proposed effective date prior to submissions to CMS.

FAQ ID:92916

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What is the difference between the SPA ID and Package ID?

The package ID is an auto-generated ID consists of the two letter state abbreviation, the year, the authority in this case MH for Medicaid Health Homes, an automatic number assignment, and the letter O for official or D for draft. The package ID is used to track this submission package. The SPA ID (SS-YY-NNNN-xxxx) is assigned by the State in Official Submission Packages and consists of the State abbreviation (SS), they year (YY), a four-character sequence number (NNNN), and four-character optional alpha and numeric (xxxx).

FAQ ID:92921

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How do I delete a submission package?

Log in as State Point of Contact. Go to the Actions tab, then select "Delete Submission Package". Enter in the package ID and the SPA ID, then search for the package you wish to delete. Only the State Point of Contact can perform this function. This function is only available before a package is submitted to CMS for the first time. After that, the only option for the SPOC would be to withdraw the package.

FAQ ID:92926

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Is there a way to attach additional information or appendices to a submission package?

Yes, there are various places throughout a package to attach additional information. In many reviewable units, depending on the selections made, an opportunity to upload documents is available. Uploading a document to the Health Homes Services Reviewable Unit is required.

FAQ ID:92931

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What is a validation error within a submission package?

A validation error occurs when additional information is required for certain fields on a page. This error will be indicated by red script on the page under the section that was required. In order to avoid a validation error, enter in all required information before attempting to validate data. For many screens this will occur upon selecting a button located towards the bottom of the page to validate your entries.

FAQ ID:92936

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What reports are available to State Users?

This table indicates what reports are available to State Users. These can be found under the "Reports" tab.

Report Name Description Available For
State Agency Profile Report Overview of a State's Medicaid Plan including the prior 12 months' submission package history State Point of Contact; State Director
Submission Detail Report View details on packages by date State Editor, State Point of Contact, State Director
Submission Statistics Detail Report View all Submission Packages currently in review State Editor, State Point of Contact, State Director
Submission Summary Report Overview of submitted packages by date State Editor, State Point of Contact, State Director

FAQ ID:92941

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Once a state submits a submission package to CMS, is the content locked?

Once a state submits a submission package to CMS, they may not edit it while it is in review. The state may withdraw the submission package, but once withdrawn, the package cannot be edited or resubmitted.

CMS may open the package for revisions informally via a clarification request. Clarification questions are entered into the Correspondence Log. The CPOC can compile questions from the Submission Review Team members by accessing the Analyst Notes. Please note, that the reviews of every RU does not have to be completed in order to send a request for Clarification to the State. During a Clarification, the State will have the opportunity to edit content. After the state has responded to Clarification, the CMS Point of Contact must assign Submission Review Team members to Reviewable Units again and review the submission package again.

After requesting Clarification, CMS (specifically the CPOC) has the option to prevent package submission. This is a way for CMS to pull the package back from the Clarification request. This may be necessary as the clock continues during the Clarification period. The CMS review team may not continue their review while the package is back with the State for Clarification, therefore the CPOC should exercise caution when to sending a Clarification, knowing that review will be temporarily suspended.

Another option is after CMS Point of Contact has reviewed the submission package, he/she has the option to Request Additional Information regarding the submission package. All Reviewable Units must appear in the complete status (represented by a checkmark) by having at least one Review Team member complete the review in order to initiate RAI. RAI stops the 90 Day Clock. In this option, the State will have the opportunity to edit content.

FAQ ID:92991

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