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Associate Director, Medicaid Finance SME – REMOTE

 
 

Description/Job Summary

 
 

Sellers Dorsey is a leading healthcare consulting firm specializing in Medicaid financing, policy and operations. Our National Medicaid Financing Practice works with clients such as states, counties, health systems, safety net hospitals, academic medical centers, physicians, nursing facilities and medical schools navigate the opportunities to strengthen their Medicaid business through the conception, creation and implementation of programs designed to increase Medicaid reimbursement and leverage their unique capacities to deliver on the quality and value propositions growing in Medicaid. Our teams work together to ensure that technical, policy and political solutions are created to ensure successful results for our clients, particularly in the area of Medicaid financing.

 
 

The Associate Director will assist the Sellers Dorsey team by leveraging deep knowledge of policy and/or financial expertise in areas such as Medicaid financing and revenue maximization, provider reimbursement (physician, hospital, other), state and federal Medicaid reimbursement policy, healthcare taxes, intergovernmental transfers, and navigating the shift to value-based payment and/or provider operations. They are responsible for policy guidance, development of financial estimates and understanding state and federal reimbursement systems.

 
 

The Associate Director is a key member of the client servicing team, helping implement and manage new programs for clients and ensuring a high level of satisfaction. In addition to client servicing, the Associate Director assists the sales team by identifying new business opportunities, expanding existing engagements and participating in sales activities, including attending prospective client meetings.

 
 

Responsibilities/Duties

 
 

General Responsibilities and Expectations

 
 

  • Associate Directors are expected to account for hours on a monthly basis. They will be assigned to client project teams and will also spend time on sales and marketing and administrative activities, as needed. Associate Directors are expected to review periodic activity reports and work with their supervisors to develop strategies to ensure targets are met.
  • Sellers Dorsey Associate Directors are expected to travel as needed to meet the needs of client servicing, marketing, and business development. National travel up to 50% may be required. Associate Directors understand that work may require periodic availability on weekends and nights.
  • Associate Directors are responsible for keeping current on the changing federal regulatory environment, learning state specific regulations to support assigned projects, and staying current on industry trends.

 
 

Consulting Services

 
 

  • Depending upon specific areas of expertise, assume significant levels of responsibility on a diverse range of projects and project tasks; develop consulting expertise that can be replicated in future projects.
  • Manage all technical aspects of Medicaid financing initiatives.
  • Perform assigned and agreed upon project tasks maintaining client satisfaction; takes ownership of work and assists in the development of “client-ready” deliverables.
  • Deliver subject matter expertise and consulting services for multiple clients/projects, clients and engagements; manage assigned primary research and/or solution development; assist with proposal development, project plan development, data analysis and modeling, presentation development, and delivery of client presentations.
  • May serve as a key client contact to respond to questions, provide required communications and be responsible for a successful client engagement

 
 

Business Development

 
 

  • Use personal industry knowledge, connections, business expertise, public policy awareness and political insight to identify leads that could result in profitable revenue growth for the Firm.
  • Actively provide proposal development assistance including proposal drafting, editing, scope development, and related duties and participate in sales meetings, as necessary.
  • Actively seek to identify new business opportunities for the Firm within assigned clients to help maximize long term benefits and relationship between the client and Sellers Dorsey.
  • In coordination with the marketing team, produce and review content for selected internal and external marketing tools, such as Firm newsletters, conference presentations, website content, and marketing webinars, to highlight the Firm’s capabilities, subject matter expertise and successes.

 
 

Knowledge Management

 
 

  • Leverage policy and/or healthcare solution expertise to help the Firm develop, document and communicate new solutions.

 
 

Required Qualifications

 
 

Education and Work Experience

 
 

  • Bachelor’s degree and 10 or more combined years in Medicaid, provider reimbursement and/or in the healthcare consulting industries.
  • Understanding of Medicaid financing and payments.
  • Experience working with healthcare data such as claims sets, cost reports, etc.
  • Experience in Medicaid agency, CMS or healthcare providers preferred.
  • Experience with value-based payment arrangements preferred.

 
 

Skills

  • Extensive practical knowledge and application of Medicaid reimbursement rules
  • Ability to perform all the technical functions of a Medicaid financing initiative including but not limited to:

 
 

  • Assess potential Medicaid supplemental payments and related transactions in states where Consultant, Senior Strategic Advisor may not have prior knowledge.
  • Utilize cost reports, disproportionate share (DSH) reports and other large datasets to drive decision points within a project.
  • Determine all the steps needed to execute a Medicaid financing initiative.
  • Provide detailed data analysis, models and summaries of the financial impact from policy or methodology changes.
  • Calculate upper payment limits for a variety of providers and provider classes under the Medicaid program.
  • Estimate the potential federal funds generated by an initiative as well as the transaction costs.
  • Assess project data needs and collect the data necessary to carry out the above activities.
  • Respond to questions and inquiries by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and keep track of recent CMS decisions and decision-making procedures.
  • Assist clients in developing policies, procedures and structures required to implement the project.
  • Understanding of the connection between reimbursement, quality and value at both the state and provider levels.
  • Provide subject matter expertise related to Medicaid managed care, rate development, and metrics related to clinical or financial measurement.
  • Serve as a mentor to junior staff, leveraging as appropriate to execute client deliverables.
  • High proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Access required.
  • Simultaneously balance the needs and timeliness of many projects.
  • Work closely with the project director and project managers to draft public notices, state plan amendments, 438.6(c) preprints, waiver amendments, memos, workplans, and external or internal progress reports, client-ready spreadsheets and calculations.
  • Provide technical leadership and explanation to multiple levels of the organization to build internal capacity and foster knowledge management.
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills including relaying complex technical terms in an easy to understand manner. This includes producing written or pictorial materials for external and internal use and to present calculations in a manner that the client or other staff can reasonably follow.
  • Ability to interact professionally with clients and other outside audiences.
  • Work with legal counsel when necessary in designing new payment initiatives.
  • Attention to detail.
  • Ability to work independently and in teams.
  • Time management skills.


