COVID-19 NEWS & RESOURCES
MHPA and its member health plans understand that people served by Medicaid include populations that are especially vulnerable to the spread of viral diseases, particularly older adults and individuals with chronic, underlying health conditions. For the millions of the people we serve, this is an urgent public health emergency. MHPA is committed to an effective response for the most vulnerable today, and for everyone on Medicaid going forward.
In the below video, watch MHPA President & CEO Craig A. Kennedy, MPH, speak about what managed care organizations are doing to help Medicaid beneficiaries and to address both the immediate & long-term needs for a growing number of enrollees into the Medicaid program during the COVID health care crisis.
MHPA's Response Efforts to COVID-19
- MHPA Sends Letter to CMCS Director About the Unwinding of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency- November 4, 2021
- MHPA, Health Care Organizations Address Medicaid Reconciliation Priorities to Senate and House Leaders- October 12, 2021
- MHPA Sends Letter to CMCS About the Public Health Emergency, Health Equity and the Medicaid Managed Care Final Rule - July 30, 2021
- MHPA Statement on Final Passage of The American Rescue Plan - March 10, 2021
- MHPA Invites, Offers Assistance to Government Officials and Medicaid Leaders to Maximize Vaccine Distribution & Access -March 9, 2021
- MHPA Statement on House Passage of American Rescue Plan - March 1, 2021
- MHPA Sends Letter in Support of Legislative Proposals to Address COVID-19 Impact on LTSS - June 12, 2020
- MHPA Applauds the House for Prioritizing Medicaid in ‘Phase 4’ COVID-19 Legislation (Press Release) - May 15, 2020
- MHPA Latest Request to Congressional Leadership for COVID-19 "Phase 4" Legislation - May 4, 2020
- Partnership for Medicaid Sign on Letter: Medicaid Priorities for Future COVID-19 Legislation - April 17, 2020
- MHPA Letter to Congressional Leadership on COVID-19 Response - April 1, 2020
- MHPA Applauds Congressional Action on Emergency Legislation Addressing COVID-19 - March 18, 2020
- MHPA Issues Official Statement on COVID-19 - March 9, 2020
CMS Resources on Medicaid and COVID-19
MHPA Letter to CMS on COVID-19 - March 11, 2020
CMS Communications
- List of Approved 1135 Disaster/Emergency Waivers Website
- CMCS Informational Bulletin - April 2, 2020
Rural Health Care and Medicaid Telehealth Flexibilities, and Guidance Regarding Section 1009 of the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment (SUPPORT) for Patients and Communities Act (Pub. L. 115-271), entitled Medicaid Substance Use Disorder Treatment via Telehealth - COVID-19 FAQs on implementation of Section 6008 (Enhanced Medicaid FMAP) of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act
- COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Section 1115(a) Opportunity for States - March 22, 2020
- COVID-19 FAQs for State Medicaid and CHIP Agencies - April 2, 2020 (updated)
- Medicaid State Plan Fee-for-Service Payments for Services Delivered via Telehealth - March 17, 2020
- Coverage and Benefits Related to COVID-19 Medicaid and CHIP - March 6, 2020
Stakeholder COVID-19 Letters of Interest
- MHPA applauds the bipartisan group of 16 senators calling for more COVID-19 emergency funding for hospitals and health providers who primarily serve Medicaid beneficiaries. Read a summary of the hearing done by our consultants at Viohl & Associates. Read letter by Senators. - June 9, 2020
- Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) and the Congressional Black Caucus sent a letter urging Democratic Leadership to maintain the Medicaid MOE that was included in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (Phase 2) legislation. - May 1, 2020
- MACPAC sent a letter to HHS expressing concern that current distribution of CARES Act funds for providers have not been sufficiently distributed to health care providers that are solely or predominately focused on serving Medicaid beneficiaries. - April 30, 2020
- NAMD (National Association of Medicaid Directors), sent a letter to HHS requesting the Administration directly engage with states to inform distribution of CARES Act funds to Medicaid providers. - April 27, 2020
- The National Governors Association (NGA) sent a letter to Congressional leadership requesting robust support from the federal government as states navigate the response to the coronavirus pandemic. This letter echoes the request NGA made in a letter to Congress last month for an additional FMAP increase to bring the total FMAP enhancement to 12 percent. NGA argues that the FMAP should be retroactive to January 1, 2020 and should remain in place until the national unemployment rate falls below 5 percent. It also calls for FMAP increases to apply to states and territories that have expanded Medicaid. NGA also calls for MFAR to be rescinded. - April 21, 2020
- 150+ members of the House Democratic caucus sent a letter to Congressional leadership urging that in any future COVID-19 relief legislation, no modifications be made to the MOE provisions that were included in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. - April 12, 2020
- The National Association of Medicaid Directors (NAMD) sent a letter to Congressional leadership requesting an additional FMAP increase of 5.8 percent and called for a 2-year delay of MFAR. - April 13, 2020
- The National Association of State Budget Officers (NASBO) sent a letter to Congressional leadership requesting an additional FMAP increase of 5.8 percent. - March 19, 2020
Additional Information on COVID-19
INFORMATIONAL WEBSITES
- World Health Organization (WHO) - Rolling updates
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation), Medicaid Emergency Authority Tracker: Approved State Actions to Address COVID-19
- NASHP (National Academy for State Health Policy), States Use Federal Waivers to Expand Health Care Resources to Confront COVID-19
- Health Management Associaties (HMA), Medicaid and Medicare Flexibilities During Public Health Emergencies
For further inquiries or more information, please contact us directly:
Shannon Attanasio, Vice President, Government Relations and Advocacy, [email protected]