[SE-Dir] OSL&P: Medicaid Changes

[ALLRAN Laura]

TO:       All District and ESD Special Education Directors

The message below is being sent to you on behalf of:

Nancy Latini, PhD
Assistant Superintendent
Student Learning & Partnerships
______________________________________________
June 29, 2009

RE:  Medicaid Changes

I asked Linda Williams if I should immediately share with you the below news release and here is her response:

"Yes, this is great news in that it confirms our direction to move forward allowing ESDs to continue to bill Medicaid for Medicaid Administrative Claiming (MAC) activities, and allows schools to continue to bill for transportation services provided to Medicaid eligible children eligible under the IDEA to and from a Medicaid covered service even if the service is provided in an education setting as currently stipulated in the School-Based Health Services rules."  - Linda Williams

________________________________________________________________________________

Official CMS News Release
June 29, 2009

MEDICAID NEWS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact CMS Media Affairs Office
Monday, June 29, 2009
                 (202) 690-6145

HHS RESCINDS MEDICAID REGULATIONS

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen
Sebelius today announced that the administration will rescind all or
part of three Medicaid regulations that were previously issued and delay
the enforcement of a fourth regulation.  Each of these rules, in whole
or in part, had been subject to Congressional moratoria set to expire on
July 1, 2009.

"These regulations, if left in place would have potentially adverse
consequences for Medicaid beneficiaries, some of our nation's most
vulnerable people," said Secretary Sebelius.  "By rescinding these
rules, we can expect that children will continue receiving services
through their schools, beneficiaries will be able to access all
available case management resources to help them better manage their
health care, and outpatient hospital and clinic services can continue to
be covered in the most efficient manner."

"The actions we are taking today are necessary to ensure that the states
have the flexibility they need to fully serve Medicaid-eligible
individuals," said Secretary Sebelius.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and HHS today are:

        Rescinding a final rule, published December 28, 2007, that
would have eliminated reimbursement for school-based administrative
costs and costs of transportation to and from schools.  The rescission
reflects concern that the rule could limit the Medicaid administrative
outreach activities of schools, and that the overall budgetary impact on
schools could potentially impact their ability to offer Medicaid
services to students.

        Rescinding a rule, published November 7, 2008, that would have
limited the outpatient hospital and clinic service benefit for Medicaid
beneficiaries to the scope of services recognized as an outpatient
hospital service under Medicare.  This rule was rescinded because CMS
became aware that coverage beyond that scope could not be easily moved
to other benefit categories, resulting in great impact than previously
anticipated.

       Rescinding provisions of an interim final rule published
December 4, 2007, which would have restricted beneficiary access to case
management services. These provisions appeared to, in practice, restrict
beneficiary access to needed covered case management services, and limit
state flexibility in determining efficient and effective delivery
systems for case management services.

       Delaying until June 30, 2010, the enforcement of portions of a
regulation that clarified limitations on health care related tax
programs so that CMS could determine whether states need additional
clarification or guidance.  CMS may also further review the potential
impact of the regulation, and give additional consideration to
alternative approaches.
  ____________________________________________________________________________
Link to Final Federal Register Posting<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102622301358&s=2762&e=001sRPlNAt5AvC0Mgmabz0M7p7eepH576gFRoz3tNcrUR_VEU9vqil7YhkcKWdOkKUwVbHNvBW1U1mpiXumJczc2dvv7ahL0T0SUOQ2mXYTHiU7MXy6wN66LxY2jWjltEzNRRw00dwjyFcL98-a6Ph-rRKMdnD4XvBiMnrRw39LJ0nc1nh96ocCIs0YW3otiAGZNQC2ewQi7QcRYF8MKLiBNWbevCh1Cfvx61Av6PEuesYaYSKuLhbmFkTj32EtrjUVyvzaZhkhs9wEDOb2RsR_UWkHzZY_EZ7jQAr7VctferdiRGRcG72Ouw==>




If you have any difficulty opening the above link, please contact Laura Allran at laura.allran at state.or.us<mailto:laura.allran at state.or.us> or 503-947-5674.

Messages to and from this e-mail address may be made available to the public under Oregon law.
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