Core Behaviors And Competencies


  • Build positive relationships within and outside the Firm.
  • Treat clients, strategic partners and fellow employees with respect and professionalism in all interactions.
  • Take ownership for one’s professional development by increasing knowledge, skills and abilities in areas that are critical to the Firm’s success.
  • Collaborate and share knowledge with other Firm staff.
  • Demonstrate formal and ad hoc team leadership in projects, issues or organizations that are critical to achieving the Firm’s strategic goals.
  • Be self-motivated, and be an advocate for one’s abilities and talents, both internally and externally.


Key Performance Metrics/Expectations


  • Individual performance goals.
  • Successful completion of deliverables, tasks, projects
  • Professional development
     

We are an Equal Employment/Affirmative Action employer. We do not discriminate in hiring on the basis of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religious creed, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.


If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact us by email at reasonableaccommodations@sellersdorsey.com and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Requests for accommodation will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Please note that only inquiries concerning a request for reasonable accommodation will be responded to from this e-mail address. For more information, view the EEO is the Law Poster and Pay Transparency Statement.


This position requires that you be fully vaccinated against Covid-19. Requests for reasonable accommodation on the basis of disability and/or sincerely held religious beliefs will be provided subject to undue hardship.


Sellers Dorsey maintains a Drug-Free workplace.

 
 

Clipped from: https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/associate-director-medicaid-finance-sme-remote-at-sellers-dorsey-3289027465/?utm_campaign=google_jobs_apply&utm_source=google_jobs_apply&utm_medium=organic

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State of Florida MEDICAID FRAUD ANALYST II

 
 

Requisition No: 745541

Agency: Office of the Attorney General

Working Title: MEDICAID FRAUD ANALYST II – 41001290

Position Number: 41001290

Salary: $32,697 – $37,000

Posting Closing Date: 10/08/2022

Our Organization and Mission: The Office represents the State of Florida in state and federal civil and criminal courts, from trial courts to the Supreme Court of the United States.

 
 

Pay: $32,697 – $37,000 Annually

 
 

Position Summary: This position is in the Medicaid Fraud Unit. The incumbent in this position provides analytical support for attorneys and investigators in Florida-specific and multistate health care fraud investigations and litigation matters. The incumbent also performs work conducting detailed research and analysis of investigative information relating to alleged violations of applicable laws pertaining to health care fraud, in the administration of the Medicaid program, and/or the alleged abuse or neglect of patients in health care facilities governed by the State Medicaid program. In addition, the incumbent may also perform as the lead analyst on specialized complex civil enforcement investigations and litigation matters, and analytical projects.

 
 

Qualifications: A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and one year of professional experience in research, investigations, investigative analysis, or statistics.
Professional or nonprofessional experience as described above can substitute on a year-for-year basis for the required college education.

 
 

Preference will be given to candidates who have experience compiling and analyzing investigative information, or experience in the use of spreadsheets and relational database applications.

 
 

The Work You Will Do: The responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to the following:

  • 35% Create customized downloads from on-line Medicaid claims data warehouse as requested by investigators, attorneys, and multistate investigative and litigation teams.
  • 25% Prepare reports/schedules/charts pertaining to all aspects of the analysis and research for use in criminal prosecution, civil actions, and administrative referrals.
  • 20% Assists and supports Medicaid fraud investigators and attorneys in the compilation and analysis of investigative information and the development of damages models for use in Florida specific and multistate health care fraud investigations and litigation. Obtains and analyzes large amounts of data to interpret and summarize health care fraud activity, calculate damages sustained to the Florida Medicaid program, determine significance, completeness, and usefulness of data, recognize, and identify patterns and trends, and brief investigators and attorneys.
  • 10% Extract information from investigative databases. Compile, analyze and disseminate intelligence information retrieved from various computer databases/systems. Perform various duties related to computers.
  • 5% Assist in the prosecution of Medicaid fraud and/or patient abuse to include testimony in courts of law pertaining to the investigation.
  • 5% Other duties as assigned.

 
 

Other Requirements: Experience in compiling and analyzing investigative information to include financial and/or statistical data. Experience in creating reports based on information analyzed for use in criminal, civil, and administrative proceedings. Must have strong computer knowledge in the use of spreadsheet and database applications.

 
 

**SKILLS VERIFICATION TEST** All applicants who meet the screening criteria/minimum job requirements will be required to take a timed Skills Verification Test. Applicants must receive a score of at least 70% to move to the interview phase.

 
 

The Benefits of Working for the State of Florida: Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. The State’s total compensation package for employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits including:

  • Annual and Sick Leave benefits.
  • Nine paid holidays and one Personal Holiday each year.
  • State Group Insurance coverage options, including health, life, dental, vision, and other supplemental insurance option.
  • Retirement plan options, including employer contributions (For more information, please click www.myfrs.com).
  • Flexible Spending Accounts
  • Tuition waivers.
  • And more! For a more complete list of benefits, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.

