Subcommittee hears DMAS plan to implement Medicaid changes and warns of large hospital payment cuts

Cheryl Roberts, director of the Department of Medical Assistance Services, told the Joint Subcommittee for Health and Human Resources Oversight on Tuesday that the agency is preparing to implement a package of changes to Medicaid eligibility, enrollment and benefits in the new federal/state law but is still awaiting key CMS guidance.

Roberts said the changes affect the expansion population (about 600,000 people), foster care and other subprograms and will require systems work, new reporting and outreach. "This is going to be a collaboration," she said, noting the Governor's office and CMS will be involved in implementation. Roberts told the committee that expansion eligibility will move to six-month redeterminations, that states must use additional data sources to detect duplicate enrollment, and that the federal death master file must be checked quarterly to remove deceased individuals from rolls.

The subcommittee heard several specific implementation details that will affect members, providers and vendors. Members may change managed-care plans through Sept. 25, Roberts said. Retroactive coverage will be shortened: expansion members would receive one month of retroactive coverage and other Medicaid…