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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Per state statute, my state currently covers breast cancer screenings at the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) Grade C level. Breast cancer screenings are on the USPSTF list as a Grade B service with a different periodicity level.Under section 4106 of the Affordable Care Act, will we still be eligible for the 1% federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) increase if we cover the breast cancer screening at the USPSTF Grade C level, but cover all of the other USPSTF Grade A and B services, Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended vaccines, and their administration without cost-sharing?
All USPSTF grade A and B services, and ACIP recommended vaccines and their administration, must be covered without cost-sharing in order to be eligible for the one percentage point FMAP increase. The Department of Health and Human Services, in implementing the Affordable Care Act under the standard set out in revised section 2713(a)(5) of the Public Health Service Act, utilizes the 2002 recommendations on breast cancer screening of the USPSTF. Therefore, we are adopting a flexible approach for states to receive a one percentage point FMAP increase for breast cancer screening. States can choose to use either the 2002 USPSTF grade B recommendation or the most current USPSTF recommendation (which is the grade B recommendation updated in 2009). The 2002 USPSTF recommendation is that women age 40 years and older should receive a screening mammography everyone to two years. The 2009 USPSTF recommends biennial screening mammography for women aged 50 to 74 years of age.
Supplemental Links:
FAQ ID:92056
SHARE URLThe state is under the impression that they only need to update the 3.1-A coverage pages for preventive services to claim the 1% federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) increase under section 4106 of the Affordable Care Act. Does the state need to update their reimbursement pages as well to provide the required assurances?Can you please advise if CMS will require public notice in addition to the state plan amendment (SPA) for the 1% FMAP increase to take effect?
In order to receive the one percentage point FMAP increase, the state is required to submit a SPA with updated coverage pages. When a SPA is submitted with updated coverage pages, we will perform a review of the corresponding payment page(s). A state does not need to submit a SPA with revised payment pages, and conduct public notice, unless it wishes either to begin coverage and payment for these services or to change the existing payment rates (in other words, if the state already pays for the preventive services in some contexts, a payment SPA may not be needed if the state does not want to change the existing payment rate or methodology).
Supplemental Links:
FAQ ID:91516
SHARE URLUnder what portion of the state plan should the state add the Affordable Care Act section 4106 information?
The preventive services information should be placed in item (13)(c), preventive services, of the pre-print. The State Medicaid Director (SMD) letter #13-002 indicates the information that should be added to the 3.1-A (and at the state's option, the 3.1-B) coverage limitations pages. CMS is available to provide technical assistance before you submit the state plan amendment (SPA), or we can discuss the needed information during the review of your SPA.
Supplemental Links:
FAQ ID:91521
SHARE URLDoes a state that has both a fee-for-service (FFS) and a managed care delivery system, get the 1% federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) increase when just the FFS benefit is amended or would the state have to concurrently amend its managed care authority document (state plan amendment (SPA), waiver or 1115 demonstration project) to get the 1% FMAP increase under section 4106 of the Affordable Care Act?
A state would have to submit a SPA to amend the preventive services benefit in the state plan. Once that SPA is approved, the state generally is eligible for the enhanced FMAP for such services. The state should review its managed care authority document (SPA, waiver or 1115 demonstration project) to ensure that it reflects the coverage and cost-sharing provisions (as appropriate) of the preventive services benefit. The state will have to amend its Managed Care Organization (MCO) contracts to reflect the scope of coverage and the absence of cost-sharing for the preventive services benefit. To claim that enhanced FMAP for managed care payments, CMS must review the methodology that the state intends to use to estimate the value of the preventive services benefit in its capitation rates.
Supplemental Links:
FAQ ID:91526
SHARE URLAccording to the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) methodology "The Task Force also aims to update topics every five years, in order to keep recommendations in the Task Force library current according to criteria established by the National Guideline Clearinghouse. Under section 4016 of the Affordable Care Act, does the requirement of covering and claiming increased federal financial participation (FFP) for USPSTF A and B recommendations apply only to recommendations that are new, updated, or reaffirmed within the past five years?