 
 

IMPORTANT NOTICE: To be considered for the position, all applicants must:

Submit a complete and accurate application profile necessary for qualifying such as dates of service, reason for leaving, etc. In addition, all applicants must ensure all employment and/or detailed information about work experience is listed on the application (including military service, self-employment, job-related volunteer work, internships, etc.) and that gaps in employment are explained. NOTE: Any required experience and/or preferences listed in the advertisement must be verified at the time of application.

  • Ensure that applicant responses to qualifying questions are verifiable by skills and/or experience stated on the employment application and/or resume. Applicants who do not respond to the qualifying questions will not be considered for this position.
  • The elements of the selection process may include a skill assessment exercise.
  • Current and future vacancies may be filled from this advertisement for a period of up to six months. Following the six-month period, a new application must be submitted to an open advertisement to be considered for that vacancy.
  • OAG employees are paid biweekly. All state employees are required to participate in the direct deposit program pursuant to s. 110.113, FS.

 
 

CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS/ DRUG FREE WORKPLACE: All OAG positions are “sensitive or special trust” and require favorable results on a background investigation including fingerprinting, pursuant to s. 110.1127(2)(a), F.S. The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free Workplace, all employees are subject to reasonable suspicion or other drug testing in accordance with section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act. We hire only U.S. citizens and those lawfully authorized to work in the U.S.

 
 

E-VERIFY STATEMENT: The Office of the Attorney General participates in the U.S. government’s employment eligibility verification program (e-verify). E-verify is a program that electronically confirms an employee’s eligibility to work in the United States after completion of the employment eligibility verification form (i-9).

 
 

REMINDERS: Male applicants born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion unless they are registered with the Selective Service System (SSS) before their 26th birthday, or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from SSS. For more information, please visit the SSS website at: https: //www.sss.gov. If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS on how your current benefits will be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida. Your current retirement benefits may be canceled, suspended, or deemed ineligible depending upon the date of your retirement.

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

VETERANS’ PREFERENCE. Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply. Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements. Candidates claiming Veterans’ Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code. Veterans’ Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here. All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.

 
 

Clipped from: https://www.glassdoor.com/job-listing/medicaid-fraud-analyst-ii-state-of-florida-JV_IC1154160_KO0,25_KE26,42.htm?jl=1008168954122&utm_campaign=google_jobs_apply&utm_source=google_jobs_apply&utm_medium=organic

Posted on

Medicaid Eligibility Specialist

 
 

Job Description

With over 100 offices and nearly 6,000 associates in major metropolitan areas and suburban cities throughout the U.S. CBIZ (NYSE: CBZ) delivers top-level financial and employee business services to organizations of all sizes, as well as individual clients, by providing national-caliber expertise combined with highly personalized service delivered at the local level.  

CBIZ has been honored to be the recipient of several national recognitions:

  • 2022 Top Workplaces USA
  • 2022 Great Place to Work Certification
  • Top 101 2021 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For in the Nation
  • 2021 America’s Best Mid-Size Employers
  • 2021 Best and Brightest Companies in Wellness

CBIZ Benefits & Insurance Services is a division of CBIZ, Inc., providing benefits consulting, HRIS technology, payroll, human capital management, property and casualty, talent and compensation solutions, and retirement & investment solutions to organizations of all sizes. CBIZ is ranked as a Top 20 Largest Broker of U.S. Business (Business Insurance Magazine) and a Top 100 Retirement Plan Adviser (PLANADVISER). 

Essential Functions and Primary Duties:

  • Assisting patients in applying for financial assistance through Medicaid on behalf of our client facility.
  • Interviewing patients or authorized representatives via phone or in person to gather information to determine eligibility for medical benefits.
  • Obtaining, verifying, and calculating income and resources to determine client financial eligibility.
  • Documenting case records using automated systems to form a record for each client.
  • Following up with applicants to obtain accurate and complete information within strict timeframes.
  • Completing/following up on all forms related to Medicaid eligibility.
  • Performing any additional tasks related to the position assigned by the Manager.

 Preferred Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree. 
  • Knowledge of Medicaid and Charity Care.
  • Experience working in a hospital environment.
  • Ability to speak and read Spanish.

Minimum Qualifications:

  • High school diploma/GED.
  • Must be ambitious and self-directed in a fast-paced environment and can perform in a high volume, multitasking setting.
  • Must be trustworthy, professional, detail and goal oriented.
  • Must have exceptional customer service and excellent verbal/written communication skills.
  • Must be able to learn and work with Medicaid eligibility regulations.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

If you are a qualified individual with a disability you may request reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access this site as a result of your disability. You can request a reasonable accommodation by calling

844-558-1414

(toll free) or send an email to

accom@cbiz.com

.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

CBIZ is an affirmative action-equal opportunity employer and reviews applications for employment without regard to the applicant’s race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, gender, gender identity, marital status, military status, veteran status, sexual orientation, disability, or medical condition or any other reason prohibited by law. If you would like more information about your EEO rights as an applicant under the law, please visit these following pages EEO is the Law and EEO is the Law Supplement.

