The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released a report titled, "Dual-Eligible Beneficiaries of Medicare and Medicaid: Characteristics, Health Care Spending, and Evolving Policies". The report examines the most recent data available, from 2009, on the characteristics and costs associated with dual eligibles, individuals eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries.
In a letter dated June 4, the Tax Section of the American Bar Association (ABA) asked the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to clarify several aspects of the Affordable Care Act's (ACA) employer shared responsibility rules, and made recommendations regarding the definitions of full-time employee and minimum essential coverage affordability among others.
On May 22, the National Council on Disability (NCD) released a report titled, "A Medcaid Block Grant Program: Implications for People with Disabilities". The paper examines the history of federal block grant programs generally, as well as proposals to convert Medicaid to a block grant program.
On May 22, the National Council on Disability (NCD) released a paper titled, "The Case for Medicaid Self-Direction: A White Paper on Research, Practice, and Policy Opportunities". The paper acknowledges many key questions remain to be answered about the most effective ways of promoting individual choice and control within a Medicaid funding environment.
On May 21, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced Virginia received approval for a three-year pilot project designed to coordinate care for people who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. Approximately 78,600 dually-eligible Virginians will be enrolled in managed care plans starting in 2014.
On Wednesday, the final rule on wellness programs provided for in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was issued. The programs provide incentives and flexibility for employees to participate in workplace wellness programs offered by their group health plans. Some employers have objected to the new rule, saying it imposes an excessive burden on employers. The rule puts wellness programs into one of two categories: participation-based and health-contingent.
The Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health has published an issue brief titled "Habilitative Services Coverage for Children Under the Essential Health Benefit Provisions of the Affordable Care Act [ACA]". The ACA established coverage standards for individual and small group health insurance markets under its essential health benefit (EHB) provisions.
Earlier this month, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the next round of health care innovation grants that will allocate $1 billion for creative projects that focus on four specific payment and delivery reform models to fill in gaps that had been identified in an earlier round of grants.
On May 21, the National Governors Association (NGA) announced the members of a new Health Care Sustainability Task Force will "work to identify areas where federal legislative or regulatory action is necessary to reduce barriers and further support state initiatives." It will also "focus on state innovations that require the redesign of health care deliver and payment systems with the objectives of improving quality and controlling costs," according to the NGA's
Of the twenty six states that applied to participate in the CMS Financial Alignment Initiative, three have dropped out entirely, three have opted for "customized" plans, and nine have delayed their start dates. The initiative, which stems from the Affordable Care Act (ACA), sought to coordinate care for dual eligibles, who are people that are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid.