New proposed regulation from CMS contain many new and updated requirements for states, Medicaid managed care plans, and providers intended to improve beneficiary access to care, quality, and health outcomes in both fee-for-service (FFS) and managed care delivery systems while advancing CMS’ health equity goals.

Californians, like the rest of the country, are facing significant mental health challenges in the aftermath of the pandemic. The need for new and enhanced behavioral health supports and interventions has come into strong focus in recent years and states are leveraging their Medicaid programs to respond.

In November 2022, United States Senators Cassidy, Carper, Scott, Warner, Cornyn, and Menendez issued a request for information (RFI) regarding approaches for improving coverage for individuals who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. Dual eligible beneficiaries are more likely to have  complex health needs that are difficult and often expensive to treat. Too often, they experience a lack of integration and coordination that often results in confusing encounters with the health care system and negative health outcomes.

In November 2022, United States Senators Cassidy, Carper, Scott, Warner, Cornyn, and Menendez issued a request for information (RFI) regarding approaches for improving coverage for individuals who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. Dual eligible beneficiaries are more likely to have  complex health needs that are difficult and often expensive to treat. Too often, they experience a lack of integration and coordination that often results in confusing encounters with the health care system and negative health outcomes.

Enhanced Care Management (ECM) and Community Supports are core components of CalAIM, a multiyear initiative led by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) that take a person-centered approach to social service delivery and care management for individuals with complex health and social needs.

Over the past few months, Congress and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have issued a wave of new health care-related requests for information (RFIs). These RFIs come at a time when the country is shifting to address deficiencies in the health care system COVID helped to expose.

Recruitment and retention of the direct care workforce has been a longstanding challenge among states. Low wages are a particular barrier because direct care worker wages often compete with gig employment, where the work is less physically and emotionally taxing.