PAY TRANSPARENCY PROTECTION NOTIFICATION

 
 

Clipped from: https://careers.cbiz.com/en-US/job/medicaid-eligibility-specialist-ka-consulting/J3N5LH69LNY8LH0D125?utm_campaign=google_jobs_apply&utm_source=google_jobs_apply&utm_medium=organic

Posted on

Associate Director, Care Management(Behavioral Health) – Louisiana Medicaid

 
 

Description

Humana Healthy Horizons in Louisiana is seeking an Associate Director, Care Management(Behavioral Health) who will use clinical knowledge, communication skills, and independent critical thinking skills to provide the best and most appropriate treatment, care or services for members. He/she will lead teams of nurses and behavioral health professionals responsible for care management. The Associate Director, Care Management requires a solid understanding of how organization capabilities interrelate across department(s). They will coordinate and communicate with providers, members, or other parties to facilitate optimal care and treatment.

Responsibilities

The Associate Director, Care Management (Behavioral Health) leads and guides others in providing integrated services to and for our customers. Provides ongoing associate coaching and feedback to enhance associate contribution, competency, and performance.

  • Oversees day to day operations and associates for Louisiana Medicaid Care Management.
  • Achieve performance metrics for a fast paced comprehensive case management environment.
  • Assure compliance with mandated and corporate policies regarding other departmental areas such as medical management, utilization management and case management.
  • Develop team members and creates department process flows.
  • Will directly lead multiple managers and highly specialized professional associates.
  • Oversees the assessment and evaluation of members’ needs and requirements to achieve and/or maintain optimal wellness state by guiding members/families toward and facilitate interaction with resources appropriate for the care and well-being of members.
  • Maintain compliance with Louisiana Department of Health (LDH), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) guidelines and contractual requirements.
  • Decisions are typically related to identifying and resolving complex technical and operational problems within department(s).

               
 

Required Qualifications

  • Must reside in the state of Louisiana.
  • Unrestricted Registered Nurse (RN) license in the state of Louisiana OR Licensed Mental Health Practitioner (LMHP) who is licensed to practice independently in Louisiana and is in compliance with the requirements of one of the following regulated areas: Physicians (Psychiatrists), Medical Psychologists, Licensed Psychologists, Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs), Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs), Licensed Addiction Counselors (LACs) or Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) with specialization in adult psychiatric and mental health.
  • Minimum five (5) years of previous clinical experience.
  • Minimum of five (5) years of management/supervisory experience in the healthcare field.
  • Proficiency in analyzing and interpreting data trends.
  • Progressive business consulting and/or operational leadership experience.
  • Comprehensive knowledge of Microsoft Office applications including, PowerPoint Word, Excel, and Outlook.
  • Demonstrated knowledge of keyboard, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, email, and other Office software applications.
  • This role is considered patient facing and is a part of Humana’s Tuberculosis (TB) screening program. If selected for this role, you will be required to be screened for TB.
  • This role is a part of Humana’s Driver Safety program and therefore requires an individual to have a valid state driver’s license and proof of personal vehicle liability insurance with at least100,000/300,000/100,000limits.
  • Must have the ability to provide a high speed DSL or cable modem for a home office.
  • A minimum standard speed for optimal performance of 25×10 (25mpbs download x 10mpbs upload) is required.
  • Satellite and Wireless Internet service is NOT allowed for this role.
  • A dedicated space lacking ongoing interruptions to protect member PHI / HIPAA information.
  • Humana and its subsidiaries require vaccinated associates who work outside of their home to submit proof of vaccination, including COVID-19 boosters. Associates who remain unvaccinated must either undergo weekly negative COVID testing OR wear a mask at all times while in a Humana facility or while working in the field.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in nursing, public health, health administration, health policy or business.
  • Knowledge of Humana’s internal policies, procedures and systems.
  • CCM (Certified Care Manager).
  • Experience with health promotion, coaching and wellness.
  • Knowledge of community health and social service agencies and additional community resources.

Additional Information

  • Workstyle: Hybrid Home – Works 1 – 2days/week in Humana’s Baton Rouge or Metairie, LA office location and 3 – 4 days remotely.
  • Travel: Up to 25% of the time within the state of Louisiana.
  • Direct Reports: Up to 8 Managers/Associates.
  • Section 1121 of the Louisiana Code of Governmental Ethics states that current or former agency heads or elected officials, board or commission members or public employees of the Louisiana Health Department (LDH) who work directly with LDH’s Medicaid Division cannot be considered for this opportunity. A separation of two (2) or more years from LDH is required for consideration. For more information please visit: Louisiana Board of Ethics (la.gov)

Interview Format

As part of our hiring process, we will be using an exciting interviewing technology provided by Modern Hire, a third-party vendor. This technology provides our team of recruiters and hiring managers an enhanced method for decision-making.

If you are selected to move forward from your application prescreen, you will receive correspondence inviting you to participate in a pre-recorded Voice Interview and/or an SMS Text Messaging interview. If participating in a pre-recorded interview, you will respond to a set of interview questions via your phone. You should anticipate this interview to take approximately 10-15 minutes.

If participating in a SMS Text interview, you will be asked a series of questions to which you will be using your cell phone or computer to answer the questions provided. Expect this type of interview to last anywhere from 5-10 minutes. Your recorded interview(s) via text and/or pre-recorded voice will be reviewed and you will subsequently be informed if you will be moving forward to next round of interviews.

