CMS Administrator Talks Block Grants, Value Based Models and More This Morning

ANCOR staff attending the National Association of Medicaid Directors (NAMD) annual conference in Washington DC heard Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) Administrator Seema Verma lay out the Trump Administration’s vision for Medicaid this morning. Highlights included:

• Announcements of forthcoming guidance on value-based models, transparency on supplemental payments and, last but not least “significant and unprecedented flexibility” akin to block grants for states for certain optional adult populations – the Administrator did not specify which populations in her remarks.
• The Administration’s continued concern around the sustainability and efficiency of Medicaid, citing the need for a greater focus on vulnerable populations.
• The Administrator encouraging states to turn to models crafted by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) to support dual eligible populations in a cost-efficient manner.

ANCOR will share more content and analysis as more information becomes available on these issues.