During a panel at the AHIP Medicare, Medicaid, Duals and Commercial Markets Forum, three executives were asked what gives them comfort about the return to Medicaid redeterminations, as well as what worries them. One CMS official said she's pleased that states are ramping up communication efforts for Medicaid enrollees, but is concerned about the "insurmountable task" ahead.
At the AHIP Medicare, Medicaid, Duals and Commercial Markets Forum held last week, two healthcare leaders from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and CVS Health stressed that reducing maternal health disparities is a top priority, with several strategies at play. For CMS, the focus is on encouraging states to extend Medicaid postpartum coverage, while CVS Health is working to leverage doulas in their care delivery.
Patricia Kelmar, healthcare campaigns director at the Public Interest Research Group, is an advocate for the No Surprises Act. But there's one thing that bothers her: the fact that providers can ask patients to waive their surprise billing protections, she said Tuesday when speaking at the AHIP Medicare, Medicaid, Duals and Commercial Markets Forum in Washington, D.C.
CMS put out a request for information in October about a CMS-led national provider directory that would allow patients to find and compare providers based on preferences like language and location. Alexandra Mugge, director and deputy chief health informatics officer of the Health Informatics and Interoperability Group at CMS, said there is stakeholder support for the national directory if it's executed correctly.
Improving the mental health workforce shortage is one of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's top priorities right now, said Miriam Delphin-Rittmon, assistant secretary for mental health and substance use at HHS and the administrator of SAMHSA. To tackle this, the organization has several resources and grant programs in place to recruit more providers and support primary care physicians in treating mental health.