#LouisianaMedicaid

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

 
 

Clipped from: https://www.ziprecruiter.com/c/004-Humana-Insurance-Company/Job/Associate-Director,-Care-Management(Behavioral-Health)-Louisiana-Medicaid/-in-Thibodaux,LA?jid=43bdfb1e3a1f842a&utm_campaign=google_jobs_apply&utm_source=google_jobs_apply&utm_medium=organic

Posted on

New Rule Makes Clear that Noncitizens Who Receive Health or Other Benefits to which they are Entitled Will Not Suffer Harmful Immigration Consequences

MM Curator summary

The article below has been highlighted and summarized by our research team. It is provided here for member convenience as part of our Curator service.

 
 

[MM Curator Summary]: Biden undoes Trump heresy.

 
 

Accessing Children’s Health Insurance Program and Most Medicaid Benefits Will Not Affect Immigration Status

Today, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a final rule applicable to noncitizens who receive or wish to apply for benefits provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and States that support low-income families and adults. The rule, which details how DHS will interpret the “public charge” ground of inadmissibility, will help ensure that noncitizens can access health-related benefits and other supplemental government services to which they are entitled by law, without triggering harmful immigration consequences. By codifying in regulation the “totality of the circumstances” approach that is authorized by statute and which has long been utilized by DHS, the rule makes it clear that individual factors, such as a person’s disability or use of benefits alone will not lead to a public charge determination.

The final rule applies to noncitizens requesting admission to the U.S. or applying for lawful permanent residence (a “green card”) from within the U.S. When assessing whether a noncitizen is “likely to become primarily dependent on the government for subsistence,” DHS will not penalize individuals who choose to access the vast majority of health-related benefits and other supplemental government services available to them, including most Medicaid benefits (except for long-term institutionalization – such as residing in nursing home – at government expense) and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). DHS will also not consider non-cash benefits provided by other government agencies including food and nutrition assistance such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); disaster assistance received under the Stafford Act; pandemic assistance; benefits received via a tax credit or deduction; and government pensions or other earned benefits. Receipt of cash-based benefits, such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and other similar programs, will not automatically exclude an individual from admission or green card eligibility, and will instead be considered in a “totality of the circumstances” analysis.

“People who qualify for Medicaid, CHIP, and other health programs should receive the care they need without fear of jeopardizing their immigration status,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “As we have experienced with COVID, it’s in the interest of all Americans when we utilize the health care and other services at our disposal to improve public health for everyone.”

“This final rule reinforces a core principle of the Biden-Harris Administration: that healthcare is a right, not a privilege, and no one should be deterred from accessing the care they need out of fear,” said CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. “Today’s final rule is an important step toward achieving this goal for many Medicaid and CHIP enrollees and their families, and CMS will continue to do everything in our authority to make sure people have access to programs that keep them safe and healthy.”

“Federal civil rights laws require that all people be afforded fair and just decisions when applying for health benefits and other supplemental government services, free of bias, stigma, and discrimination,” said Office for Civil Rights Acting Director Melanie Fontes Rainer. “Today’s rule sets up safeguards to help ensure that people with disabilities and older adults who are not U.S. citizens can access health care without fear.  OCR will continue our robust enforcement of civil rights laws to ensure the rights of historically marginalized groups are upheld and defended.”

“People with disabilities and older adults who are not U.S. citizens no longer have to fear that using services that can help them maintain their health, live independently and contribute to their communities will cost them legal residency in our country,” said Alison Barkoff, Acting Administrator of the Administration for Community Living. “The rule explicitly rejects stereotypes that people with disabilities are more likely to become a public charge and is in keeping with the civil rights protections that are the bedrock of American values.”  

This final rule is the product of action first taken by the Biden-Harris Administration in 2021 to reverse the previous administration’s 2019 public charge rule, which had the harmful effect of discouraging many immigrants from seeking benefits, such as CHIP and other government services for which they, their children, or their families were eligible, out of fear of jeopardizing their immigration status. This chilling effect extended even to those categories of noncitizens who, by law, are exempt from the public charge ground of inadmissibility, including refugees, asylees, noncitizens applying for or re-registering for temporary protected status (TPS), special immigrant juveniles, T (trafficking victims) and U (crime victims) nonimmigrants, and self-petitioners under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). With the publication of today’s final rule, the Biden-Harris Administration is continuing its efforts to reverse these harmful effects and ensure that these programs remain accessible for eligible individuals and families in need.

The final rule does not expand eligibility for Medicaid, CHIP, or other benefits to more people but clarifies DHS policy regarding recipients.

The final rule will be effective on December 23, 2022.

 
 

Clipped from: https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2022/09/08/new-rule-makes-clear-noncitizens-who-receive-health-or-other-benefits-which-they-are-entitled-will-not-suffer-harmful-immigration-consequences.html

Posted on

Google adds Medicaid, Medicare enrollment info to Search

 
 

MM Curator summary

The article below has been highlighted and summarized by our research team. It is provided here for member convenience as part of our Curator service.

 
 

[MM Curator Summary]: Did you know Google is trying to fix the Medicaid network access dumpster fire? Or that your Fitbit data is being researched by researchers focused on however they define “equity”? Or that Youtube and Kaiser Family Foundation are about to start making a ton of health-related content together?

 
 

Photo: Courtesy of Google

Google announced several health equity-focused updates to its products Monday, including an addition to Search that provides information about public insurance programs like Medicare and Medicaid.

In a blog post, the tech giant said users will see eligibility requirements and how to enroll when they search for Medicare or Medicaid health plans. People currently covered under Medicaid will also be able to filter nearby providers who accept these plans, alongside a previously added filter for Medicare plans.

