Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission

MACPAC Meets

Members of the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission met recently in Washington, D.C. The following is MACPAC’s own summary of its two days of public meetings. MACPAC’s March meeting began with a discussion on the role of automation in the Medicaid prior authorization (PA) process. MACPAC conducted a literature review, a federal policy review, and stakeholder interviews on the role of automation in the PA process. During this session, we reviewed findings and challenges that surfaced in this research, including the extent to which automation is already in use in Medicaid PA; the availability of information and documentation [...]

joe2026-03-12T15:08:27-04:00March 16, 2026|MACPAC, Medicaid, Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission, Medicaid managed care, Medicaid regulations for long-term care|

Federal Health Policy Update for March 12

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for March 6-12. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. Congress While the House was in recess this week, the Republican caucus held its annual retreat to discuss legislative priorities. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) continues to push for another reconciliation bill, hoping to revisit several proposals to reduce Medicaid spending that were not included in HR another rank-and-file Republicans have expressed doubt that this will be possible. Both chambers of Congress are scheduled to be in session next week. The House Committee on [...]

joe2026-03-12T16:09:44-04:00March 12, 2026|Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Congress, hospitals, MACPAC, Medicaid, Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission, Medicaid managed care, Medicare, Medicare post-acute care, Medicare reimbursement policy|

Federal Health Policy Update for December 4

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for November 21 through December 4. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. Congress Congress is back in session to discuss the Affordable Care Act tax credits set to end on December 31and other extenders that will expire on January 30, 2026 along with the latest continuing resolution (CR). Members continue to negotiate potential solutions to the expiring enhanced Affordable Care Act premium subsidies but there is no consensus on whether or how to address the expiring benefit. Senate Majority Leader Thune (R-SD) [...]

joe2025-12-04T15:05:28-05:00December 4, 2025|340b, Affordable Care Act, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, CMMI, Congress, health equity, hospitals, MACPAC, Medicaid, Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission, Medicare, Medicare regulations, Medicare reimbursement policy, Telehealth|

MACPAC Meets

Members of the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission met recently in Washington, D.C. The following is MACPAC’s own summary of its two days of public meetings. MACPAC’s September 2025 meeting began with a summary of Public Law 119-21, an Act to Provide for Reconciliation Pursuant to Title II of H. Con. Res. 14 (2025 Budget Reconciliation Act, P.L. 119-21). This legislation included several provisions affecting Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). In this session, staff provided a summary of the Medicaid and CHIP-related provisions in the 2025 Budget Reconciliation Act. Staff then presented on work [...]

joe2025-09-26T09:15:24-04:00September 29, 2025|Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Congress, MACPAC, Medicaid, Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission, Medicaid regulations|

Federal Health Policy Update for September 25

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for September 19-25. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. Federal Funding for Fiscal Year 2026 Telehealth and Acute Hospital Care at Home Program Flexibilities Many current telehealth flexibilities and authorization for the Acute Hospital Care at Home program will expire on September 30 unless Congress extends them. The following is CMS’s current guidance on these programs if they are not extended by September 30: The CMS Acute Hospital Care at Home web page advises stakeholders that The Acute Hospital Care at Home [...]

Federal Health Policy Update for August 28

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for August 22-28. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. Congress The House and Senate are in recess and will return to Washington D.C. on September 2. Funding for the federal government expires on September 30, as will a number of health care extenders, including for telehealth flexibilities, the Acute Hospital Care at Home program, the Medicare-dependent hospital and low-volume hospital programs, and delays to reductions to Medicaid disproportionate share (Medicaid DSH) allotments. Congressional Budget Office (CBO) The CBO has written to congressional [...]

joe2025-08-28T15:48:29-04:00August 28, 2025|Alternative payment models, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, CMMI, MACPAC, Medicaid, Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission, Medicaid disproportionate share, Medicaid DSH, Medicaid DSH allotments, Medicare, Medicare reimbursement policy, MedPAC, Telehealth|

Federal Health Policy Update for August 21

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for August 15-21. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. Congress The House and Senate are in recess and will return to Washington D.C. on September 2. Funding for the federal government expires on September 30, as will a number of health care extenders, including for telehealth flexibilities, the Acute Hospital Care at Home program, the Medicare-dependent hospital and low-volume hospital programs, and delays to Medicaid disproportionate share (Medicaid DSH) allotments. In the fall, Congress is considering pursuing health care legislation along two [...]

joe2025-08-21T14:43:11-04:00August 21, 2025|Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, CMMI, Congress, COVID-19, hospitals, MACPAC, Medicaid, Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission, Medicaid disproportionate share, Medicaid DSH, Medicaid DSH allotments, Medicare, Medicare cuts, Medicare reimbursement policy, post-acute care, Telehealth|

Federal Health Policy Update for August 14

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for August 8-14. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. Congress The House and Senate are both in recess and will return to Washington D.C. on September 2. Funding for the federal government, along with health care extenders including extensions of telehealth flexibilities, the Acute Hospital Care at Home program, the Medicare-dependent hospital and low-volume hospital programs, and delays to Medicaid disproportionate share (Medicaid DSH) allotments, all expire September 30. In the fall, Congress is considering pursuing health care legislation along two tracks, [...]

joe2025-08-14T15:35:41-04:00August 14, 2025|Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, hospitals, MACPAC, Medicaid, Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission, Medicaid disproportionate share, Medicaid DSH, Medicaid DSH allotments, Medicare, Medicare post-acute care, Medicare reimbursement policy, Telehealth|

Federal Health Policy Update for July 31

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for July 25-31. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. Congress The House recessed last week and the Senate is still in session. When Congress returns in September its top priority will be funding the federal government before the fiscal year ends on September 30, likely requiring a continuing resolution to avoid a shutdown. Several major health care programs and extenders are set to expire at the end of the fiscal year, including Medicaid DSH allotments, telehealth flexibilities, the Acute Hospital Care at [...]

joe2025-07-31T15:04:29-04:00July 31, 2025|340b, Alternative payment models, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, CMMI, COVID-19, MACPAC, Medicaid, Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission, Medicaid disproportionate share, Medicaid DSH, Medicaid DSH allotments, Medicaid regulations, Medicare reimbursement policy, Telehealth|

Federal Health Policy Update for May 1

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for April 25 – May 1. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. Congress Reconciliation The House and Senate returned to Washington D.C. this week and House committees have begun marking up reconciliation legislation for submission to the House Budget Committee by May 9. The Energy and Commerce Committee is expected to seek nearly $550 billion in cuts to Medicaid spending and the most likely targets for cuts continue to be work requirements for Medicaid eligibility; more frequent review of Medicaid eligibility; reducing the federal [...]

joe2025-05-01T15:33:24-04:00May 1, 2025|Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Congress, MACPAC, Medicaid, Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission, Medicare, Medicare disproportionate share, Medicare DSH, Medicare post-acute care, Medicare regulations, Medicare reimbursement policy, Telehealth|