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DHS outlines Medicaid flexibilities, mobile clinics and CARES payments; $5M in long-term support payments processed
Summary
Department of Human Services and Division of Medical Services officials told the Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee about telemedicine waivers, mobile clinic authorizations, temporary enrollment flexibilities and CARES-related emergency payments, reporting roughly $1.7 million disbursed and $3.4 million pending for long-term services and supports affecting about 5,000 workers.
LITTLE ROCK — Officials from the Department of Human Services told the Senate Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee the agency has used federal authorities and state emergency processes to relax Medicaid rules, speed payments and prepare CARES Act reimbursements for providers affected by COVID-19.
"We have processed and paid approximately $1,700,000 last Friday, and we processed over the weekend that we'll be paid this coming Friday, another $3,400,000," Janet Mann of DHS said, describing long-term services and supports payments that will impact roughly 5,000 employees.
The agency outlined a range of temporary flexibilities approved or allowed under CMS disaster authorities and the governor’s executive order: relaxed telemedicine requirements (including telephonic visits and lifted originating-site restrictions for Medicaid), authorization of mobile clinics for testing and screening, early medication refills and pharmacy formulary flexibilities, and the temporary suspension of routine site visits and some background checks for provider enrollment.
Elizabeth Pittman, deputy director for Division of Medical Services, said the agency is also providing enhanced payments for in-person care during the emergency and is preparing provider forms for CARES Act reimbursement for PPE and related costs. "We will add similar forms as we add to the other categories ... so that they can fill it out and attest it and send it in to us, and we will process those," she said.
Policy limits and timing: DHS told the committee that some flexibilities are tied to the governor’s public-health emergency order and may end when the order expires, though federal guidance allows run-out windows (for example, 60–90 days) for processes such as completing provider enrollment requirements after temporary approvals.
The committee was also told the agency has posted reporting forms for long-term supports and plans to seek appropriation approval through the CARES steering committee and PEER where required. The agency asked members to share communications and FAQs so the government can notify providers and beneficiaries when changes take effect.
The committee took no additional formal votes on these items during the meeting; many of the temporary rules and reimbursements are proceeding through existing emergency or peer-approval processes.
