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A Medicaid and CHIP state plan is an agreement between a state and the Federal government describing how that state administers its Medicaid and CHIP programs. It gives an assurance that a state will abide by Federal rules and may claim Federal matching funds for its program activities. The state plan sets out groups of individuals to be covered, services to be provided, methodologies for providers to be reimbursed and the administrative activities that are underway in the state.
When a state is planning to make a change to its program policies or operational approach, states send state plan amendments (SPAs) to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for review and approval. States also submit SPAs to request permissible program changes, make corrections, or update their Medicaid or CHIP state plan with new information.
Persons with disabilities having problems accessing the SPA PDF files may call 410-786-0429 for assistance.
Summary: This time-limited state plan amendment responds to the COVID-19 national emergency. The purpose of this amendment is to allow licensed practitioners within their scope of practice to order & receive reimbursement for laboratory, radiology and home health services, allow laboratory services to be delivered outside an office, or similar facility other than a hospital outpatient department or clinic, when meeting the state’s provider qualifications.
Summary: This time-limited state plan amendment responds to the COVID-19 national emergency. The purpose of this amendment is to provide a 20% increase in per diem rates for all COVID-19 diagnosis patients for hospital inpatient stays due to increases in cost associated with staffing, supplies, social distancing standards and other factors.
Summary: This time-limited state plan amendment responds to the COVID-19 national emergency. The purpose of this amendment is to cover the new optional group for COVID testing.
Summary: This time-limited state plan amendment responds to the COVID-19 national emergency. The purpose of this amendment is to waive residency requirement for individuals in state temporarily, extend reasonable opportunity period for non-citizens declaring satisfactory immigration status, suspend all cost-sharing for testing services, suspend premiums for certain populations, add temporary provisions allowing Community 1st Choice in Acute Hospital setting, allow students with completed coursework to practice as unlicensed mental health professionals, amend provider qualifications to remove First Aid & CPR requirements, expand Pharmacist scope of practice definition, increases allowable day-supply limits for prescription drugs, waive requirement for the return of unused unit dose medications dispensed in LTC based on infection control, increase reimbursement of professional dispensing fees due to incurred cost of delivery, allow the pricing methodology for covered outpatient drugs dispensed by a retail-based pharmacy to be bypassed when a medication’s acquisition cost exceeds the standard “lesser of” payment methodology logic through petitioning at the point of sale, provide exceptions to state's Preferred Drug List if a shortage occurs, and modify reimbursement to reflect a per-episode rate equal to current monthly rate for Infant Learning Program (ILP) & Long Term Services & Support (LTSS).
Summary: CMS is approving this time-limited state plan amendment to respond to the COVID-19 national emergency. The purposes of this amendment is to increase reimbursement rates for Nursing Facilities during the COVID-19 state of emergency for all costs associated with staffing, supplies, social distancing standards, cleaning fees, etc. AL noted that this increase equates to approx. $20 per diem rate add-on payment for all NF's.
Summary: CMS is approving this time-limited state plan amendment to respond to the COVID-19 national emergency. The purposes of this amendment is to remove the requirement for Prior Authorizations for service destinations and non-emergency services for ambulances during the COVID-19 emergency.
Summary: CMS is approving this time-limited state plan amendment to respond to the COVID-19 national emergency. In this amendment Alabama elects to suspend Medicaid copayments for all services for all Medicaid beneficiaries during the time of the Public Health emergency and to utilize telehealth for some Medicaid services.
Summary: Proposes to apply the reimbursement methodology for inpatient and outpatient hospital services for State fiscal year 2020 in a manner consistent with that used in fiscal year 2019
