Members of the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission met in Washington, D.C. last week to discuss a number of Medicaid and CHIP meetings.  The following is MACPAC’s summary of this meeting.

MACPAC’S March 2018 meeting began with a review of two draft chapters with recommendations that will be included in MACPAC’s June 2018 report, the first to improve operation of the Medicaid drug rebate program and the second to improve the clarity of substance use disorder (SUD) confidentiality regulations.

At the opening session the Commission reviewed a draft chapter on Medicaid drug policy and later voted to approve two recommendations presented at its December 2017 meeting to (1) close a loophole in current law that allows drug manufacturers to reduce rebates on certain brand drugs, and (2) give the Department of Health and Human Services new authority to take action on inappropriately classified drugs.

At the second morning session, the Commission reviewed a draft chapter on federal regulations governing confidentiality of SUD patient records that affect integration of behavioral and physical health services for Medicaid beneficiaries, later approving two recommendations to address the inconsistent application of these regulations. The morning wrapped up with a review of potential comments from the Commission on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ report to Congress and the President on the Money Follows the Person program.

Thursday afternoon began with an overview of a report commissioned by MACPAC to better understand how managed long-term services and supports programs meet the needs of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The session that followed assessed the roles of base and supplemental payments to hospitals under Medicaid. The last informational session of the day looked at gaps in the SUD continuum of care, whether these gaps are more pronounced in residential settings, and if so, whether and how Medicaid’s payment exclusion for institutions for mental diseases should be changed.

MACPAC commissioners addressed a number of issues during the meeting, including:

  • improving operations of the Medicaid drug rebate program
  • substance use disorder confidentiality regulations and care integration in Medicaid
  • the “Money Follows the Person” program
  • tailoring managed long-term services and supports programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities
  • the role of base and supplemental payments to hospitals
  • he substance use disorder continuum of care and the institutions for mental diseases exclusion

Go here, to MACPAC’s web site, to see the documents supporting these discussions.