Over the coming weeks, when people search for these programs, they’ll see additional information about eligibility requirements and the enrollment process for your state and the federal government,” Hema Budaraju, senior director of product, health and search social impact, at Google said during the company’s Health Equity Summit. “We believe that this can help people enroll more easily into these programs.”

Additionally, YouTube revealed THE-IQ, a partnership with the Kaiser Family Foundation to help organizations create high-quality informational video content on health topics like mental health, maternal care and access to care.

YouTube and KFF will offer seed funding and video production assistance to The Loveland Foundation, which will create videos on mental health access for Black women and girls; the National Birth Equity Collaborative, which will focus Black maternal healthcare and outcomes; and the Health Equity Leadership and Exchange Network at the Satcher Health Leadership Institute, which will work on the root causes and drivers of health inequities. 

“I think particularly in this age, where we’re seeing misinformation so prevalent [and] targeted disinformation efforts that are out there to undermine confidence in science and information. It’s really critical that we amplify credible voices and provide it in ways that people can relate to and connect with,” said Tina Hoff, senior vice president at KFF and executive director of the organization’s Social Impact Media Program.

Google also announced it would expand its health equity research program, first announced last spring as the Fitbit Health Equity Initiative. The expanded program, now called the Google Health Equity Research Initiative, will offer selected researchers at academic institutions and nonprofits in the U.S. access to direct funding, Google Cloud credits, Fitbit devices and analytics platform Fitabase’s services.

THE LARGER TREND

Google has added several updates to Search that aim to provide more information about healthcare services at a glance. In March, the tech giant said it was launching new functionality that gives users a list of available appointments when searching for a specific provider. It also added a tool late last year that helps users find in-network providers

In the wake of the Dobbs decision that overturned Roe v. Wade, Google made abortion-related changes to its tools as well. Following push from Congressional Democrats, Google said it would clearly label healthcare facilities that provide abortions in Search and Maps to differentiate them from crisis pregnancy centers, which try to dissuade people from seeking abortions and may not offer accurate medical information

The tech giant also said it will automatically delete location history when users visit sensitive places like abortion clinics. 

Health misinformation has become a major concern on social media platforms like YouTube. An analysis published earlier this spring in BMJ Global Health found about 11% of YouTube’s most viewed videos on COVID-19 vaccines, accounting for 18 million views, contradicted information from the World Health Organization or the CDC. 

YouTube rolled out new guidelines surrounding vaccine misinformation last year, and has been expanding features that identify the source and context behind health videos and provide content from medical sources at the top of results.

 
 

Clipped from: https://www.mobihealthnews.com/news/google-adds-medicaid-medicare-enrollment-info-search

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Which states process Medicaid applications the fastest

MM Curator summary

The article below has been highlighted and summarized by our research team. It is provided here for member convenience as part of our Curator service.

 
 

[MM Curator Summary]: 10 states are processing 80-100% of their Medicaid claims in 7 days or less.

 
 

CMS released data Sept. 1 showing how quickly states processed new applications for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program in the first three months of 2022. 

According to the report, in January through March 2022, more than half of Medicaid applications were processed within 24 hours, and about two-thirds were processed within seven days. 

In 20 states and Washington, D.C.,,more than 60 percent of applications were processed within seven days.

See the full list of how the states stacked up below. 

 

Processed 80-100% of applications within 7 days 

Alabama

Connecticut

District of Columbia

Maryland

Massachusetts

New York

Oklahoma 

Oregon

Rhode Island

Washington

 

Processed 60-80% of applications within 7 days 

Colorado

Delaware

Hawaii 

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Minnesota

New Hampshire 

Tennessee

Vermont

Utah

 
 

Processed 40-60% of applications within 7 days 

Georgia 

Idaho

Iowa

Michigan

Nebraska

New Jersey 

New Mexico

North Carolina

Pennsylvania

South Carolina 

West Virginia

Wisconsin

 
 

Processed 20-40% of applications within 7 days 

Alaska

Arizona

Florida 

Indiana

Montana

Ohio

Texas

Virginia 

Wyoming

 
 

Processed less than 20% of applications within 7 days 

Arkansas

Maine 

Misississippi

Missouri

North Dakota

 
 

State did not report data 

California

Illinois

Nevada

South Dakota

 
 

Clipped from: https://www.beckerspayer.com/uncategorized/see-which-states-process-medicaid-applications-fastest.html

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Insurance Policies May Drive Diagnoses for Medicaid Patients

MM Curator summary

The article below has been highlighted and summarized by our research team. It is provided here for member convenience as part of our Curator service.

 
 

[MM Curator Summary]: Hospitals who get more commercial revenue have more money to spend on software that helps them maximize their billings.

 
 

Medicaid patients admitted to hospitals with a larger proportion of private payers received more diagnoses on Medicaid insurance claims than those in hospitals with a lower proportion of private payers, according to a new study of more than 1 million Medicaid admissions in New York state.

Diagnostic coding software is an investment in infrastructure that may be utilized more often by hospitals with a higher proportion of privately insured patients with higher reimbursement rates, wrote Kacie L. Dragan, MPH, a PhD candidate at Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, and colleagues

 
 

“Provider-level variation in coding intensity has been documented to some degree for Medicare and commercially-insured groups, but little was known about diagnostic coding patterns for Medicaid-insured groups,” Dragan said in an interview.

“We also wanted to provide some evidence on the question of whether higher prices from private payers seem to incentivize hospital-level administrative investments, such as advanced EHRs or highly trained staff,” she explained. “If so, the impact of these administrative investments might spill over and be reflected in the number of diagnoses Medicaid patients receive.”

