Tag archives: Section 1115

Biden Administration Withdraws Work Requirement Approvals in Arkansas and New Hampshire

By Jeff Wurzburg (US) and Mary Ytterberg (US) on March 19, 2021 Posted in General, Regulatory

Medicaid is the largest health coverage source in the United States, covering approximately 70 million individuals including children, pregnant women, people with disabilities, elderly adults, and in states that have expanded their Medicaid programs under the Affordable Care Act, low-income adults without children with household income up to 138%. One of the unique designs of … Continue reading

COVID-19 Update: HHS Renews COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Declaration

By Thomas Dowdell (US), Mark Faccenda (US), Jeff Wurzburg (US) and Hayley White (US) on October 12, 2020 Posted in Coronavirus, General, News from DC

On October 2, 2020, Secretary Azar of the Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) renewed his public health emergency (“PHE”) declaration because of “the continued consequences” of the COVID-19 pandemic. This renewal will become effective on October 23, 2020 when the previous July 23 renewal was set to expire and will continue to January … Continue reading

CMS Releases Block Grant Guidance to States

By Jeff Wurzburg (US) on February 4, 2020 Posted in News from DC

In a State Medicaid Director Letter issued on January 30, 2020, CMS released its long anticipated guidance to states on implementing block grants as a mechanism of Medicaid financing. State Medicaid Director Letter 20-001 announced the “Healthy Adult Opportunity” initiative (“HAO”) that will allow states to receive block grant funding for non-disabled adults under the … Continue reading

Medicaid Update: South Carolina Becomes the First Non-Expansion State Approved to Implement Medicaid Work Requirements

By Jeff Wurzburg (US) on December 13, 2019 Posted in Regulatory

On Thursday, December 12, 2019, the Trump administration announced its approval of South Carolina’s request to condition Medicaid eligibility on work or community engagement activities. In a joint statement released on Thursday by CMS Administrator Seema Verma and South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, Governor McMaster stated that “[i]n this economy, there is no excuse for … Continue reading

MEDICAID UPDATE: New Hampshire Work Requirements Vacated / Utah’s Partial Expansion Request

By Jeff Wurzburg (US) on July 30, 2019 Posted in News from DC

New Hampshire “We’ve all seen this movie before” – Judge James Boasberg, Philbrick v. Azar On July 29 HHS approval of work and community engagement requirements as a condition of eligibility for Medicaid was again found to be arbitrary and capricious. This time Judge James Boasberg ruled that New Hampshire’s efforts to impose work requirements … Continue reading

MEDICAID ALERT: Work and community engagement requirements blocked by federal court

By Jeff Wurzburg (US) on March 28, 2019 Posted in News from DC

“As Opening Day arrives, the Court finds its guiding principle in Yogi Berra’s aphorism, “It’s déjà vu all over again.”” – Judge James Boasberg, Gresham v. Azar. On March 27, United States District Court for the District of Columbia Judge James Boasberg ruled that Department of Health & Human Services Secretary Azar’s approval of work … Continue reading

Medicaid update

By Jeff Wurzburg (US) on March 22, 2019 Posted in News from DC

The Trump Administration took several steps this past week in support of its efforts to transform the Medicaid program.… Continue reading

Medicaid update: CMS again approves Kentucky HEALTH Medicaid demonstration

By Jeff Wurzburg (US) on November 26, 2018 Posted in News from DC

On November 20, 2018, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) again approved the Kentucky HEALTH 1115 demonstration. Kentucky HEALTH was the first Section 1115 demonstration that CMS approved with a work and community engagement requirement as a condition of eligibility for coverage under Medicaid. The demonstration requires certain Medicaid beneficiaries to engage in … Continue reading