We are excited to share with you news about two new initiatives that launched in October and let you know about a kick-off discussion on physical/mental health integration scheduled for December 8th.
The first new initiative launched in October is focused on quality measurement. IAP is partnering with the Medicare-Medicaid Coordination Office and other Center for Medicaid and CHIP collaborators on a three-year measurement development contract, the focus of which will build off of gap areas identified through the National Quality Forum through Measures Application Partnerships related to Medicare-Medicaid Enrollees and Adult Medicaid Enrollees. The IAP portion of the work is focused on developing twelve measures in key gap areas across IAP’s four program priority areas.
We also launched the IAP Community Integration-Long-Term Services and Supports (CI-LTSS) program area via an informational webinar (webinar slides are posted on the IAP CI-LTSS page). We were pleased to have representatives from more than 40 states join us on the webinar. Program support will be offered in two distinct areas: Housing-Related Services and Partnerships (HRSP) and Incentivizing Quality and Outcomes (IQO) in community-based LTSS programs.
- Housing-Related Services and Partnerships (HRSP): The lack of affordable and accessible housing for people with LTSS needs presents a significant barrier to further LTSS system rebalancing. IAP will offer two sequential opportunities for states within the HRSP area – a web-based learning series focused on increasing state adoption of individual sustaining housing services to assist Medicaid beneficiaries, and a more intensive program support focused on expanding housing development opportunities for community-based LTSS Medicaid beneficiaries through facilitation of partnerships with housing agencies. Participants from the October 22 informational webinar expressed interest in specific types of HRSP program support, including housing tenancy best practices, state examples of tenancy supports and partnerships, and CMS guidance on housing-related activities.
- Incentivizing Quality and Outcomes (IQO): States have been focused primarily on expanding access to Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) for persons with LTSS needs, yet there is a growing focus on assessing the outcomes being achieved with investments in HCBS. The goal of the IQO opportunity is to increase state adoption of strategies that tie together quality, cost, and outcomes in support of community-based services LTSS programs. IAP program support will be available to states that need strategic planning support to develop an IQO approach, and also for states that are past the planning phase, but are in need of support in the early stage of IQO implementation. Specific types of IQO support that October 22 webinar participants expressed interest in included state examples of IQO models, community outcome measures for IQO, and developing financial incentives.
Additional information about the program support available can be found in the Program Overview (PDF, 311.82 KB). States interested in these types of program support are asked to review the State Selection Factors (PDF, 206.29 KB) and submit an Expression of Interest (DOCX, 798.84 KB) by December 1, 2015.
Finally, on December 8, 2015 from 2:00-3:00 pm ET, states are invited to join an information session to learn more about program support available for physical/mental health integration. Under this IAP program priority area, targeted program support will be available to up to ten Medicaid agencies interested in expanding and/or refining existing physical and mental health integration efforts in their states. More information can be found on the IAP PMH Integration page.