In a study published in JAMA Health Forum, Dragan and colleagues analyzed data from 1.6 million hospitalizations for Medicaid-insured patients between 2010 and 2017. The study population included Medicaid enrollees with at least two admissions in at least two different hospitals in New York state. The mean age of the patients was 48 years, 51.4% were women. Overall, 30.1% were White, 28.6% were Black, 23.3% were Hispanic, 4.6% were Asian, and 5.4% were other ethnicities.

Significantly more diagnoses were recorded when the same patient was seen in a hospital with more privately insured patients (0.03 diagnoses for each percentage point increase in the share of privately insured patients, P < .001).

Patients first discharged from hospitals in the bottom quartile of privately insured patients received 1.37 more diagnoses when subsequently discharged from hospitals in the top quartile, and those first discharged from hospitals in the top quartile of privately insured patients received 1.67 fewer diagnoses when discharged from hospitals in the bottom quartile (P < .001 for both).  

Payment incentives appeared to play a role in the diagnostic codes used, the researchers noted. Diagnoses in hospitals with a higher share of private payers were significantly more likely to involve conditions sensitive to payment incentives, such as neuropathy or depression.

“The probability of receiving a commonly up-coded supplemental diagnosis increased by 2.50 percentage points when a Medicaid-insured patient was seen in a hospital with 40% privately insured patients compared with when they were seen in a hospital with just 10% privately insured patients,” the researchers write.

The results persisted in subgroup analyses and in a replication of the study using data from 2016 to 2017, after the implementation of the diagnostic code set ICD-10, with a similarly large increase of 0.06 additional diagnoses for each percentage point increase in the proportion of private paying patients.

The study findings were limited by several factors, including the use of only claims through 2014 in the main analysis, and the inability to determine whether patients are selecting into well-resourced hospitals for more complex conditions, the researchers noted. However, “To the extent that diagnoses drive reimbursement and quality scores, this may create a feedback loop that further benefits highly-reimbursed facilities and exacerbates inequity in resources,” the authors conclude.

 
 

“We were somewhat surprised to see such symmetry and a ‘dose-response’ gradient in the relationship between a hospital’s private payer share and the number of diagnoses coded,” Dragan told Medscape. Although many studies have focused on provider upcoding, “this finding may suggest that there could also be under-coding happening at the opposite extreme, among providers with large shares of Medicaid-insured patients; however, our study cannot say what the ideal level of diagnostic coding would be.”

Impact of Incentives Remain Unclear

“The diagnoses documented for Medicaid patients might, in part, be a reflection of the hospital’s payer mix and associated administrative style, rather than a reflection of a patient’s true underlying health,” Dragan said in an interview. “Disease surveillance metrics or risk-adjusted quality measures, for example, may be impacted by this variation in code capture, calling for caution when relying on patient diagnoses,” she added. 

“Future research should aim to document whether this variation in diagnostic coding intensity has downstream implications for Medicaid patient treatment or outcomes,” said Dragan. “Additionally, it will be important to better understand what specific actions hospitals are taking in response to payer incentives, such as changing EHR [electronic health record] vendors or training staff, that might be behind this observed variation in coding intensity among Medicaid patients.”

Measure of Patient Risk is Needed

“Nearly all healthcare reforms require that we can accurately measure patient risk in order to compare providers or insurance plans,” Andrew Ryan, PhD, of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, said in an interview. “Factors other than true clinical severity that influence the measurement of patient risk, such as hospitals’ share of private patients, may result in inaccurate measurement.”

“This is a strong study,” said Ryan, a professor of health management at UM who was not involved in the research. “The authors found that a higher share of private patients led to greater risk coding for Medicaid patients; they attribute this effect to the fact that hospitals with a greater share of private (commercial) patients have stronger incentives to code,” he said.

However, “I’m not sure if this mechanism is driving the results,” Ryan noted. “For instance, I believe that the strongest incentives for upcoding risk is for Medicare Advantage patients, and these were categorized as public payers by the authors. Instead, I think that the likely mechanism for upcoding is that hospitals with more private patients are better resourced, and probably hired more coders.”

As for additional research, Ryan said he would be interested in seeing whether hospitals with more Medicare Advantage patients code more. “I would also be interested in understanding whether hospitals’ investments in coding staff drive the findings,” he said.

The study was supported by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the Commonwealth Fund. Dragan disclosed training fellowships from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and from NIH’s National Institute of Mental Health. Ryan reports no relevant financial relationships.

JAMA Health Forum. Published online September 2, 2022Full text

Heidi Splete is a freelance medical journalist with 20 years of experience.

For more news, follow Medscape on FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTube, and LinkedIn

 
 

From <https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/980721?icd=ssl_login_success_220916#vp_2>

 
 

 
 

 
 

From <https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/980721?icd=ssl_login_success_220916>

 
 

 
 

 
 

Clipped from: https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/980721

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Maryland seeks Medicaid non-emergency medical transportation contractor

MM Curator summary

The article below has been highlighted and summarized by our research team. It is provided here for member convenience as part of our Curator service.

 
 

[MM Curator Summary]: The RFP will move NEMT management from the local health departments to a private sector vendor who will integrate with the MMIS.

 
 

 
 

Nicole Pasia | Sep 13, 2022 | Maryland

The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) released a request for proposals (RFP) this month for a non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) contractor for the state’s Medicaid population. MDH intends to award a single contract award for a maximum period of 7 years.