Yes, the one percentage point increase in federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) applies to all USPSTF grade A and B recommendations, including new, updated, and reaffirmed within the past five years.
Supplemental Links:
FAQ ID:91531
SHARE URLAre fluoride treatments (also known as fluoride varnishes) eligible for the one percentage point increase in federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) under section 4106 of the Affordable Care Act?
No, fluoride varnish is not eligible for the one percentage point FMAP increase. In the future, if the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) adds fluoride varnish to the A or B recommended preventive services, states will be required to cover the fluoride varnish with no cost-sharing. Per State Medical Director (SMD) letter #13-002, states should provide an assurance in the state plan indicating they have a method to ensure that, as changes are made to the USPSTF and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations, they will update their coverage and billing codes to comply with those revisions. As long as this assurance is in the state plan, states are not required to submit a state plan amendment each time the USPSTF or ACIP makes changes to their recommendations.
Supplemental Links:
FAQ ID:91536
SHARE URLUnder section 4106 of the Affordable Care Act, the list of United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) preventive services describes services as being available for persons based on their sex and age range. For example: Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening (men): The USPSTF recommends one-time screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm by ultrasonography in men ages 65 to 75 years who have ever smoked. Are states required to follow the USPSTF grade A and B recommendations on age, gender and smoking status in order to claim the one percentage point federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) increase for a particular service?Since some recommendations have start and stop ages, are states required to perform age edits on each service for each individual?
States may only claim the one percentage point FMAP increase on services that adhere to the USPSTF grade A and B recommendations on age, gender, periodicity and other criteria as indicated in the summary of recommendations. For instances where the USPSTF grade A and B recommendations have expanded age, gender or periodicity levels due to clinical considerations, practitioners should document in the patient's medical record the necessity for exceeding the grade A and B recommendations, and states may claim the one percentage point FMAP increase. When billing for these services, payers may want to use modifier 33 to identify services that meet the criteria for the USPSTF grade A and B recommendations. Pursuant to page 2 of State Medical Director (SMD) letter #13-002, states should have a financial monitoring procedure in place to ensure proper claiming for federal match.
Supplemental Links:
FAQ ID:91541
SHARE URLIs there a state plan amendment (SPA) pre-print the states can use to comply with section 4106 of the Affordable Care Act or is CMS planning to issue one?
For states seeking the one percentage point federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) increase, the SPA requirements are indicated on pages 3 and 4 of the State Medicaid Director (SMD) letter #13-002. CMS will not provide a state plan template on section 4106 of the Affordable Care Act. However, staff are available to provide technical assistance prior to your SPA submission.
Supplemental Links:
FAQ ID:91546
SHARE URLUnder section 4106 of the Affordable Care Act, if a state elects to cover preventive services to be eligible for the one percentage point federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) increase, must we cover all of the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) A and B preventive services or can we cover just a few?
All USPSTF grade A and B preventive services, Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended vaccines, and their administration, must be covered without cost-sharing in order to be eligible for the one percentage point FMAP increase.
Supplemental Links:
FAQ ID:91551
SHARE URLWhile section 4106 of the Affordable Care Act authorizes a 1% federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) increase for tobacco cessation services for pregnant women, the State Medical Director (SMD) letter does not address this proposed increase. Please clarify if this qualifies for the 1% FMAP increase.
The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendation for tobacco use counseling for pregnant women is grade A. Therefore, tobacco use counseling for pregnant women shall receive the one percentage point increase in FMAP. In addition, section 4106 of the Affordable Care Act states "items and services described in subsection (a)(4)(D)". Therefore, the one percentage point increase pertains to the comprehensive tobacco cessation services for pregnant women that are described in section 4107 of the Affordable Care Act.
Supplemental Links:
FAQ ID:91556
SHARE URL
Results per page