CMS Issues New Toolkit for State Medicaid and CHIP Agencies for Public Health Emergencies and Disasters

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released an updated Preparedness and Response Toolkit for State Medicaid and CHIP Agencies in the event of a public health emergency or disaster. Module 1 of the toolkit includes focuses on providing a review of the legal authorities that are available, ranging from state plan amendments (SPAs) to obtaining a Social Security Act section 1135 waiver or modification. The recommendations regarding bolstering the provider workforce include flexibilities such as modifying provider enrollment, temporarily increasing provider rates and retainer payments, allowing service provision in alternative settings, and permitting the use of telehealth.