 
 

 
 

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The contract will fulfill requirements under the Code of Federal Regulations, which mandates that states provide NEMT to Medicaid-covered services as a last resort when the participant has no other means of transport. 

“The contractor is to assure access to transportation for eligible and qualified participants to and from non-emergency Medicaid covered services rendered by Medicaid providers in the most cost effective and efficient clinically appropriate transportation mode,” the RFP said. 

For the past 2 decades, Maryland has administered NEMT through the local health departments in each of its 23 counties (with the addition of Baltimore City), totaling 24 jurisdictions. MDH pays for NEMT services through pass-through grants. Federal funding also supports the NEMT program, with a 50% match of state funds. 

The RFP lists the progression of transportation types the program would use, based on patients’ clinical needs. These include a shared ride ambulatory vehicle, shared ADA-accessible vehicle, ambulance, interfacility transfer for tertiary care, and air ambulance service transport. 

Over 946,000 NEMT trips occurred in fiscal year 2019, according to the RFP. MDH typically spends $50 million annually on the NEMT program. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted operation numbers (there were about 814,000 trips in FY 2020 and only 104,000 trips in FY 2021, mostly due to the increased use of telemedicine). However, the RFP notes that restrictions on in-person medical appointments have been lifted since July 1st, 2021. 

“Accordingly, for FY 2022 and beyond, it is expected that transports will return to the pre-FY20 levels,” the RFP said. 

The awarded contractor will work with MDH’s Medicaid Modular Transformation (MMT) Project to design and develop the procedures and information technology needed to provide NEMT services. During the first phase of the operations and maintenance (OM) stage, which is estimated to last a maximum of 18 months from the contract start date, the contractor must inaugurate NEMT services in at least 9 of the 24 jurisdictions. During the second phase, covering the 6 months following the completion of the first phase, the contractor must onboard the remaining jurisdictions. 

The NEMT contract is also part of the Maryland Medicaid Enterprise Systems Modular Transformation (MMT) Program Management Office (PMO), which works to redesign and modernize Maryland’s Medicaid Management Information system (MMIS). MMT PMO is a multi-year project expected to be fully implemented in 2029.

“To successfully administer the NEMT … the Contractor must seamlessly integrate with the legacy MMIS,” the RFP said. “To ensure that NEMT aspects are properly accounted for in MMT, the Contractor must have continual representation on MMT workgroups, steering committees, etc. And as the MMIS transitions under MMT, the Contractor must, in lockstep, transition its interfaces and connectivity.”

A pre-proposal conference is scheduled for Sept. 15th at 1 p. Eastern Time. Participants must register via Attachment A of the RFP. Questions about the RFP may be sent through the Non-Emergency Medical Transportation RFP Inquiry Form.

Proposals are due on Nov. 1st at 4 pm Eastern Time via the eMaryland Marketplace Advantage (eMMA). The contract is expected to begin on Feb. 1st, 2023. 

 
 

Clipped from: https://stateofreform.com/news/maryland/2022/09/maryland-seeks-medicaid-non-emergency-medical-transportation-contractor/

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West Virginia Recognized for Innovations in its Medicaid Program

MM Curator summary

The article below has been highlighted and summarized by our research team. It is provided here for member convenience as part of our Curator service.

 
 

[MM Curator Summary]: Several states (including WV) were recognized by RWJF this week for innovations in their Medicaid program. WV got noticed for its work to improve care for foster kids.

 
 

West Virginia’s Medicaid program, administered by the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources’ (DHHR) Bureau for Medical Services (BMS), has received a 2022 Medicaid Innovation Award from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the National Academy for State Health Policy.  The award recognizes states for demonstrating creativity, leadership, and progress in their Medicaid programs. 

West Virginia Medicaid was recognized as the Care Coordination for Vulnerable Populations recipient for providing specialized managed care for youth in foster care by delivering continuity in health care through the most integrated and cost-effective way possible, and ensuring quality across services.

“This award underscores DHHR’s dedication to improving health care services for residents, especially vulnerable children at-risk of out-of-home placements,” said Cindy Beane, BMS Commissioner. “We will continue focusing on enhancing children’s services and remain committed to administering, promoting, and assuring strategies that improve the quality of life for all West Virginians served by the Medicaid program.”

Children in foster care are more likely to have complex health conditions, higher rates of trauma from abuse and neglect, and limited access to health care services. 

“Improved access to medical and behavioral health care for West Virginia’s youth in foster care has been a team effort and priority,” said Bill J. Crouch, DHHR Cabinet Secretary. “I am proud of the hard work and leadership from Commissioner Beane and the collaboration across DHHR’s bureaus to meet this critical need.”

Medicaid is a joint state-federal health insurance program that covers one in five people in the United States, including elderly individuals and individuals with disabilities, and 40% of all children nationwide. 

“Medicaid enables states to develop tailored, creative solutions to local challenges, and when faced with an unprecedented pandemic, Medicaid leaders dug deep to develop innovative approaches to care,” said Tara Oakman, interim managing director at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. “While it remains a difficult period for Medicaid programs, all states can learn from successes in other states in improving Medicaid access, care delivery, and equity.”

Further information about Medicaid and related resources in West Virginia can be found on the BMS website

 
 

Clipped from: https://dhhr.wv.gov/News/2022/Pages/West-Virginia-Recognized-for-Innovations-in-its-Medicaid-Program.aspx